Raiders Lose to Chargers 30-17

RB Dominic Rhodes carried the ball 29 times for 122 yards and a touchdown, and rookie QB JaMarcus Russell completed 23 of 31 for 224 yards and a score in his first career start, but it wasn’t enough as the San Diego Chargers defeated The Oakland Raiders 30-17 at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland in the 2007 Regular Season finale.

The Raiders won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. CB Chris Carr returned K Dave Rayner’s opening kickoff 42 yards to the Raiders 48. The Raiders offense took the field with JaMarcus Russell at quarterback. Russell’s first pass, a screen for RB Dominic Rhodes, was intercepted by DE Igor Olshansky. The Chargers took over at the Oakland 48 with Philip Rivers at quarterback.

Rivers capped a 9-play, 47-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown toss to RB LaDainian Tomlinson. K Nate Kaeding’s extra point was good and the Chargers took a 7-0 lead with 9:53 left in the first quarter.

Carr returned Rayner’s ensuing kickoff 43 yards to midfield. The Raiders drove to the Chargers 31 before the drive stalled. K Sebastian Janikowski came on and missed a 49-yard field goal attempt wide right. The Chargers took over at their own 39 with 5:55 left in the first quarter.

Two plays later, DT Warren Sapp hit Rivers causing a fumble which DE Derrick Burgess recovered at the Chargers 35. After a pass interference call on CB Drayton Florence, Rhodes capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Janikowski’s extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 4:31 left in the first quarter.

After Janikowski’s ensuing kickoff, the Raiders defense forced a three-and-out. Rookie WR Johnnie Lee Higgins called for and made a fair catch of P Mike Scifres 53-yard punt at the Oakland 13. The Raiders were unable to mount a drive and Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler came on to punt. WR Buster Davis made a diving catch of the 39-yard punt at the San Diego 33, and a personal foul on the Chargers backed them up to their own 18.

The Raiders defense forced another three-and-out. Higgins returned Scifres’ 54-yard punt to the Raiders 32. The Raiders moved out near midfield before the Chargers forced a punt. Lechler’s 53-yard punt was downed at the 3-yard line by CB Chris Johnson.

San Diego’s offense moved out to their own 23 before the Raiders forced a punt. Higgins fielded Scifres’ 50-yard punt and lost yardage on the return. A holding call back the Raiders up to their own 11. The Raiders moved out to the 42 before San Diego forced a punt. Lechler’s 58-yard punt bounced into the end zone for a touchback and the Chargers took over at their own 20 with 3:06 left in the second quarter.

Rivers capped the 9-play, 80-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to WR Chris Chambers. Kaeding’s extra point gave the Chargers a 14-7 lead with 38 seconds left in the second quarter.

After Carr returned the ensuing kickoff, the Raiders drove into Chargers territory. Janikowski came on and connected on a 53-yard field goal attempt. The kick capped a 5-play, 37-yard drive and cut the Chargers lead to 14-10 heading into the locker room at halftime.

RB Darren Sproles returned Janikowski’s opening kickoff of the second half 61 yards to the Raiders 39. San Diego drove to the Raiders 18 before having to settle for a field goal attempt. Kaeding’s 36-yard field goal gave the Chargers a 17-10 lead with 12:51 left in the third quarter.

Carr returned the ensuing kickoff to the Raiders 18. The Raiders were unable to mount a drive and were forced to punt. Sproles returned Lechler’s 50-yard punt 13 yards to the San Diego 44.

The Raiders defense allowed one first down before forcing a punt. Higgins called for and made a fair catch of Scifres’ punt at the Oakland 15. The Chargers increased their lead when LB Jyles Tucker recovered a Russell fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Kaeding’s extra point gave San Diego a 24-10 lead with 7:12 left in the third quarter.

Carr returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 33. The Raiders drove inside the Chargers 40 but Rhodes fumbled the ball back to San Diego. The Chargers took over at their own 37. The Raiders allowed one first down before forcing a punt. Higgins returned Scifres’ punt 55 yards to the Chargers 40.

Two plays later, Russell threw a 32-yard laser beam to WR Jerry Porter for a touchdown. Janikowski’s extra point cut the Chargers lead to 24-17 with 1:19 left in the third quarter.

Sproles returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to the Raiders 45. The Chargers drove to the Raiders 13 before the Silver and Black forced a field goal attempt. Kaeding’s successful 32-yard kick capped a 6-play, 32-yard drive and gave the Chargers a 27-17 lead with 13:36 left in the fourth quarter.

Carr returned the ensuing kickoff 24 yards to the Raiders 26. The Raiders moved out to their own 45 before failing to convert on 4th and 4. The Chargers took over with 11:03 left in the fourth quarter with Billy Volek at quarterback. The Raiders defense forced a three-and-out.

Higgins called for and made a fair catch of Scifres’ punt at the Oakland 9-yard line. The Raiders drove the San Diego 22 before failing to convert on 4th and 2 and the Chargers took over with 3:05 left in the game. The Raiders held the Chargers to a three-and-out. Higgins fumbled the Scifres punt and the Chargers recovered at the Raiders 4. Several plays later, Kaeding came on and connected on a 24-yard field goal and gave the Chargers a 30-17 lead with 1:46 left to play.

The Oakland Raiders close out the 2007 Regular Season with a 4-12 record.

OAKLAND RAIDERS 2007 RECORD

4 WINS - 12 LOSSES

OAKLAND RAIDERS 2007 SEASON SCHEDULE

OAKLAND RAIDERS TEAM INFORMATION

The Oakland Raiders
1220 Harbor Bay Parkway
Alameda, CA 94502
(510)864-5000


Stadium
McAfee Coliseum
7000 Coliseum Way
Oakland, CA 94621

Playing Surface: Grass
Capacity: 63,142


Training Camp
Napa Valley Marriott
3425 Solano Avenue
Napa, CA 94558


2007 Coaching Staff

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