This Just In: Raiders Play Chargers Sunday!

By Rick Richardson

Despite the headlines containing tales of catfights and even suggestions of a coup d’e'tat in Raider Nation, there is a game to be played Sunday. In fact, it could shape up to be a very entertaining contest, despite the high school drama that has unfolded in the past few days/weeks. Both teams are 1-2 and desperately need another tick in the win column.

For the Raiders to have any reasonable chance this Sunday, they have to stop the run, or more specifically LaDainian Tomlinson A.K.A the Raider killer. He has beaten the Raiders like a drum since joining the Chargers, and will look to continue his march on the record books come this weekend in Oakland. If you look at Tomlinson’s stats versus the Raiders they are jaw dropping and frankly infuriating to any self respecting Raider Nation citizen born before the lean years.

• 2001: Tomlinson rushes for 68 and 46 yards respectively. Raiders win both games.
  
• 2002: LT embarrasses the Raiders for 153 yards to win the first meeting and only 57 yards when the Raiders redeem themselves with a win in game two.
  
• 2003: LT torches the Raiders for 187 yards and Chargers win, then slaps the taste from the Nation's mouth with a whopping 243 yards in the rematch, and oh yeah, the Chargers win.
  
• 2004: LT with 71 yards in a dogfight but Chargers win. 164 yards in the redo, and if you guessed the Chargers won you are seeing the trend.
  
• 2005: LT=140 yards=win. In game two Tomlinson romps for 86 yards and Chargers win again.
  
• 2006: LT and the Chargers continue to chalk up the winning equation with 131 yards and 109 yards in what is becoming routine.
  
• 2007: I am typing 197 yards…really I am…and yes,…Chargers win. Then the one hole in the hypothesis is a 56 yard game and Charger win, but in defense of the theorem, Michael Turner got to step in and play Tomlinson before the playoffs or it would have been silly stats again for LaDainian. The Raiders also turned the ball over five times lessening any need for LT to risk injury by carrying the ball in a game that was out of reach.
  
• 2008???
  
  

How about a total on those gaudy statistics….drum roll please.
Ladanian Tomlinson has carried the ball 357 times for 1709 yards and 16 touchdowns in 14 games versus the Raiders. In that period, the Chargers went a whopping 11-3 at Oakland’s expense.

LT is guaranteed at least 25 touches, giving the Raiders 25 opportunities to take away the Chargers winning formula. Hopefully the Raiders play with emotion and fortitude. Maybe Rob Ryan can dial up Dad and brush up on the 46 to shake it up a bit. Do what ever it takes to stop LT's onslaught on Sunday. Stunt, fly to the ball, gang tackle and wrap up.With the unending soap opera playing out in Oakland, and injuries to the defensive line making it tough odds in Oakland on Sunday, the Raiders are going to have to fight to win. And the win starts and stops with shutting down Ladainian Tomlinson.