Raiders 24, Chargers 17
Carson Palmer passed for 299 yards and two touchdowns as the Oakland Raiders took over first place in the AFC West with a 24-17 victory over the host San Diego Chargers on Thursday.
Michael Bush rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries for the Raiders (5-4), who snapped a two-game division losing streak and sent the Chargers (4-5) to their fourth consecutive defeat.
Palmer seemed to form a connection with rookie wide receiver Denarius Moore. The Tennessee alum made a spectacular fingertip catch on a 46-yard pass early in the second quarter and added a 33-yard grab for a touchdown before the half that gave Oakland a 17-3 edge.
Palmer went back to Moore for a 26-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Moore finished with five catches for 123 yards.
The Raiders' defense harassed Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers all night, sacking him six times and forcing the Pro Bowler to complete just 23 of 47 passes.
Rivers had a chance to tie it in the fourth quarter when he drove San Diego into Raiders territory with 3:22 left. He heaved a pass intended for Vincent Jackson in the end zone, where it was intercepted by Matt Giordano.