Raiders vs Chargers: 3 things we learned in 2021 Week 18

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 09: Las Vegas Raiders fans Marilyn Acasio (center L) and her husband Mark "Gorilla Rilla" Acasio of California hold up a banner with the word "playoffs" after the Raiders' 35-32 overtime win over the the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 9, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 09: Las Vegas Raiders fans Marilyn Acasio (center L) and her husband Mark "Gorilla Rilla" Acasio of California hold up a banner with the word "playoffs" after the Raiders' 35-32 overtime win over the the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 9, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Brandon Parker #75 and Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate a touchdown by Jacobs during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 09, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Brandon Parker #75 and Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate a touchdown by Jacobs during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 09, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images) /

Raiders vs Chargers: 3 things we learned in 2021 Week 18

This Team Is Beyond Resilient

A few weeks ago, the Raiders were coming off a 48-9 beat down courtesy of the Kansas City Chiefs and looked like a dead team. Now they find themselves going to Cincinnati for a wildcard matchup with the Bengals.

So, how on earth did we get here?

Simply put, the Raiders have shown a level of resilience that I’m not sure even the most passionate Raiders fan thought they had.

And it was evident in multiple players on Sunday night. It started with Josh Jacobs, who, despite having injured ribs, had his best game of the season and carried the offense when it mattered most. On defense, it was Maxx Crosby continuously pressuring Justin Herbert almost every single played with zero rest.

As a team, they showed despite the numerous trials they faced this year, they could always find a way to pick themselves up off the ground and win by any means necessary when it truly mattered.

Close call after close call, emotions changing with every possession, and four straight wins by a combined 12 points have gotten us here.

It hasn’t been easy, and at times it seemed like they were ready to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory, but the Raiders found a way to get it done. As fans, it feels like we need an entire week to recover from each game, but so far, it has been worth every heart-wrenching second.