Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) is tackled by Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Cam Hart (20) during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins, left, runs against Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston, middle, runs against Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) and linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) celebrates with linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs against Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (9) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston, middle, runs against Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) and linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Show Caption1 of 9Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)
ExpandLAS VEGAS — The Chargers handled their business Sunday, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 34-20 and booking an AFC wild-card date with the fourth-seeded Houston Texans next weekend on the road. The Chargers’ victory coupled with the Cincinnati Bengals’ win Saturday over the Pittsburgh Steelers vaulted them to fifth.
Justin Herbert threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Chargers (11-7) past the Raiders (4-13). Quentin Johnston caught 13 passes for 186 yards. The Chargers clinched a playoff spot with a victory in Week 17 over the New England Patriots. They jumped to fifth from sixth Sunday.
Herbert topped 300 yards passing for the 27th time in his career.
The Chargers’ play in the first half was, in a word, uninspired.
Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals and they trailed the Raiders 10-9 with mere seconds to go. Dicker had missed a 51-yard field goal. Joey Bosa was penalized for lining up in the neutral zone on consecutive plays. Trey Pipkins III was whistled for holding, nullifying a Derius Davis touchdown catch.
Suddenly, in a nanosecond, the Chargers’ fortunes changed.
Linebacker Daiyan Henley intercepted an errant pass from Raiders quarterback Aiden O’Connell at the Las Vegas 35-yard line with 38 seconds left in the half. Presented with a gift, Herbert connected with DJ Chark on a 6-yard touchdown and then with Ladd McConkey on a two-point conversion.
It took only 28 seconds for the Chargers to alter the momentum, taking a 17-10 lead into halftime. Herbert completed 18 of 25 passes for 225 yards and one touchdown. Chark’s first touchdown catch of the season sent Chargers fans in the crowd into a frenzy with 10 seconds left in the half.
Herbert’s two-point conversion pass to McConkey heightened the energy in the arena. McConkey celebrated by throwing the ball deep into the stands and toward a group of fans dressed in power blue. The sequence seemed just the thing to snap the Chargers from their lackluster play.
Daniel Carlson kicked a 40-yard field goal and O’Connell threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers for the Raiders’ first-half scores. The Chargers countered with Dicker’s field goals from 33, 32 and 49, the last of which cut their deficit to 10-9 with 1:05 remaining in the half.
The Chargers increased their lead to 20-10 on Dicker’s 20-yard field goal, capping a 13-play, 69-yard drive that took 7:50 off the clock to start the third quarter. Carlson then cut the Chargers’ lead to 20-13 with a 47-yard field goal with 2:15 remaining in the third quarter.
Herbert set up his 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Will Dissly with a career-long 41-yard scramble to the Raiders’ 4-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter. At that moment, the Chargers’ 27-13 lead seemed to be a commanding advantage, but there was still 13:32 to be played.
Hassan Haskins’ 2-yard touchdown run accounted for the Chargers’ final score.
More to come on this story.
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