Top Baller:  FS Erik Harris

The Raiders jumped out to a 10-0 lead in this game, all thanks to Harris. It was looking like the Chargers would pick up where they left off against the Packers and drive for a score to open the game. That ended when Rivers sailed a pass, and Harris was right there to pick it off and return it 59 yards to the Oakland 31. The Raiders would get a field goal out of that.

Back on the field came the Chargers, who were moving again, with 26 yards on the first three plays. Then Rivers was pressured, causing him to rush his throw and Harris broke on the ball, picked it off and returned it 56 yards to the house. That’s a 10-0 lead before the Raiders offense had done a thing.

What’s crazy is Harris had those two huge interceptions, but he could have had five. He nearly picked off a pass in the end zone on the Chargers’ first scoring drive in the second quarter. He knocked the throw down, but the Chargers managing to get the touchdown on the next play.

The very next drive, he did intercept the ball in the end zone, but Maxx Crosby was flagged for being offside, so his would-be third interception was nullified. Once again, the Chargers scored on the next play to take the lead 14-10. And just like that, it appeared Harris’s efforts were lost.

Late in the second quarter, the Raiders offense was finally able to contribute to the effort, driving for a touchdown. Each team would swap scores in the third and fourth quarters.

With a 26-24 Raiders lead, the Chargers would get the ball with one last chance to drive for the win. All they would need is to get into field goal range.

That effort nearly ended in three plays with Harris once again getting his hands on one. But the high pass just slipped through his hands. A holding penalty on Trayvon Mullen would keep the drive alive. Harris would have tight coverage on one more incompletion on the drive as Rivers didn’t complete a single pass on seven attempts on that final drive.

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