FLASH RECAP:
LaDainian Tomlinson rushes for 243 yards and two touchdowns to lead San Diego (4-12) over Oakland (4-12) in their season finale before an announced crowd of 62,222 at Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 28, 2003.
With the loss, the Raiders equal their worst record in four decades; they also went 4-12 in 1997. Oakland had a franchise-worst 1-13 record in 1962.
For only the second time in team history, the Raiders are winless on the road in a season. Their 0-8 record eclipses the previous dubious standard of 0-7 set in 1962.
Oakland's sputtering offense has only 141 total yards and nine first downs against San Diego's 28th-ranked defense. The Raiders finish with zero net passing yards after quarterback Rick Mirer is sacked five times for minus-35 yards.
The Raiders score their only touchdowns on an 81-yard punt return by Phillip Buchanon and Doug Gabriel's 85-yard kickoff return, both in the second quarter.
The Chargers beat the Raiders for only the third time in the past 13 regular-season games.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
RB LaDainian Tomlinson - Rushes for 243 yards and two TDs on 31 carries. With eight catches against Oakland, Tomlinson becomes the first player in league history with 1,000 or more rushing yards and 100 receptions in the same season. He finishes the season with 1,645 rushing yards.
WLB Donnie Edwards - Contributes 14 tackles (10 solo), an interception and 1/2 sack.
WR David Boston - Burns Phillip Buchanon for an 18-yard TD catch.
DE Marcellus Wiley - Has a sack, a forced fumble and two passes defensed.
PR/CB Phillip Buchanon - Returns a Darren Bennett punt 81 yards for a touchdown, but the second-year Raider is also the beaten defender on David Boston's 18-yard TD reception.
KR Doug Gabriel - Returns a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown with 24 seconds left in the first half.
DT Rod Coleman - Has 1.5 sacks and four tackles.
KEY STAT:
The Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson outgains the Raiders, 260 total yards to 141.
GOAT(S) :
Cornerback Charles Woodson and running back Charlie Garner. Two of the Raiders' best players are deactivated the day of the game after they reportedly miss a mandatory team function and curfew the night before.
TURNING POINT:
San Diego takes a 21-14 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by LaDainian Tomlinson 3:18 into the fourth quarter. Tomlinson rushes four times for 50 yards on the 63-yard, 5-play drive.
BY THE NUMBERS:
0: Oakland net passing yards.
3: Combined catches for Raiders WRs Jerry Rice and Tim Brown for 21 yards.
9: Consecutive Oakland road losses over two seasons.
430: Rushing yards by LaDainian Tomlinson in two games this season against Oakland.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders WR Tim Brown
"With everything that has gone down, even though the damage is (fixable), I don't know if he's the guy who can bring this team back together. This year, he made things personal with this team. You can't do that. If he's back, it's going to take three years (to rebuild), because nobody's going to trust him."
on coach Bill Callahan
"This team has been beat down bad - lefts and rights everywhere. It's unfortunate it had to end like this."
Raiders WR Jerry Rice
"There's a big problem with this organization. It's a bigger problem than people think."
Raiders DT Dana Stubblefield
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders set a league record for fewest wins (four) by a Super Bowl loser the following season. The Denver Broncos (1990) and Atlanta Falcons (1999) held the previous
record of five victories after losing a Super Bowl.
The Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson, left, straight-arms the Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha.
