Raiders Catapulted To Playoffs After Instant Classic 35-32 OT Win Over Chargers

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — It seemed lone fitting the Las Vegas Raiders needed each 2nd of an overtime crippled to gain their archetypal playoff berth since 2016, a microcosm of their roller-coaster season.

And arsenic they’ve done 5 different times this season, the Raiders won connected the last play of the game.

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Daniel Carlson’s 47-yard tract extremity arsenic clip expired successful overtime lifted Las Vegas past the Los Angeles Chargers 35-32 connected Sunday nighttime and into the postseason.

Stone-cold clutch. ❄️@DanielCarlson38 | #LACvsLV | More highlights connected https://t.co/wXUK7ZZimE pic.twitter.com/CNEYzJLdw7

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 10, 2022

And successful the process, eliminated its AFC West rivals, portion helping Pittsburgh advance.

“We’ve had ups and downs each play but we person guys who emotion football,” Raiders antiaircraft extremity Maxx Crosby said. “We person dudes with heart.”

And past some.

Las Vegas survived Los Angeles’ late-game comeback built connected a bid of fourth-down conversions to unit overtime. The Chargers tied it with a 12-yard TD walk from Justin Herbert to Mike Williams arsenic clip expired successful regulation.

Each squad made overtime tract goals earlier Carlson’s game-winner. Carlson, 3 times the AFC peculiar teams subordinate of the week this season, kicked 5 tract goals successful the game.

The Raiders won a 4th consecutive crippled and completed an unthinkable late-season tally aft losing 5 of their erstwhile six.

“We conscionable recovered a mode to person a accidental to triumph astatine the end,” Raiders interim manager Rich Bisaccia said. “We’ve been successful this concern earlier … conscionable can’t accidental capable astir however this squad prepares and going into the crippled and playing similar that. They judge successful each different erstwhile they spell retired there. They don’t blink.”

Derek Carr completed 20 of 36 walk attempts for 186 yards, including 2 touchdowns. Hunter Renfrow hauled successful 2 touchdown passes, portion a visibly injured Josh Jacobs ran for a career-high 132 yards connected 26 carries, including 1 score.

😤 pic.twitter.com/3Ahf9mD25x

— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 10, 2022

“You consciousness it erstwhile you breathe, I get winded and I consciousness it,” said Jacobs, astir playing with a rib injury. “It was conscionable 1 of them (games) I was perpetually talking to myself each play, getting helped up disconnected the ground. I was talking to myself, similar ‘it’s this overmuch clip connected the clock, this is what we need.’ I would person felt similar I fto my squad down if I went retired determination and fto the symptom get to maine and gave up.”

The Raiders, who had arguably much offseason and in-season distractions than immoderate team, overcame aggregate adversities and instrumentality to the playoffs for lone the 2nd clip since losing to Tampa Bay successful the 2003 Super Bowl.

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“I don’t deliberation immoderate squad has been done what we’ve been done successful 10 years, fto unsocial 1 year,” Carr said. “There’s truthful overmuch emotion — prime a story. There’s truthful overmuch emotion with everything we’ve done.

“It’s astir apt the coolest accomplishment I deliberation I’ve ever had successful my beingness football-wise.”

"Long clip coming." @derekcarrqb | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/JOOwTydTKK

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 10, 2022

Had the teams tied, the Steelers would person been eliminated. Instead, Las Vegas goes to Cincinnati connected Saturday to unfastened the wild-card round, and Pittsburgh plays astatine Kansas City connected Sunday night.

Trailing by 15 successful the 4th quarter, the Chargers scored 2 precocious touchdowns, with a 19-play, 83-yard thrust capped by Herbert’s onslaught to Williams. Dustin Hopkins’ other constituent sent the crippled into the other period. Los Angeles converted connected 3 fourth-down plays successful the lengthy drive.

Herbert, who was nether duress overmuch of the night, completed 34 of his 64 attempts for 383 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.

“I’m disappointed due to the fact that I consciousness similar we’re 1 of the champion teams successful the NFL,” Chargers manager Brandon Staley said. “I consciousness similar this team’s bully capable to not lone beryllium successful the tournament, but to triumph it.”

BEST EVER

Carr’s tally gave him 4,804 yards this season, much than immoderate different Raider successful franchise history. Rich Gannon threw for 4,689 yards successful 2002. Carr has thrown for much than 4,000 yards successful 4 of his 8 seasons with the Raiders.

TURNOVER REVERSAL

Heading into the game, the Chargers had forced 10 turnovers successful their erstwhile six games. The Raiders, meanwhile, had committed 12 turnovers implicit the past 4 games. But Las Vegas’ defence turned successful 1 interception — by erstwhile Charger Casey Hayward Jr. — and 1 fumble recovery, portion its discourtesy committed none.

UP NEXT

Chargers: Season over, request to motion cardinal escaped agents and upgrade secondary.

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Raiders: Travel to Cincinnati for the archetypal circular of the AFC playoffs.

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