The Los Angeles Chargers lost yet another single possession game. Melvin Gordon, Melvin Ingram, and Thomas Davis each had their best games of the season and earned game balls for this week.
The Chargers’ loss at the hands of the Oakland Raiders was yet another frustrating result in the 2019 season. They had every chance to win but couldn’t seal the deal. They also lost another starter to injury as their Pro Bowl left tackle, Russell Okung, was limited to seven total snaps after leaving the game with a groin injury.
To his credit, rookie tackle Trey Pipkins did a nice job filling in for the Pro Bowler but the Raiders still got pressure on quarterback Philip Rivers whenever they wanted. If it weren’t for Gordon’s efforts on the ground and the stellar play of Ingram and Davis on defense, this could have gotten ugly for the Chargers.
Aside from a nightmare start and finish to the game, the Chargers offense was able to move the ball up and down on the Raiders defense. That is nothing new.
Rivers headed into the week leading the league in passing yards. The offense was plagued yet again by turnovers and a lack of efficiency in the red zone. The defense played well enough to win, led by veterans Ingram and Davis. They were repeatedly left out to dry by the offense but they stood their ground time and time again.
Another bright spot was rookie linebacker Drue Tranquill, who filled in very well for Denzel Perryman, who was clearly not 100 percent on a short week, by leading the team with 14 tackles.
The Chargers are still in the hunt but they need to get back on track in Mexico City this week against the Chiefs.