Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers: 5 things we learned

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers: 5 things we learned

The Chargers handed this game to the Raiders

The Raiders did all they could to win this game but it would not have been possible without the mistakes the Chargers made throughout the game. The first error by LA was missing a 48-yard field goal in the first quarter where they could have gone for it on fourth and 2 from the Raider 30.

The second error was late in the game as they had a chance to take the lead down 28-26 and held the Raiders to a three and out, but muffed a punt and handed the ball back to the Raiders on their own 31. The ensuing field goal by the Raiders proved to be the difference in the game as the Chargers need a touchdown to win the game and failed to do so.

Lastly, the Chargers continued struggles in late game situations where they mismanage the clock struck again and were the key to the game. After the Raiders went up 31-26, the Chargers got the ball on their own 25 with three timeouts and 4:37 to go in the game. Through their mismanagement of the clock and decision to continually throw in the middle of the field, the Chargers used all three of their timeouts before they had even made it to the red zone and were down to just 7 seconds when they got down to the goal line.

That left them with little option but to throw quick passes in to the end zone and only gave them two chances to do so before the clock expired. The Raiders made plays down at the goal line but the Chargers backed themselves in to a corner with their poor clock management and effectively handed the Raiders the game with all of their mistakes.