Raiders vs Chargers: 3 Surprises from the 2021 Week 18 victory

Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) and Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Trent Sieg (47) celebrate after the Raiders defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 35-32 in overtime at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) and Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Trent Sieg (47) celebrate after the Raiders defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 35-32 in overtime at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Head coach Brandon Staley of the Los Angeles Chargers gestures during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 9, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 35-32 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Head coach Brandon Staley of the Los Angeles Chargers gestures during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 9, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 35-32 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

The Las Vegas Raiders took care of business on Sunday night against the Chargers, and here are some of the surprises from the 35-32 victory.

This was the kind of win that team owner Mark Davis was hoping for when he moved the Raiders franchise to the Las Vegas desert after the 2019 NFL season. Sure, Year 1 was strange, as COVID forced fans from the building, and the NFL played inside empty stadiums, but Year 2 brought so many highs and lows.

In the end, Derek Carr willed his team to the playoffs, clinching the No. 5 seed in the AFC after all was said and done. Here, we look at three big surprises from the Week 18 victory over the Chargers that send the Silver and Black to the playoffs.

Raiders vs Chargers: 3 Surprises from the 2021 Week 18 victory

Chargers call a late timeout

Late in the overtime period, it looked like the two teams were going to settle for the tie after battling it out for four quarters and then some. However, when the Chargers head coach decided to take a timeout with 0:38 seconds left, it appeared the Raiders took that personally and went for the victory.

On a third-and-4, Josh Jacobs rushed for ten yards, getting within range for another Daniel Carlson game-winning field goal. When the kick went through the uprights, the Chargers went home to watch the playoffs with the other eliminated teams.