LaDainian Tomlinson was able to do the same things that he always does when he plays against the Raiders.

Shawne Merriman was able to break his “Lights Out” spasmodic sack dance out. The last time that occurred was in 2007.

For the Chargers it was just business as usual, as they defeated the Raiders on Sunday 24-16, with two Tomlinson touchdowns and one of them coming from the wildcat. It was San Diego’s 13th win in a row versus hapless Oakland, to preserve the NFL’s longest active winning streak of one team against another.

San Diego (4-3) have been able to sweep the series six seasons in a row. Many of the Chargers players, including Philip Rivers, quarterback, haven’t ever lost to Oakland (2-6). It was the Charger’s seventh win in a row at home versus the Raiders.

Tomlinson, who San Diego drafted in 2001 said, at first the atmosphere and intensity kind of rubbed me wrong. Beating them 13 times means that their fans had to go home 13 times hanging their heads.

Tom Cable, Raiders coach, said it was a big hump for them to get over. This year we had two great opportunities. We are closer, but you can’t take away from that until we are able to get past the hump.

With Denver losing at Baltimore 30-7, San Diego moved to within two games for the lead in the AFC West. The Chargers are attempting to win their fourth division title in a row.

Merriman was able to get his first sacks since 2007. He was able to sack Russell twice, once late second quarter and then again late fourth quarter. The Chargers outside linebacker is attempting to come back from his knee surgery. Last year he missed the last 15 games of the regular season as well as two playoff games.

Merriman said, it was a long time coming. I don’t put a big emphasis on sacks like everyone else does. They are important though. I know I need to make the plays and get the sacks for us to be a good defense. As long as I do that and pressure the quarterback and force him into doing things he doesn’t want to, we will be better.

The Chargers had five sacks, a season high, and also allowed only 180 yards, a season low. Shaun Phillips, San Diego’s other outside linebacker, had two sacks as well.

Rivers, who only got sacked once, was impressed with his defense.

Phillips said, they have been applying pressure. Still it was great to see. Getting the quarterback onto the ground, there is something to it. I think it is really huge. When it comes to sacks, from what I have seen on the sideline, the guys in some of the games have been a force. But it doesn’t get a lot of attention when there aren’t any sacks.

With sacks it is funny how for a few games you have a spurt and then all a sudden get six or seven. It shows just how huge a pro that he is. The guys keep hammering away.

San Diego didn’t need to rally for a win like the opening game of the season in Oakland where the Raiders beat them up physically but they still got a 24-20 win.

Antonio Cromartie, cornerback, intercepted a pass from Russell when Zach Miller, the tight end, fell down. For Cromartie, it was his first interception in twenty games. In 2007 he had 10 interceptions, but only had two last season.

San Diego’s first play was a pass from Rivers over to Malcolm Floyd of 53 yards. Floyd was in the Chargers starting lineup replacing a struggling Chris Chambers. The play gave the Chargers a first down and goal from the six yard line. Tomlinson took the snap, running to the right to give San Diego a lead of 7-0.

Early second quarter the Raiders tied the game after a pass from Rivers to Vincent Jackson bounced off Jackson’s hands and Chris Johnson intercepted it. Johnson returned the ball twenty yards down to the 27 yard line of San Diego. The short drive was capped by a 3 yard run by Justin Fargas to score the touchdown.

On their next two drives the Chargers scored to make the score 21-7. Rivers connected with Jackson, who was wide open, on a scoring pass of eight yards and Tomlinson also scored on a run of 10 yards.

Rivers went 16 for 25 for a total of 249 yards. Tomlinson rushed for 56 yards in 18 carries. Fargas carried the ball 18 times as well for a total of 59 yards.

During his career of nine years, Tomlinson has had 28 touchdowns versus the Raiders. Twenty two have come rushing, three passing and three receiving.

For the remainder of the game, Oakland only got three field goals from Sebastian Janikowski from 28, 41 and 48 yards.

Russell, who a week earlier was benched at home in a 38-0 loss to the Jets, went 14 for 22 for a total of 109 yards.

Cable said, he seemed today to be very in control. He probably had a few throws he would like to do over. However overall today he did give us the chance to win.

Notes
Chargers inside linebacker Tim Dobbins was taken off the field on a cart due to an injured knee but did return. The Raiders sustained the following injuries: cornerback Chris Johnson (injured groin), defensive tackle Tommy Kelly (injured elbow), defensive tackle Gerard Warren (injured toe), and linebacker Jon Alston (injured shoulder).