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09/20 18:25 CDT Kirk Cousins connects with Cody White for 2 TDs and Raiders
beat Chargers 26-14
Kirk Cousins connects with Cody White for 2 TDs and Raiders beat Chargers 26-14
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) --- Kirk Cousins connected with Cody White for a
go-ahead, 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and an 11-yard score in
the fourth, and the Las Vegas Raiders defeated the Chargers 26-14 to end a
four-game skid against Los Angeles in the teams' AFC West opener on Sunday.
In his 100th NFL game, Jim Harbaugh fell to 0-2 for the first time in his
college or pro coaching career, with the heavily favored Chargers also losing
to Arizona 26-14 last week.
Las Vegas beat the Chargers on the road for the first time since 2020, a game
that was played without fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Raiders, who
maintain a strong Southern California fan base, had lost four straight by
double digits.
Leading 17-14, the Raiders' Jeremy Chinn recovered a fumble and returned it 43
yards with 3:52 remaining in the game. Omarion Hampton had a costly fumble for
the second straight week and Chinn recovered, returning it to the Chargers
16-yard line.
Cousins then directed a three-play, 43-second drive that ended with White's
second TD catch and a 24-14 lead in front of a raucous, predominantly
Raiders-supporting crowd at SoFi Stadium.
Cousins was 19 of 29 for 253 yards with three TDs and an interception. He was
sacked twice.
The Chargers took their first lead, 14-10, on Justin Herbert's 10-yard TD to
Oronde Gadsden. Herbert fumbled and Keaton Mitchell recovered at the Las Vegas
10-yard line. Herbert then spun out of a potential sack with Raiders star Maxx
Crosby looming to connect with Gadsden.
The Raiders answered right back with the TD catch by White, who was elevated
from the practice squad a day earlier. He also played in Las Vegas' 27-13 win
over Miami in Week 1 but did not have a catch.
The Raiders led 7-0 on Tre Tucker's 40-yard touchdown catch on the Chargers'
busted coverage in the second quarter. Rookie Genesis Smith, replacing injured
Elijah Molden, lost Tucker, leaving him wide open.
Matt Gay's career-best 59-yard field goal extended the lead to 10-7 just before
halftime.
Herbert was 15 of 26 for 192 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He
took three sacks.
The Chargers' Joe Alt, one of the league's top tackles, had three false-start
penalties and an offensive holding call that led to a Raiders safety in the
closing minutes.
The Chargers' opening drive of the game ended with Cameron Dicker's 58-yard
field goal attempt hitting the crossbar. He'd previously made 59 of 63 field
goals at home.
Injuries Raiders: S Treydan Stukes was hurt in the third quarter. Chargers: S Derwin James Jr. (hand) got hurt late in the first quarter, but returned before halftime. ... TE David Njoku (knee) was taken off in a cart early in the second quarter and did not return. ... DL Dalvin Tomlinson was hurt in the fourth. Up next Raiders: Visit New Orleans next Sunday. Chargers: Visit Buffalo next Sunday in their first road game of season. ___ See AP's full NFL coverage here |
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