Chargers lose to Las Vegas Raiders in a 63-21 blowout
LAS VEGAS — The Chargers came to Sin City and were criminally and vulgarly bad Thursday, their performance the most embarrassing since the franchise moved from San Diego.
In fact, this showing had to be one of the most embarrassing since the Chargers came into existence 64 years ago.
They fell three touchdowns behind after one quarter against a Las Vegas team that had scored as many as 21 points in a game only twice all season.
The Raiders scored 21 more points in the second quarter, turning the night into a punchline as the Chargers eventually lost 63-21, that total point the most a Charger team has given up in a single game.
The defeat dropped the Chargers to 5-9 and assured them of their first losing season since 2020, the final year of Anthony Lynn’s tenure as head coach.
Easton Stick connects on 13-yard touchdown pass
🏈 Raiders 63, Chargers 14 — 8:39 left in the fourth quarter
Easton Stick connected on a 13-yard pass to wide receiver Alex Erickson on what has been, so far, the only decent-looking drive of the night for the Chargers.
Playing mostly against reserves, the Chargers went 75 yards on 11 plays. The game is far from salvageable, but it’s something the Chargers can sort of feel good about until the final whistle comes.
Raiders set franchise record for points in a game
🏈 Raiders 63, Chargers 7 — 14:31 left in the fourth quarter
Raiders cornerback Jack Jones returned an Easton Stick interception 16 yards for a touchdown to extend the Raiders already formidable lead.
Jones seemed to anticipate the play perfectly, running up into the passing lane between Stick and his intended receiver, Austin Ekeler, to corral the pass with one hand. Even Raiders owner Mark Davis, sitting in his luxury box, couldn’t believe what he saw.
The 63 points is the most ever scored by the Raiders in a single game — and the most ever given up by the Chargers in a game.
Raiders can’t stop, won’t stop dominating Chargers
🏈 Raiders 56, Chargers 7 — End of the third quarter
Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins returned a Easton Stick fumble 44 yards for a touchdown to extend Las Vegas’ already outrageous lead.
The 34-year-old, 327-pound Jenkins was smiling and slapping hands with teammates on the sideline for several minutes after the touchdown. Defensive end Malcolm Koonce sacked Stick to force the fumble.
Making matters worse, Chargers center Will Clapp was carted off the field after sustaining an injury on the ensuing possession.
Chargers finally get on scoreboard with 79-yard TD pass
🏈 Raiders 49, Chargers 7 — 10:27 left in the third quarter
On their his snap of the second half, Chargers quarterback Easton Stick connected on a 79-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer to finally get L.A. on the scoreboard. Palmer was wide open on the play, taking advantage of broken coverage in the Las Vegas secondary.
Unmerciful Raiders keep pouring it on, take 49-0 lead
🏈 Raiders 49, Chargers 0 — 10:42 left in the third quarter
The Black Hole nightmare continues for the Chargers.
Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers took a toss from quarterback Aidan O’Connell and then threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams to add to Las Vegas’ already huge lead.
Meyer’s pass capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive that was fueled by an 18-yard catch by Adams.
Chargers trail 42-0 at halftime
🏈 Raiders 42, Chargers 0 — HALFTIME
Big changes are expected to hit the Chargers this offseason, and their abysmal first-half performance against the Raiders shows how bad things have gotten in what has become another lost season.
Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tre Tucker to extend the Raiders’ already baffling lead over a completely lost Chargers squad. It is the most lopsided first half in the NFL since the Green Bay Packers achieved the same feat during a 55-14 win over the Chicago Bears in November 2014.
The Chargers turned over the ball three times and the Easton Stick-led offense was held to just five first downs and 89 total yards. The Chargers haven’t moved the ball into Raiders territory yet and had to punt four times.
As bad as the offense has been, the defense has been worse, allowing Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell to dominate the secondary. O’Connell has completed 14 of 23 passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns. Davante Adam has 73 yards on five catches.
Stick, filling in for the injured Justin Herbert, has completed nine of 14 passes for 75 yards.
Former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, speaking on the Amazon Prime halftime show, said the Chargers should “make history” and fire coach Brandon Staley before the second half starts. While that isn’t going to happen, the Chargers will need nothing short of a miracle to pull off a second-half comeback.
If you want to know more about why the Chargers are struggling so much this season, read this story from Jeff Miller:
The Chargers head to Vegas to play the Raiders with the understanding that coach Brandon Staley’s failure to assemble a solid defense has been the team’s undoing.
Raiders take 35-0 lead late in the second quarter
🏈 Raiders 35, Chargers 0 — 3:50 left in the second quarter
Raiders running back Brandon Bolden scored on a 26-yard run, blasting past a tackle-adverse Chargers defense to add to an already formidable Las Vegas lead.
