A complete beatdown for the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night time led to franchise historical past, as they demolished the Los Angeles Chargers, 63-21, to enhance to 6-8 on the season.
It’s the most factors scored by a Raiders workforce in franchise historical past.
The Chargers, reeling already with out Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen on this recreation, fell to 5-9 on the 12 months with head coach Brandon Staley’s seat even hotter now after this entire letdown of a recreation.
Los Angeles might need been essentially the most uninspired a workforce has seemed all season to begin a recreation, and it started with a three-and-out on Easton Stick’s first profession drive as a starter, gaining simply seven yards earlier than punting it to the Raiders.
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Jakobi Meyers #16 of the Las Vegas Raiders completes a cross for a landing towards Michael Davis #43 of the Los Angeles Chargers throughout an NFL soccer recreation between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Michael Owens/Getty Pictures)
Then, Los Angeles noticed back-to-back fumble drives, with Stick getting stripped sacked earlier than Joshua Kelley fumbled on the primary play of the third drive for the Chargers. It was nearly three fumbles misplaced in a row when Gerald Everett had the ball stripped from him, however the Chargers have been in a position to get better.
Lastly, rookie Derius Davis fumbled a punt return, including insult to harm at this level within the recreation.
All through all of the Chargers’ struggles, rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell and the Raiders’ offense have been make one of the best of their alternatives.
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It began with a 12-play, 68-yard drive that the Raiders capped with a speeding landing by Zamir White, who was one among three working backs filling in for the injured Josh Jacobs.
After the primary Chargers fumble, O’Connell wanted simply 4 performs to search out Tre Tucker streaking throughout the tip zone for a 30-yard landing cross to make it 14-0. O’Connell confirmed off his deep ball expertise on the very subsequent drive, as Jakobi Meyers laid out from the five-yard line and caught a 22-yard landing to begin pulling away within the first quarter.
However the Raiders weren’t completed beating down on their AFC West rival.
Huge receiver Tre Tucker #11 of the Las Vegas Raiders scores a landing in entrance of cornerback Michael Davis #43 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the course of the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Candice Ward/Getty Pictures)
Davis’s fumble on the punt return led to an ideal play-action cross to tight finish Michael Mayer, who walked into the tip zone for an 11-yard rating.
Then, a direct snap to Brandon Bolden on a third-down play led to a 26-yard run for the fifth landing of the half. An ensuing turnover on downs by the Chargers led to a different Raiders rating, with Tucker getting within the coloured paint but once more to cement this as a blowout with two quarters nonetheless to play.
Bear in mind, this was a Raiders squad that wasn’t in a position to rating a single level towards the Minnesota Vikings 4 days in the past, and interim head coach Antonio Pierce wasn’t certain if Jimmy Garoppolo needs to be again underneath middle.
As a substitute, O’Connell led the way in which, due to some turnovers, to place collectively the second-largest halftime lead by an NFL workforce in historical past.
In the meantime, the Chargers weren’t out of playoff competition, however this efficiency reveals what path they’re heading for towards the tip of the season.
Quarterback Aidan O’Connell #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders stands behind middle towards the Los Angeles Chargers in the course of the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures)
The second half was extra of the identical for the Raiders, who discovered Davante Adams with a trick play landing on a cross from Meyers. Meyers really threw the ball to him twice, serving to Adams rack up eight catches for 101 yards.
Even the Raiders’ protection bought concerned within the scoring, selecting up touchdowns on back-to-back drives within the second half on implausible performs. The primary was Malcolm Koonce hitting Stick on his blindside, which pressured the ball out for John Jenkins to scoop up and convey again 44 yards for a scoop-and-score.
Then, Jack Jones learn a display screen to Austin Ekeler completely, leaping the route and making a spectacular one-handed interception that he ran again for a pick-six.
Los Angeles was lastly in a position to get on the scoreboard due to nobody being round Josh Palmer on a 79-yard catch-and-run down the left sideline on the Chargers’ first drive of the second half. Alex Erickson and Quentin Johnston would additionally discover the tip zone within the fourth quarter.
However, on the finish of the day, it was rubbish factors. The Chargers wished to get out of Sin Metropolis as quick as doable and attempt to put this one behind them.
Operating again Brandon Bolden #34 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates after scoring a landing with teammate tight finish Michael Mayer #87 towards the Los Angeles Chargers in the course of the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Candice Ward/Getty Pictures)
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Trying on the stat sheet, O’Connell went 20-for-34 for 248 yards and 4 touchdowns. Stick did not have the worst of video games when all was mentioned and completed, going 23-of-32 for 257 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
