San Diego Chargers Defeat Oakland Raiders 22-14

September 10, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Dante Rosario (88) chases after the football on a blocked punt against Oakland Raiders punter Shane Lechler (9) during the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

The San Diego Chargers have gone into Oakland and taken out the Raiders 22-14 in what was a lacklustre affair in which only one touchdown was scored by each team.

There were two main storylines in this game – the constant penalties and the injury to Oakland Raiders long snapper Jon Condo. Early in the game, Condo took a shot to the head on a routine play and was removed from the game having being assessed as having a concussion. What resulted was some of the ugliest special teams play in many years with two botched snaps on punting plays and a blocked punt – something that really hurt the Raiders considering they can usually rely on punter Shane Lechler to give them a big advantage.

The other talking point was the penalties with 15 being committed in total. The most critical of these penalties almost cost the Chargers the game as twice on fourth down San Diego made unnecessary mistake allowing the Raiders a fresh set of downs that eventually resulted in the Raiders solitary touchdown scored on a 3 yard pass from Carson Palmer to rookie Rod Streater and then a two point conversion also caught by Streater. Down 8 with 54 seconds left, Oakland tried and failed an onside kick attempt.

Perhaps the most bizarre play of the game, even after all the long snapping incidents, was the last play. Having made three plays, the Chargers had failed to run out the clock as Oakland had two time-outs to use. San Diego allowed time to run down but there was three seconds left and the Chargers took a delay of game penalty. Rather than run a play to wind down the clock, San Diego chose to punt – and there was no-one from Oakland back to receive it. The game ended as badly as it had been played – with a mad scramble for a punt that no-one seemed to want and everyone looking rather foolish.

Next week the Chargers are at home to the Titans and the Raiders travel across country to play the Dolphins in Miami.