Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Darius Philon reacts after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
By Jeremy Kahn
With their playoff chances on the line, the Los Angeles Chargers did not let the pedal off the gas against their biggest rival–the Oakland Raiders–on Sunday afternoon.
Philip Rivers threw for 387 yards and three touchdowns, as the Chargers defeated the Raiders 30-10 at the Stubhub Center.
Unfortunately, the news was not all good for the Chargers, as they were eliminated from the AFC Playoff race just moments after their win, when the Tennessee Titans defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium.
Former Cal star Keenan Allen scored on a 27-yard fumble return for the Chargers, who were attempting to become just the second team in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting the season with an 0-4 record.
Allen also scored on a six-yard touchdown pass from Rivers, as the Chargers ended the season by winning six out of their last seven games.
Rivers also threw touchdown passes to Tyrell Williams for 56 yards, and Travis Benjamin was on the receiving end of a 62-yard touchdown pass.
As for the Raiders, the nightmare season is now over, as they entered the season with such high expectations; however, they lost their final four games of the season to end the season with a 6-10 record.
Amari Cooper ended the season on a high note, as he was on the receiving end of an 87-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr; however, that would be the only Raiders touchdown of the afternoon.
Cooper ended the afternoon with three catches for 115 yards and that 87-yard touchdown reception from Carr.
In the season finale, Carr went 19-for-28 for 243 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception.
Marshawn Lynch led the Raiders in rushing, as he carried the ball 19 times for 101 yards on the afternoon.
It turned out to be a good day for Lynch, who went over the 10,000-yard plateau for his career and also earned a $600,000 bonus for going over the 800-yard mark for the season.

