Erik Harris proving to be a leader for the Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders played host to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night football, with both teams looking for their fifth win of the season. Oakland and Los Angeles won the week prior and winning again in week 10 would intensify each team’s playoff implications.

The Oakland Raiders entered Thursday’s game with a 4-4 record led by the high-strung offensive attack of Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs. However, this week’s game resulted in a 26-24 Raiders win over the Chargers with the Oakland defense playing their most complete game of the season.

The defense was led by safety Erik Harris — intercepting Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers twice in the first quarter, and would’ve had a third if the Raiders didn’t get called on an offsides penalty.

Harris returned his two interceptions for a total of 115 return yards — including his second one going all the way back for a 56-yard return and touchdown. That marks Harris’ second pick-six of the season, dating back to his first one against the Indianapolis Colts in a week 4 win.

Harris was a huge factor in slowing down the Chargers heavy passing attack. Rivers came into Thursday’s game as the leader in passing yards, and the Oakland secondary held him to 207 yards through the air.

In past weeks the Raiders offense had been carrying the load, whereas the defense couldn’t find ways to stop opposing offenses. This week, Harris and company rallied the troops and came up with multiple stops and turnovers — including Karl Joseph‘s game-winning interception with 22 seconds left in the game.

Overall, the Raiders defensive performance was unlike any other game they’ve played this season. The defense finished the game totaling five sacks and three interceptions. The defensive line found ways to generate pressure at a constant rate — forcing Rivers to throw the ball under duress. Maxx Crosby led the Oakland pass rushers with ten quarterback pressures, while Clelin Ferrell forced five pressures.

The Raiders now find themselves with a 5-4 record and ten days to prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals coming to town in Week 11. Remember, the schedule gets very easy the next two weeks, as the Bengals have yet to win a game, and the Raiders opponent in Week 12, the New York Jets, just lost to the the-winless Miami Dolphins.

Oakland has a real opportunity to head to Kansas City in a few weeks sitting at 7-4, and with a chance to overtake first place in the AFC West.