The San Diego Chargers are in a position to have another December to remember. They are hoping it doesn’t lead to another January to forget.
San Diego’s patented late-season run is under way as it hosts the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. The Chargers have won four straight and haven’t lost a regular-season game after Halloween since 2008.
The Chargers (6-5) have won an NFL-record 18 straight games in December – their last loss came in Week 17 of 2005. They have also won eight straight in November.
With the No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense in yardage, San Diego appears poised to make another run at its first Super Bowl. The Chargers are 3-4 in the playoffs, though, since 2006.
The Chargers must avoid looking ahead to their Week 14 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs, who lead San Diego by one game in the AFC West.
That shouldn’t be a problem, though, with the despised Raiders in town. And the Chargers surely haven’t forgotten their 35-27 loss at Oakland in Week 5, which snapped a 13-game winning streak against the Raiders.
The Raiders (5-6) have lost two straight after a three-game winning streak catapulted them to the top of the AFC West.
Oakland quarterback Bruce Gradkowski suffered a separated shoulder in last week’s 33-17 loss to Miami and is out for the season. Jason Campbell, who is 5-3 in eight starts this season, will take over.
San Diego served notice that it was a Super Bowl contender with a 36-14 dismantling of Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts on national television Sunday night. The Chargers intercepted Manning four times and returned two for touchdowns.
San Diego shares the NFL lead with three interceptions returned for touchdowns, and leads with 33 sacks.
Offensively, Philip Rivers is having an MVP season. Rivers shares the NFL lead with 23 touchdown passes and is second in yards with 3,362. His average completion is an NFL-high 8.9 yards.
Many of the Chargers’ other skill players on offense, though, are hurting.
Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates (toe), running back Mike Tolbert (hand) and Vincent Jackson (calf) did not practice Wednesday. Malcom Floyd (hamstring) was a limited participant, but running back Ryan Mathews, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury, was a full participant.
It appears Jackson, who left Sunday’s game after two plays, will miss another two weeks. He missed the first 10 games after a bitter contract dispute and a three-game suspension.
Tolbert was also injured during Sunday’s game.
Darren Sproles and Jacob Hester have picked up the slack in the backfield, both rushing and receiving.
The Raiders’ Darren McFadden is eighth in the NFL in rushing with 773 yards, but has 16 yards on 18 carries in his last two games.
Oakland’s defense has allowed 30 or more points four times this season, including its last two games, and is 28th against the run at 133.7 yards per game.
Raiders tight end Zach Miller was limited in practice Wednesday with a foot injury.