LAS VEGAS — It appeared solely becoming the Las Vegas Raiders wanted each second of an additional time sport to earn their first playoff berth since 2016, a microcosm of their curler coaster season.
And as they’ve carried out 5 different instances this season, the Raiders received on the ultimate play of the sport.
Daniel Carlson’s 47-yard subject objective as time expired in additional time lifted Las Vegas previous the Los Angeles Chargers 35-32 on Sunday night time and into the postseason.
And within the course of, eradicated its AFC West rivals, whereas serving to Pittsburgh advance.
“We’ve had ups and downs all season however we've got guys who love soccer,” Raiders defensive finish Maxx Crosby stated. “We've dudes with coronary heart.”
After which some.
Las Vegas survived Los Angeles’ late-game comeback constructed on a collection of fourth-down conversions to power additional time. The Chargers tied it with a 12-yard TD go from Justin Herbert to Mike Williams as time expired in regulation.
Every group made additional time subject objectives earlier than Carlson’s game-winner. Carlson, 3 times the AFC particular groups participant of the week this season, kicked 5 subject objectives within the sport.
The Raiders received a fourth straight sport and accomplished an unimaginable late-season run after shedding 5 of their earlier six.
“We simply discovered a solution to have an opportunity to win on the finish,” Raiders interim coach Wealthy Bisaccia stated. “We’ve been on this state of affairs earlier than … simply can’t say sufficient about how this group prepares and going into the sport and enjoying like that. They imagine in one another after they go on the market. They don’t blink.”
Derek Carr accomplished 20 of 36 go makes an attempt for 186 yards, together with two touchdowns. Hunter Renfrow hauled in two landing passes, whereas a visibly injured Josh Jacobs ran for a career-high 132 yards on 26 carries, together with one rating.
“You're feeling it while you breathe, I get winded and I really feel it,” Jacobs stated about enjoying with a rib harm. “It was simply one in every of them (video games) I used to be consistently speaking to myself every play, getting helped up off the bottom. I used to be speaking to myself, like ‘it’s this a lot time on the clock, that is what we want.’ I might have felt like I let my group down if I went on the market and let the ache get to me and gave up.”
The Raiders, who had arguably extra offseason and in-season distractions than any group, overcame a number of adversities and return to the playoffs for under the second time since shedding to Tampa Bay within the 2003 Tremendous Bowl.
“I don’t assume any group has been by means of what we’ve been by means of in 10 years, not to mention one 12 months,” Carr stated. “There’s a lot emotion — decide a narrative. There’s a lot emotion with every part we’ve carried out.
“It’s most likely the best accomplishment I believe I’ve ever had in my life football-wise.”
Had the groups tied, the Steelers would have been eradicated. As a substitute, Las Vegas goes to Cincinnati on Saturday to open the wild-card spherical, and Pittsburgh will play at Kansas Metropolis on Sunday night time.
Trailing by 15 within the fourth quarter, the Chargers scored two late touchdowns, with a 19-play, 83-yard drive capped by Herbert’s strike to Williams. Dustin Hopkins’ additional level despatched the sport into the additional interval. Los Angeles transformed on three fourth-down performs within the prolonged drive.
Herbert, who was beneath duress a lot of the night time, accomplished 34 of his 64 makes an attempt for 383 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
“I’m disillusioned as a result of I really feel like we’re the most effective groups within the NFL,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley stated. “I really feel like this group’s ok to not solely be within the match, however to win it.”
Finest ever
Carr’s tally gave him 4,804 yards this season, greater than some other Raider in franchise historical past. Wealthy Gannon threw for 4,689 yards in 2002. Carr has thrown for greater than 4,000 yards in 4 of his eight seasons with the Raiders.
Turnover reversal
Heading into the sport, the Chargers had pressured 10 turnovers of their earlier six video games. The Raiders, in the meantime, had dedicated 12 turnovers during the last 4 video games. However Las Vegas’ protection turned in a single interception — by former Charger Casey Hayward Jr. — and one fumble restoration, whereas its offense dedicated none.
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