Does anyone else feel like the NFL should play a game every Thursday night?
The first TNF game of the season has lived up to all expectations, as the two AFC West favorites are battling in the fourth quarter. The Oakland Raiders once held a comfortable lead in the game, but the San Diego Chargers have come storming back to cut the deficit to 24-17.
Michael Bush has dominated this game from the early going and is continually gashing the Chargers front-seven. The running back currently has 140 rushing yards on 25 carries, including a touchdown run in the first quarter. To balance the offensive attack, Carson Palmer has had the best game of his short career with Oakland and has hit Denarius Moore for two touchdown passes.
Despite being bothered by injury, kicker Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter and has converted all three of his extra-point attempts.
The Chargers struggled mightily in the first half, but Philip Rivers has his team rolling late in the contest. Rivers connected with rookie receiver Vincent Brown for a 30-yard touchdown pass. After leading his team down the field once again, it appeared the Rivers-Brown connection had worked again. After originally being ruled a touchdown, instant replay overturned the call. While it momentarily upheld the score, Rivers was able to roll out and hit Jacob Hester for a seven-yard touchdown pass.
With the Raiders driving, Carson Palmer was hit late and floated a ball into the San Diego night. The Chargers came away with the interception and now have the ball with 11 minutes remaining in the game.