Los Angeles Chargers free safety Derwin James Jr (33) puts pressure on the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) as he gets a pass away at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sun Jan 9, 2022 in the final regular season game of 2021-22 (AP News photo)
By Rich Perez
Las Vegas Raiders beat writer
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson booted a 47 yard field goal right as time ran out in overtime against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to help defeat the Chargers 35-32. It was the fourth consecutive win for the Raiders and the fourth straight game the Raiders won by three or less points.
This one really counted big as the win puts the Raiders into the post season the Raiders needed to win this final game of the regular season to advance to post season. The win eliminates the Chargers and helps the Pittsburgh Steelers advance to post season as well.
The Raiders who were down at one time in the game 17-0 came back on Los Angeles converting scores on fourth down ending up overtaking the Chargers 29-22. The Chargers made a last few seconds of the fourth quarter come back of their own when quarterback Justin Herbert threw a 12 yard pass to receiver Mike Williams to tie up the game 29-29 and force it into overtime.
The Raiders and Chargers proceeded to hit field goals to make it stay knotted up at 32-32. Carlson came in and got field position in the closing seconds of overtime to hit a 47 yarder and put the Raiders in the post season with the 35-32 win. Ironically Carlson was this week’s AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr went 20-36 for 186 yards, and two touchdowns. The Raiders got help from their wide receiver Hunter Renfrow who caught two touchdown passes and running back Josh Jacobs carried 26 times and picked up 132 yards and a touchdown.
The Raiders prior to winning these last four in a row had lost five out of six previous to that run. The Raiders had dealt with plenty of adversity, having their former coach Jon Gruden forced to resign over racist and misogynistic emails, then wide receiver Henry Ruggs III DUI manslaughter charge in killing Tina Tintor in a drunken driving charge slamming into Tintor’s car killing her and her dog, then Damon Arnette who was released from the team for taking a video of himself carrying a automatic weapon with a scope and making threats to kill a fan on social media. In spite of all of these off field distractions the Raiders persevered and weathered the storm to make the post season.
Rich Perez does the Raiders podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com