Highlights from the Los Angeles Chargers vs Raiders Matchup

The recent showdown between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders wasn’t just another AFC West divisional game—it was a high-stakes battle with playoff implications, packed with dramatic plays, standout individual performances, and a finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. Held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the game pitted two teams fighting to keep their post-season hopes alive: the Chargers, clinging to a 7-7 record, and the Raiders, riding a six-game win streak to a 9-5 mark. From a game-winning drive led by a young quarterback to a defensive stand that shut down a late comeback attempt, every moment mattered. Highlights from the Los Angeles Chargers vs Raiders Matchup breaks down the most memorable plays, the players who stepped up when it counted, and why this game will be remembered as one of the most thrilling divisional clashes of the 2024 NFL season.

Highlights from the Los Angeles Chargers vs Raiders Matchup begins with the Raiders’ explosive opening drive that set the tone for the first half and showcased their revamped offense. On the first possession of the game, Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Davante Adams. O’Connell, who has grown exponentially since the start of the season, looked calm and precise, completing all four of his passes for 65 yards on the drive—including a 28-yard deep ball to Adams that put the Raiders in the red zone. The drive wasn’t just about O’Connell and Adams, though: running back Josh Jacobs rushed for 15 yards on three carries, and the offensive line didn’t allow a single pressure, giving O’Connell time to scan the field. “That opening drive was exactly what we needed,” O’Connell said after the game. “We wanted to come out fast, set the tempo, and show the Chargers we meant business. Getting that early touchdown gave us confidence, and it really set the tone for the rest of the half.” The Raiders would go on to score two more field goals in the first half, taking a 13-7 lead into the locker room—thanks in large part to that initial momentum-building drive.

A defining highlight of the game was Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s heroic third-quarter performance that nearly erased the Raiders’ lead and shifted the momentum in Los Angeles’ favor. After a quiet first half (120 passing yards, one touchdown), Herbert came alive in the third quarter, leading two back-to-back scoring drives that put the Chargers ahead 21-13. The first drive was a masterclass in precision passing: Herbert completed 5 of 6 passes for 72 yards, capped off by a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gerald Everett, who beat Raiders safety Tre’von Moehrig in the end zone. Just four minutes later, Herbert struck again, this time connecting with wide receiver Keenan Allen on a 35-yard touchdown pass—Allen outran Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson down the sideline to haul in the deep ball. Herbert finished the third quarter with 145 passing yards and two touchdowns, looking like the elite quarterback fans have come to expect. “Justin is a special player,” Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said. “When he gets into a rhythm like that, he’s nearly unstoppable. Those two drives in the third quarter showed why he’s one of the best in the league—he can take over a game in an instant.” For a brief moment, it seemed like Herbert would single-handedly lead the Chargers to a comeback victory, but the Raiders had other plans.

A critical highlight from Highlights from the Los Angeles Chargers vs Raiders Matchup is the Raiders’ fourth-quarter comeback drive, led by O’Connell and Jacobs, that reclaimed the lead and ultimately secured the win—while also exposing a key weakness in the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense. Trailing 21-13 with 8:32 left in the game, the Raiders embarked on a 12-play, 75-yard drive that took nearly five minutes off the clock and ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Jacobs. O’Connell was efficient again, completing 6 of 7 passes for 48 yards, but the star of the drive was Jacobs, who rushed for 27 yards on five carries—including a crucial 8-yard run on third-and-2 that kept the drive alive. The Chargers’ run defense, which had struggled all season (ranking 23rd in the NFL), had no answer for Jacobs, who broke three tackles on his way to the end zone. “Josh is our engine, and he showed that on that drive,” Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said. “When we needed him to get those tough yards, he delivered. That’s what great players do.” After the touchdown, the Raiders converted a two-point conversion (O’Connell to Adams) to tie the game at 21-21—setting up a dramatic final three minutes. For the Los Angeles Chargers, the drive highlighted their ongoing issues with stopping the run, a flaw that has cost them multiple games this season.

Another unforgettable highlight was Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby’s game-sealing sack on Herbert with 1:12 left in the game, which forced a Chargers turnover on downs and secured the win for Las Vegas—dealing a major blow to the Los Angeles Chargers’ playoff hopes. With the Chargers facing a fourth-and-10 from their own 25-yard line, Crosby lined up on the right edge and blew past Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater, who had been solid all game but couldn’t handle Crosby’s speed and power. Crosby wrapped up Herbert for a 7-yard sack, ending the Chargers’ final chance to mount a comeback. The sack was Crosby’s 13th of the season, tying his career high, and it came at the most critical moment of the game. “Maxx is a game-wrecker, plain and simple,” Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said. “We knew the Chargers would try to get Justin the ball and let him make a play, but Maxx had other ideas. That sack wasn’t just a play—it was a statement. It showed that when the game is on the line, our defense can step up.” For the Los Angeles Chargers, the sack was a bitter end to a game they had fought so hard to win. Herbert finished with 345 passing yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Raiders’ late surge—and Crosby’s game-changing play.

Wrapping up Highlights from the Los Angeles Chargers vs Raiders Matchup is the lasting impact of the game on both teams’ playoff fortunes, with the Raiders solidifying their spot in the AFC wildcard race and the Los Angeles Chargers’ chances fading fast. With the 24-21 win, the Raiders improved to 10-5, moving up to the No. 6 seed in the AFC and increasing their playoff odds to 92%, according to ESPN’s playoff model. The Chargers, meanwhile, dropped to 7-8, falling to 12th in the AFC and seeing their playoff chances plummet to just 8%. Beyond the standings, the game also highlighted the growth of the Raiders’ young core—O’Connell, Jacobs, and Crosby—who have emerged as leaders in the team’s dramatic turnaround. For the Los Angeles Chargers, the loss was a reminder of the fine line between success and failure in the NFL: despite Herbert’s brilliant performance, defensive lapses and an inability to stop the run cost them a critical divisional win. “This game hurts, but it’s also a wake-up call,” Staley said. “We have one game left, and we need to play with the same intensity we showed in the third quarter if we want to have any chance of making the playoffs.” As the regular season winds down, this matchup will be remembered as a turning point for both teams—one that propelled the Raiders toward the post-season and left the Chargers fighting for their season. Highlights from the Los Angeles Chargers vs Raiders Matchup ultimately shows why divisional games are so special: they’re not just about wins and losses—they’re about pride, playoff implications, and moments that fans will talk about for years to come.