Derek Carr, Raiders Beat Justin Herbert, Chargers in OT to Clinch 2022 Playoff Spot

A tie would've put both teams in the playoffs, but the Las Vegas Raiders played for the win and earned their postseason berth with a 35-32 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes to Hunter Renfrow in Sunday's Week 18 game at Allegiant Stadium, the final matchup of the 2021 NFL regular season.

A stretch of 19 straight points gave the Raiders a 29-14 advantage in the fourth quarter, but the game was far from over.

Herbert led the Chargers back from the dead with two straight touchdowns to force overtime:

The Chargers converted five fourth downs on the final two drives of regulation.

It led to overtime in a situation where a tie would benefit both teams, but Las Vegas stayed aggressive to clinch the victory.

The Raiders scored first in the extra session with a Daniel Carlson field goal before Dustin Hopkins matched it for the Chargers. Even with one more chance to settle for the tie, Las Vegas drove into field goal range and ended it on a 47-yard field goal.

After a 6-7 start, the Raiders (10-7) closed the season with four straight wins under interim coach Rich Bisaccia to sneak into the playoffs. Las Vegas will be the No. 5 seed in the AFC and face a road matchup against the fourth-seeded Cincinnati Bengals.

It's the first postseason appearance for the organization since 2016, while the last playoff win came in January 2003.

The Chargers (9-8) fall short of the postseason for the third straight year despite 383 passing yards and three touchdowns from Justin Herbert.

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Notable Performances

Derek Carr, QB, LVR: 20-36, 186 passing yards, 2 TDs

Josh Jacobs, RB, LVR: 26 carries, 132 rushing yards, 1 TD

Hunter Renfrow, WR, LVR: 4 catches, 13 receiving yards, 2 TDs

Justin Herbert, QB, LAC: 34-64, 383 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT

Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC: 16 carries, 64 rushing yards, 5 catches, 35 receiving yards, 2 total TDs

Mike Williams, WR, LAC: 9 catches, 119 receiving yards, 1 TD

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Complete Roster Contributes to Raiders Win

The Raiders might not have had a superstar on either side of the ball this season, but there were a lot of players who had a hand in this victory with key plays when they mattered most.

Hunter Renfrow only had four catches in the game, but he made them count with two touchdowns.

Foster Moreau and Bryan Edwards also had big plays in the passing attack:

Josh Jacobs tallied 132 rushing yards and was especially dominant in overtime, although Jalen Richard and Marcus Mariota also had important runs to pick up first downs.

It helped the offense rack up points despite Derek Carr struggling at times with his accuracy.

There were also no shortage of defensive players who came through when needed, including Maxx Crosby, Denzel Perryman, Casey Hayward Jr. and more. 

Daniel Carlson was arguably the most important person on the field with five made field goals, including two in overtime.

Las Vegas needed help from everyone on the roster to pull off the upset and nearly every player who saw a snap can say they played a role in the victory.

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Costly Mistakes End Chargers Season

The talent on the roster has been unmistakeable this season, with Justin Herbert emerging as one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL.

Herbert was outstanding in the fourth quarter and overtime to keep the Chargers alive, completing one key pass after another down the stretch.

Austin Ekeler continued to have a nose for the end zone, scoring twice in the first half.

Even with this production, an overtime game often comes down to one or two mistakes by the eventual losing team. The Chargers had quite a few that cost them.

Los Angeles turned it over twice, including one on special teams.

The penalties were also costly throughout the game, giving up 85 yards in the first half alone. The team finished with 10 penalties for 108 yards, allowing first downs on five of those calls. 

There was still more than just run-of-the-mill miscues on Sunday night.

An especially embarrassing stretch came late in the first half when the defense essentially gifted the Raiders a touchdown. Jalen Richard somehow earned a first down on a 3rd-and-23 run before a long pass interference call led to a Josh Jacobs score.

The mistakes continued in the second half, including a stuffed fourth-down attempt deep in their own territory:

Adding multiple dropped passes and a missed field goal, Los Angeles will have plenty to think about in the offseason.

Herbert played well enough to win the game, but the Chargers still fell short in disappointing fashion.