Ok…so maybe the dartboard thing is bit of a reach. But so too is any bet on the Chargers at this point. Perhaps we shouldn’t be reading too much into the win. The Norv Chargers are a mess and all Oakland did was lift the rug so the world could he how ugly that mess is.

Still, there is plenty of praise to go around. Let’s take a look at some of the better performances last night in no particular order.

Michael Bush – What can you say about his 242 total yards? About all you need to know is that he pushed Bo Jackson out of the Raider record book last night. Bush and the O-line really set the tone for the entire night. The bully building process is still a work in progress but last night was a great day on the job.

Stefen Wisniewski – His first start at center and I saw plenty of promise. Young Wiz is looking like a real weapon on screen passes. Get him in space and watch as the bodies fly. Samson Satele’s job was in jeopardy from the second the Raiders took Wisniewski. If Stefen gets another start it could be curtains for Samson. Whoever said you can’t lose your job to injury never played pro football.

Carson Palmer – This is what we’ve been waiting for. There is still more work to be done as two more turnovers didn’t help Oakland’s cause. Overall it was a great night for Palmer who showed great pocket presence, a solid grasp of the offense…oh…he also threw the rock around the yard a little bit too. Hard to tell who was supposed to be the All Pro and who was the guy sitting on his couch a month ago between Palmer and crybaby Philip.
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Bush ran around, through and over the Chargers as he gained an astounding 242 yards of total offense. Behind a bullying yet banged up offensive line Bush took the rock 30 times and ran for 157 yards.

But that was only one third of the story.

On the defensive side of things Oakland abused Philip Rivers all night. The league’s biggest cry baby had plenty to sob over as the Raiders’ D-line dominated the wounded and slow Charger blocking scheme.

For most of this season Kamerion Wimbley had done little to earn his phat check. In one evening filled with 4 sacks and countess pressures, Wimbley proved why Al Davis showed him the money. Rolando McClain had one of his better games in Silver and Black as well as the second year linebacker was like a magnet attracted to pigskin tonight.

All that pressure up front wasn’t a complete result of the front four. Oakland’s secondary put forth their best effort of the season. Stanford Routt made Vincent Jackson invisible for the evening. When Rivers finally dialed Jackson’s number it was far too late as Matt Giordano came up with a huge pick in the end zone on a play in which Jackson pretty much threw in the towel.

Still that was only two-thirds of the reason why Oakland won.

The final third was wearing #3.
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