The Raiders didn’t need to rely on a Chargers turnover to find the end zone this time, piecing together a quick, six-play, 65-yard drive.
Another Chargers turnover leads to a Raiders touchdown
🏈 Raiders 28, Raiders 0 — 9:15 left in the second quarter
Raiders tight end Michael Mayer scored on an 11-yard touchdown catch, running unopposed into the end zone to continue what has been a horrendous game so far for the Chargers.
The touchdown came three plays after the Chargers turned over the ball for a third time when return specialist Derius Davis fumbled on a punt return. DJ Turner forced the fumble and recovered for the Raiders at the Chargers’ 14-yard line.
With virtually nothing left to play for this season other than pride, the Chargers have been held to four first downs and just 60 total yards against their AFC West rivals.
Raiders extend lead after another Chargers fumble
🏈 Raiders 21, Chargers 0 — 3:07 left in the first quarter
It has been a disaster of a game for the Chargers so far.
Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers made an incredible, diving touchdown catch, hauling in a perfectly placed 22-yard pass from Aidan O’Connell against a stunned Chargers squad to extend Las Vegas’ lead.
The touchdown came off the Chargers’ second lost fumble of the game — Joshua Kelley lost the ball after a short fun and former Chargers defensive tackle Jerry Tillery recovered on the Chargers’ 31.
The Chargers’ first four possessions have ended with two fumbles and two punts. They have three first downs and 51 total yards (Las Vegas has eight first downs and 149 total yards).
Raiders extend lead on controversial touchdown catch
🏈 Raiders 14, Chargers 0 — 4:41 left in the first quarter
Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell connected with wide-open receiver Tre Tucker for a 30-yard touchdown pass to extend the Raiders’ lead in the first quarter. The touchdown ruling was confirmed on video review even though it appeared Tucker did not get both feet down before having control of the ball.
The Raiders got the ball back when defensive end Malcolm Koonce strip sacked Easton Stick. Defensive end Tyree Wilson recovered the ball on the Chargers’ 42.
Raiders take early lead on Zamir White touchdown
🏈 Raiders 7, Chargers 0 — 8:10 left in the first quarter
Raiders running back Zamir White scored on a one-yard run to get Las Vegas onto the scoreboard.
The run capped a 12-play, 63-yard opening drive for the Raiders, that included a 24-yard pass from Aidan O’Connell to Davante Adams.
Easton Stick and the Chargers went three and out on the opening possession of the game.
Chargers hope Easton Stick can overachieve after losing Justin Herbert for the season
His most recent start came against the Eagles.
The Eastern Washington Eagles.
In January 2019.
On Thursday night, Easton Stick will face the Las Vegas Raiders in his first NFL start, replacing Justin Herbert after the Chargers lost their franchise quarterback for the remainder of the season because of broken finger.
“Ultimately, it’s football,” Stick said Tuesday. “Look, I understand North Dakota State is not the National Football League, but I’m used to winning. I only know one way. This is a production business, and I understand that.”
Inactives for Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Here are the players who will not be suiting up for the Chargers against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night:
And here are the Raiders’ inactives:
Chargers also will be without star receiver Keenan Allen against Raiders
Already without quarterback Justin Herbert, the Chargers also won’t have wide receiver Keenan Allen on Thursday night when they play at Las Vegas.
The veteran has been dealing with a heel issue and will miss a game for the first time this season.
Herbert is out for the rest of the season after having surgery Tuesday on the right index finger he fractured Sunday against Denver. Easton Stick will make his first NFL start against the Raiders.
As Chargers head to Vegas, coach Brandon Staley has no defense for team’s failure
The reporter termed it the “Brandon Staley Plan,” the question to Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel framed in a way that suggested he had been outsmarted by the Chargers’ coach when their teams met last December.
That day the Chargers won by controlling time of possession, making Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa look overwhelmed and holding Miami to 17 points and 219 yards.
A few days before a rematch to open this season, McDaniel was reminded of Staley’s defensive masterpiece. With a chuckle, he basically dismissed the question.
When the opportunity to atone for that loss arrived, McDaniel basically dismissed Staley.
On the first play of the game, edge rusher Joey Bosa was called for offside. In retrospect, there is something supremely appropriate about the Chargers’ defense opening the season by walking backward.
Chargers-Raiders matchups: How to watch, start time and prediction
Breaking down how the Chargers (5-8) and Las Vegas Raiders (5-8) match up heading into their game Thursday at 5:15 p.m. PST in Las Vegas. The game will be televised on Fox and Amazon Prime Video.
When Chargers have the ball
For the first time since Week 2 of the 2020 season, someone other than Justin Herbert will start at quarterback for the Chargers. Easton Stick will replace Herbert, who suffered a broken right index finger Sunday against Denver and had surgery Tuesday.