Busters: CBs Trayvon Mullen, Lamarcus Joyner
The Chargers’ first drive appeared as if it might end after four plays, but Mullen was flagged for pass interference on third and 14 to keep it alive. Next play, Joyner was blocked on a 12-yard run, and the Chargers were in scoring range. We know what happened next and on the next possession as well. Erik Harris happened.
Come the second quarter, the Chargers mounted another drive. In third and two from the 5-yard-line, Joyner would give up the first down catch and the touchdown catch when he was supposed to cover the deep part of the zone but didn’t drop back to cover Hunter Henry in the back of the end zone for a wide-open touchdown.
Late in the third quarter, with the Raiders leading 20-14, Mullen gave up a 45-yard catch. The next play, Joyner was blocked on a 24-yard run, and then Mullen gave up a 7-yard catch. That put the Chargers in range of a short field goal to pull within three.
That three-point lead would turn into a 4-point deficit after the next Chargers drive. Mullen gave up a 6-yard catch on third and four. Then Joyner would give up a 26-yard catch followed shortly by a 10-yard catch to put the Chargers at the 15-yard-line. A few plays later, and they were in the end zone.
The offense pushed back to re-take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but there was still plenty of time for the Chargers to answer. Three incompletions put them in 4th and 10. Then Mullen was called for holding, giving the Chargers a reprieve with a fresh set of downs.
Lucky for him and the Raiders, the Chargers didn’t have a clue what to do with them. Unfortunately, those were a costly four downs because Karl Joseph was lost for the season and Joyner pulling up lame with an apparent hamstring injury.
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