Chargers crush Raiders

LaDainian Tomlinson, left, gets physical with the Oakland Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha during the San Diego Chargers much needed win to keep their play-off hopes alive.

LOS ANGELES // The San Diego Chargers dominated divisional rivals Oakland 34-7 to keep their slim postseason hopes alive. The Quarterback Phillip Rivers threw three touchdown passes and LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 91 yards to help San Diego (win/loss 5-8) end a three-game losing streak. The Chargers trail the Denver Broncos by two games in the AFC West and have three regular season games remaining, one of which is against the Broncos on Dec 28. Denver (7-5) plays Kansas City on Sunday.

"We can't worry about playoff scenarios, we have to play prideful and finish games," Tomlinson said. "We've taken a long time to put it together, but better late than never." San Diego will almost certainly have to win their remaining games to have any chance of making the playoffs. Rivers quickly found his rhythm against an inept Raiders defence, connecting with Darren Sproles for an eight-yard score and Vincent Jackson on a 59-yard bomb in the second quarter.

Jackson finished with five catches and 148 yards receiving. "They put a lot of guys in the box to stop (Tomlinson) and Vincent was able to get downfield and make plays," Rivers said. "It's been tough, we haven't needed to win a game this bad in a long time. It was good to get it." Oakland (3-10) also struggled offensively, and quarterback JaMarcus Russell left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury after throwing two interceptions.

The Raiders' lone score came from Justin Miller, who took a kickoff and ran 92 yards for a touchdown just before halftime. Sproles capped the scoring with a second touchdown reception, an 18-yard catch with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. *Reuters