Carr,
Cooper guide Raiders past stumbling Chargers
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[October 10, 2016]
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Derek Carr
wouldn't mind having a stress-free fourth quarter sometime this
season.
For now, though, the Oakland Raiders quarterback is enjoying the
team's nail-biting, single-digit wins.
Carr passed for 317 yards and two touchdowns, and the Raiders held
on for a 34-31 victory against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday at
the Oakland Coliseum.
Oakland improved to 4-1, with all four wins coming by seven or fewer
points, two of them by a single point.
"This league is designed for everybody to go 8-8," Carr said. "It
really is. It's that close in talent and coaching in everything.
Sometimes you just have to find ways to win and get it done at the
end. It would be nice if we didn't have to do all the stress and
drama at the end. That would be nice."
Carr completed 25 of 40 passes with one interception, and Amari
Cooper made six receptions for 138 yards and a score as the Raiders
moved into a first-place tie in the AFC West with the Denver
Broncos, who lost 23-16 to the Atlanta Falcons.
"It's nice, but the road still goes through Denver," Carr said.
"They are Super Bowl champs, division champs. I will always pay
respect to them because that's what they've earned. We have earned
absolutely nothing yet. We've earned four wins in five games, which
is a great feeling. It feels very nice, trust me, but we haven't
done anything yet."
The Raiders are 4-1 for this first time since 2002, which is the
last season they reached the Super Bowl and last time they made the
playoffs.
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San Diego (1-4) lost its third straight game and fell for the 10th
consecutive time against teams from the AFC West. The Chargers blew
fourth-quarter leads in their first three losses. This time they
wasted a chance to pull even with just over two minutes left.
With the Raiders leading 34-31, San Diego's Josh Lambo lined up to
kick a 36-yard field goal. However, holder Drew Kaser -- the punter
-- fumbled the ball when he tried to place it for Lambo, and the
Raiders took over at the Chargers 35-yard line with two minutes
remaining.
"Just when you think you've seen it all, something like that
happens," San Diego coach Mike McCoy said. "Too many turnovers
throughout the game and critical mistakes at critical times once
again."
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers completed 21 of 30 passes for 359
yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. He has 292 career
touchdown passes, moving him past Johnny Unitas (290) and Warren
Moon (291) into ninth place on the NFL's all-time list.
Rivers, however, wasn't in a mood to celebrate after what happened
late in the fourth quarter.
"You can't make this stuff up," Rivers said. "You think, 'Is there
any other way we can find a way to do this?' Obviously, that (field
goal) wasn't going to win the game for us, but it was going to get
us right there, and who knows?"
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![](../images/101016PICS/sports63.jpg)
Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) catches a touchdown pass
against the San Diego Chargers in the third quarter at Oakland
Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 34-31. Mandatory Credit:
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
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Kaser said he didn't know what went wrong on the botched hold or his
16-yard shanked punt on the last play of the third quarter that gave
Oakland the ball at San Diego's 32. Fullback Jamize Olawale blasted
into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown as the Raiders increased
their lead to 34-24 with 12:51 to play.
Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree caught three passes for 47
yards and a touchdown, giving him five TD grabs on the season.
Cooper had his first touchdown catch of the season.
Wide receiver Tyrell Williams caught five passes for 117 yards and a
touchdown, and Travis Benjamin had seven catches for 117 yards for
the Chargers. Tight end Hunter Henry caught three passes for 74
yards and a score, and tight end Antonio Gates (hamstring) returned
from a two-game absence and had four catches for 30 yards and a TD.
"We gave up way too much today," Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack
said. "We got to look at it and correct. We got some new guys back
in coverage and we got some new guys up front. We got to mix it in
and hold it down for the offense."
Chargers rookie defensive end Joey Bosa, the No. 3 pick in this
year's draft, made his debut after sitting out the first four games
with a hamstring injury. He recorded his first two career sacks and
finished with five tackles.
"There's been no give up," McCoy said. "There will be no give up
here. Our guys play their hearts out every week."
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NOTES: Raiders rookie RB DeAndre Washington made his first career
start, replacing Latavius Murray (toe), who was inactive. He rushed
for 29 yards on nine carries and caught five passes for 29. ...
Chargers backup ILB Korey Toomer, who was on the Raiders' practice
squad earlier this season, started in place of Denzel Perryman
(shoulder). ... Oakland TE Mychal Rivera made his first start of the
season, replacing Clive Walford (knee). ... San Diego CB Casey
Hayward made his second straight start in place of Brandon Flowers
(concussion). ... Chargers CB Craig Mager started in place of Jason
Verrett, who was placed on injured reserve Friday due to a torn knee
ligament. ... Raiders OLB Perry Riley, who was signed earlier in the
week as a free agent, made his debut, starting in place of Malcolm
Smith (quad). Riley had a team-high seven tackles and forced a
fumble.
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