Chargers defeat the Raiders 26-13 to keep their playoff hopes alive

San Diego,CA- There’s still a chance….is the sentiment among Charger fans after today’s win over the Raiders 26-13 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The two teams ahead of the Chargers in the race for the AFC’s final wildcard spot both lost today as the Bills defeated the Dolphins 19-0 & the Patriots defeated the Ravens 41-7.
With today’s win the Chargers need both the Dolphins and Ravens to lose again next week and the Chargers must beat the Chiefs in order to make the playoffs.

The Chargers took the early lead on their first drive of the game on a 27-yard field goal to give the Chargers a 3-0 lead.

The Raiders would take the lead 7-3 to start the 2nd quarter on a 5-yard touchdown run by Darren McFadden.

Ryan Matthews would give the Chargers back the lead on a 7-yard touchdown run by Mathews.

The Chargers would help out the Raiders right before halftime as Keenan Allen fumbled a punt to give the Raiders the ball in the RedZone with 1:36 left in the half.

The Chargers would hold the Raiders to a field goal to tie the game at 10-10 at the half.

The game would remain tied until midway through the 3rd quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Phillip Rivers to Keenan Allen to give the Chargers the lead 17-10. The touchdown was Allen’s fifth in the last three games.

The Chargers would extend their lead to 20-10 to end the 3rd quarter on a 48-yard field goal by Novak.

Novak would nail two more field goals from 28 and 33 yards to extend the Chargers lead to 26-13.

The Chargers ended up with 3 penalties for 24 yards, while the Raiders had 12 for 73.

The Raiders had a chance to get back in the game with the ball at on 4th down at the one yard line and a chance to cut the Chargers lead to three, when Raiders Tight-End Mychal Rivera dropped a touchdown pass to seal the game for the Chargers.

Ryan Matthews had another solid game for the Chargers rushing for 99-yards and a touchdown. Matthews now has 1,111 rushing yards on the season, a new career high.