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Game Preview

Chargers at Raiders Sunday, Dec. 30 1:15 p.m. (Pacific)

THE SKINNY:
San Diego (10-5) needs a win to clinch the No. 3 seed (and home game) in the first round of the AFC playoffs. JaMarcus Russell, the first overall pick in the 2007 draft, is expected to make his first NFL start for Oakland (4-11). Chargers coach Norv Turner returns to McAfee Coliseum for the first time as an opposing head coach since being dismissed as Raiders coach after the 2005 season. The Raiders have dropped eight straight games to the Chargers. San Diego has won five straight games and is 9-2 since a 1-3 start.

LAST WEEK:
The host Chargers beat the Broncos 23-3; the visiting Raiders lost 49-11 to the Jaguars.

KEY MATCHUPS:
RB LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Raiders run defense — L.T. has 1653 rushing yards (127.2 yards per game) and 16 TDs in 13 career games against Oakland. He’s also thrown for three touchdowns and caught two passes for scores against the Raiders. Oakland is second to last in rushing defense, allowing 147.6 yards per game.

QB JaMarcus Russell vs. Chargers defense — Russell is expected to make his first NFL start against San Diego, which ranks 14th against the pass, allowing 214.5 yards per game. Russell, the top overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, is coming off a dreadful performance of 7-of-23 passing for 83 yards and one TD with three interceptions against the Jaguars in Week 16. The Chargers have a league-high 29 forced interceptions.

LB Shawane Merriman vs. Raiders offensive line — Merriman has 5.5 sacks in four career games against Oakland.

P Shane Lechler vs. Chargers punt coverage team — Lechler has one more game to try to become the first punter in league history to average 50 yards punting for a season. He enters Week 17 averaging 49.1 yards on 69 punts. The Cowboys' holds the league record for highest punting average in a season (48.2 yards, set in 2006).

INJURY REPORT:
Chargers — Out: RB Lorenzo Neal (fibula). Doubtful: LB Marques Harris (hand). Probable: DE Luis Castillo (ankle), K Nate Kaeding (left fibula), LB Shawne Merriman (knee), LB Brandon Siler (shoulder), DT Jamal Williams (ankle). Raiders — Questionable: LB Jon Alston (calf), WR Tim Dwight (hamstring). Probable: QB Josh McCown (left finger).

STATS OF THE WEEK:
The Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson has eight career 100-yard rushing performances against the Raiders.

The Raiders have been outscored 31-77 in their past three home losses to the Chargers.

Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie has a franchise-record 10 interceptions, which also leads the NFL.

LAST MEETING:
LaDainian Tomlinson rushes for 198 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Chargers to a 28-14 victory over the visiting Raiders on Oct. 14, 2007.

RECENT HISTORY:
The Raiders haven’t beaten the Chargers since a 34-31 overtime win in Oakland on Sept. 28, 2003. Since then, the Chargers have won eighth in a row against the Raiders. Since 1995, the Chargers are 6-6 against the Raiders in Oakland. The Raiders lead the series 55-39-2, including 1-0 postseason.

DID YOU KNOW?:
The visiting Raiders defeated the Chargers 34-27 in the 1980 AFC championship game on Jan. 11, 1981. Two weeks later, Oakland beat Philadelphia 27-10 in Super Bowl XV in New Orleans.

Chargers coach Norv Turner had a 9-23 record as Raiders coach in 2004 and 2005 before being fired.

The Raiders haven't won a regular-season finale since a 24-0 win over the visiting Chiefs in 2002.

BETTING LINE: Chargers by 8

Updated: 12-28-2007

For more on this week's game: NFL.com
Raiders.com | Chargers.com
Pro Football Weekly.com
Pro Sports Daily.com

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