Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers: 3 things we learned in Week 16

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CARSON, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 22: Jalen Richard #30 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates the touchdown of DeAndre Washington #33, to take a 21-7 lead over the Los Angeles Chargers, during the third quarter at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 22, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

No second-half shutout

Coming into Sunday’s game in Los Angeles, Oakland managed to score just one touchdown in the second half in the previous five weeks of football. That lone touchdown came in true garbage time against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13. Oakland was shutout in the second half two weeks ago by the Tenessee Titans, and again last week against the meager Jacksonville Jaguars.

If the Raiders wanted any chance to stay in playoff contention, then they simply could not allow a repeat shutout to occur against the Chargers. To start the third quarter, Jon Gruden facilitated a 14-play drive that ended in a Deandre Washington touchdown, bumping the lead to 21-7 and leaving just 6:11 left in the quarter for Philip Rivers and the Chargers.

It was a great ploy of winning the possession battle but most importantly, finding the end zone and not settling for a field goal. Against the Denver Broncos next week, the same must happen; no second-half shut outs.

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