Four days after the Raiders’ worst-ever performance—a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the lowest-scoring indoor game in NFL history—they turned things around against the Chargers, winning 63-21 on Thursday night and setting a franchise record for points scored in a game against their rivals in the AFC West.
The 63 points were the second-highest in NFL history by a team that was shut out in its previous game, only surpassed by the 1964 points scored by the Philadelphia Eagles against the Cincinnati Reds in the Super Bowl era.
Additionally, since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the Raiders have scored the most credits in a prime-time game.
From zero to 63?
Antonio Pierce, the Raiders interim coach, described the team’s depressing atmosphere following Sunday’s defeat as “I was into it.” “I had to slap myself in order to shake off the funk, and the players helped me do so.” We kicked some ass today, and to think that they brought me along.
“It became a frenzy.”
With seven offensive touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns, the Raiders improved to 6-8 and snapped a three-game losing streak. It was an absolute annihilation. They scored a touchdown following each of their five interceptions. With 35 points from takeaways, the Raiders have equaled the record for most points this century, with the New England Patriots at the New York Jets in the 2012 “Butt Fumble” game and the Kansas City Chiefs at the Raiders in 2013.
At halftime, the Raiders were ahead 42-0.
Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers became the first non-quarterback to throw a pass with his team leading by at least 40 points this century when he connected with Davante Adams on a 3-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, giving the Raiders a 49-0 lead. Meyers joined Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen in 1983 against the Seattle Seahawks as the only Raiders player in team history to score a touchdown both throwing and receiving in the same game.
The Raiders scored their first two defensive touchdowns in a game since 2006, when Chris Carr and Nnamdi Asomugha successfully returned interceptions for scores against Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Defensive tackle John Jenkins returned a fumble for 44 yards, and defensive end Jack Jones produced an impressive pick-six from 16 yards out.
Bo Hardegree, the Raiders’ temporary offensive coordinator, moved from the field to the press box, where rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell demonstrated exceptional long throwing ability.
“We had to make a change, obviously, after last week’s performance,” Pierce remarked on Hardegree’s elevation. “And I think it works out well for us.”
Before the game, O’Connell was 5-for-20 with one touchdown and two interceptions on passes involving 20 or more air yards. In the first half, he went 3-of-4 with three touchdowns on passes of this type. Since ESPN started keeping track of air yards in 2006, he is the only quarterback in Raiders history to throw three touchdowns of at least 20 yards in a single game.
Finishing 20 of 34, he gained 248 yards and four touchdowns, a career high. He said that because the Raiders were unable to focus on the shutout defeat to the Vikings, the short week helped them get over it.
Following his 66.0 passer rating against the Vikings, O’Connell recorded a career-high 120.7 passer rating. “It was fun to watch and fun to be a part of,” he remarked. “Sometimes, the stars just align.”
Eight different players scored touchdowns for Las Vegas, which had scored 20 points or less in 11 of its previous 13 games. That is tied for the second most in an NFL game in history, including the playoffs, and it has happened five times total.
The Raiders will have a long vacation before playing the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas Day. They were without All-Pro wide receiver Josh Jacobs (quad), left tackle Kolton Miller (right shoulder), and center Andre James (right ankle).
With starting quarterback Justin Herbert sidelined for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured right index finger earlier this week and top wide receiver Keenan Allen sidelined due to a heel injury, the Chargers were without their two greatest offensive players.
Easton Stick, Herbert’s replacement, was 23 of 32 for 257 yards and three touchdowns, but he also lost two fumbles and threw an interception.
After being shut out on Sunday, Raiders right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor stated that there was “a lot of pent-up aggression”.
Week 4 saw Eluemunor shut out Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack, who had six of his league-high 15 sacks against the Raiders. “Last week sucked, losing 3-0,” Mack remarked. “That is really embarrassing. And now, everyone was eager to come here and simply let everything out. particularly during a brief week like this one.
Adams concurred.
He caught a game-high eight catches for 101 yards and the score. “Undoubtedly, we still have stuff to win, but you’ve got to be proud of the squad you were on and your previous initial, as well our minds today,” he said. “We came together and worked out how to do it properly. We got off to a tremendous start, with the defense coming on the field and taking them out right away. However, I believe that we have merely been replicating their success throughout the season, so we need to figure out a way to increase our offensive consistency.
This is the very first season since 1972 that more than one team has scored 60 points, as the Miami Dolphins defeated the Denver Broncos 70–20 in Week 3.
“We was on either side of [a shutout] the previous week, and it felt a particular way,” Pierce stated. “No explanations here Sorry.”
