The Los Angeles Chargers kept pace in a crowded AFC playoff picture with a dominant 31-14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, improving to 8-4.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers opened the game with a methodical 14-play, 74-yard drive that took 8:50 off the clock, taking a 7-0 lead on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston.
Herbert hurt his left hand on the drive after taking a hit from Jeremy Chinn while scrambling. Following the touchdown, he headed to the locker room. The 27-year-old was briefly replaced by Trey Lance on Los Angeles’ second possession. He returned midway through the drive, but threw an interception on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Herbert finished 15-for-20 with 151 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
After the Chargers later failed on fourth-and-inches deep in Raiders territory, Las Vegas tied the score at 7-7 late in the first half. A nine-play, 82-yard drive featured two catches for 31 yards from tight end Brock Bowers, including a 6-yard touchdown grab. Bowers caught four passes for 63 yards and two scores, and snagged an impressive one-handed touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles responded with 17 unanswered points in the second half. On the third play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Kimani Vidal raced up the left sideline for a 59-yard touchdown, a career-long rush for the second-year running back. Vidal carried 25 times for 126 yards, averaging 5.0 yards per carry.
Late in the third, Herbert connected with Ladd McConkey from 7 yards out for his fifth receiving touchdown this season.
Las Vegas star defensive end Maxx Crosby had two sacks and has now recorded at least seven sacks in each of his seven NFL seasons.
The Raiders offense had just 156 yards, and quarterback Geno Smith was hit nine times. Las Vegas has now lost 10 straight games against divisional opponents.
Chargers regain momentum
It was far from a perfect performance from the Chargers, but they got the job done Sunday against a poor Raiders team. The Chargers had to deal with a bad taste for two weeks after losing in blowout fashion at the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11. It was the Chargers’ worst game of the season in all three phases.
Coming out of the bye, they were far cleaner against the Raiders. How much of that was a genuine improvement? And how much of that was playing an inferior opponent? That will be determined in the weeks ahead. The Chargers close their season with five difficult games — Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos.
The Chargers still had some issues Sunday, particularly in the first half. Herbert, after leaving the game briefly with an injured finger, threw a red zone interception. Bowers, the Raiders’ only real receiving threat, caught two touchdowns. But the Chargers still rebounded in several phases. They ran the ball very well. Vidal led the way with 126 rushing yards, including a 59-yard touchdown. Defensively, the Chargers limited Ashton Jeanty to 31 yards on 15 carries, as some front-structure adjustments helped in the run game. — Daniel Popper, Chargers staff writer
Herbert’s finger is worth monitoring
How limited will Herbert be with this finger injury? He went back to the locker room after the opening drive of the game. Herbert appeared to suffer the left finger injury when he was tackled on a scramble on the drive. He stayed in the game and threw one of his two touchdowns on the day, this one to Johnston. But Lance then entered the game for the first eight plays of the ensuing drive. Herbert came back in with a white glove on his left hand and his middle and ring fingers taped together. He played the rest of the game and was productive enough to win. But Herbert did not take a single snap under center over the rest of the game. Playing the Raiders is one thing. Facing some of these remaining fronts without the ability to go under center will be a major factor for the Chargers offense. — Popper
Offensive struggles continue for Raiders, despite change
Pete Carroll fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly a week ago. He said during the week that he was determined to get the run game going. The Raiders had a chance to do that against a struggling Chargers run defense. But Sunday was more of the same for the Raiders. They entered Week 13 as the worst rushing team in the league by EPA per play, according to TruMedia. The Chargers won convincingly in this phase. Interim Raiders play-caller Greg Olson was able to get Bowers activated in the pass game. Outside of that, the Raiders continued to struggle offensively. — Popper
we’ll take that#probowlvote + tuli tuipulotu
📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/B16yW1LPaA
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 30, 2025
Los Angeles pass rush dominates
The Chargers’ pass rush is a real weapon when Tuli Tuipulotu, Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh are all on the field together. On Sunday, Tuipulotu was the primary beneficiary, with two sacks. With all three edge rushers on the field, Tuipulotu can move inside and rush one-on-one against guards. In addition to his sacks, he had a batted pass in the first quarter and had two tackles for loss against the run, including a fourth-down stop in the second half. Tuipulotu is having a breakout season. He has been one of the most disruptive edge rushers in football this season. — Popper