QB Terrelle Pryor made his first career start. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
The San Diego Chargers defeated the Oakland Raiders 24-21 in the 2012 regular season finale. QB Terrelle Pryor made his first career start and accounted for three touchdowns but it wasn't enough.
The Raiders won the opening coin toss and elected to defer their choice to the second half. Michael Spurlock opened the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. RB Mike Goodson returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 14. Terrelle Pryor opened the game at quarterback for the Raiders.
The Raiders went three-and-out and P Shane Lechler came on to punt. Spurlock returned the 58-yard punt to the 30. A 3rd down sack forced a three-and-out and a P Mike Scifres punt. The Raiders started at their 29.
The Chargers forced another three-and-out and Lechler came on to punt. The punt bounced sideways out of bounds at the Chargers 29. The Raiders halted the Chargers drive at the 13 and K Nick Novak came on for a 31-yard field goal. The kick gave the Chargers a 10-0 lead with 4:11 left in the 1st quarter.
Goodson took a knee for a touchback and the Raiders started at the 20. At the end of an 80-yard drive, Pryor tossed his first career TD pass, a 9-yard lob to WR Darrius Heywward-Bey. The PAT was good, and the Raiders cut the lead to 10-7 with 12:11 left in the 2nd quarter. During the drive, Chargers LB Takeo Spikes and Goodson were ejected after an altercation.
Spurlock returned the ensuing kickoff 18 yards to the 19. QB Philip Rivers capped a 14-play, 81-yard drive with an 11-yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates. The extra point was good and the Chargers took at 17-7 lead with 2:48 left in the 2nd quarter.
CB Coye Francies returned the ensuing kickoff 21 yards to the 21. The Raiders went three-and-out and Lechler came on to punt. Spurlock returned the punt 5 yards to the Chargers 30. The Raiders drive fizzled as time ran out in the 2nd quarter and the Chargers took a 17-7 lead into the locker room.
Francies fielded the opening kickoff of the second half and took a knee for a touchback. The Raiders promising drive ended when CB Quentin Jammer picked off a Pryor pass just inside the end zone. San Diego started at the 20.
The Raiders held the Chargers to a three-and-out. After a punt, a return and a penalty, the Raiders started at their 12. The Raiders went three-and-out and Lechler came on to punt. The 33-yard kick was downed at the Raiders 47. The Chargers took advantage when Rivers connected with WR Danario Alexander with a 34-yard TD pass. San Diego took a 24-7 lead with 4:59 left in the 3rd quarter.
Francies returned the ensuing kickoff 25 yards to 23. The Raiders went three-and-out and Lechler came on to punt. A running into the punter call kept the Raiders drive alive. The Raiders were forced to punt anyway despite Pryor's electrifying scramble on 3rd and 4. Spurlock called for and made a fair catch at the 8.
The Raiders forced a punt and Scifres came on on 4th and 1 at the 28. S Matt Giordano made a fair catch at the Oakland 24. Pryor led the Raiders on a scoring march and capped it with a 3-yard TD run. The extra point was good and the Chargers lead was cut to 24-14 with 7:43 left in the game.
The Chargers were set up for an onsides kick but Janikowski kicked it deep and the ball bounced through the end zone for a touchback. After allowing one first down, the Raiders defense forced a punt. Moore miffed the 48-yard punt but managed to recover at the 23.
The Raiders went three-and-out and elected to punt. After a three and out, the Raiders blocked a Scifres punt and recovered at the San Diego 11. The Raiders took advantage as Pryor connected with Moore on a 5-yard TD pass. The extra point cut the Chargers lead to 24-21 with 1:52 left to play.
San Diego recovered the onside kick at the Raiders 47. A handful of Rivers kneel downs ran out the clock.
The Raiders finish the 2012 campaign with a 4-12 record.
