Raiders vs Chargers TNF A Blast

Raiders safety Erik Harris (25) during the regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.    Matt Aguirre/Oakland Raiders

It was the best of times, it was the Best of Times. Thursday Night Football turned in a winning game under the evening lights of Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders hosted the San Diego Chargers, and if you were there you witnessed a bone chilling classic performance by both teams.

When you take two old football rivals with similar records, suit them up in classic throwback uniforms and let them loose on each other in a Prime Time week night game, you've got magic in a bottle. We Raiders fans drank up all the magic that was last night as our team showed the grit and glory of what it means to be a Raider.

The night didn't go perfectly for them though. Philip Rivers, a good veteran quarterback, along with Melvin Gordon and company made big offensive plays early and late. But it was that attacking Raiders defense that put a stamp on this game with two early interceptions by safety Erik Harris, one returned for a touchdown. The defensive line had five sacks, 2.5 by rookie DE Clelin Ferrell, and was the threat behind Rivers hurried and inaccurate passes.

The Raiders celebrate during the regular season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.  Matt Aguirre/Oakland Raiders 

And yes, the defensive backs also stepped up their game against Rivers, intercepting him in the final minute to secure the victory; a victory that almost wasn't because of a Raiders missed point-after attempt. We also learned that safety Karl Joseph definitely knows how to blitz and lay the boom.

These Raiders are a young team still learning the ropes of what it takes to win close games. If I were grading them on their last two games, both victories, I give them a B+. They still have work to do but from last night's on field successes I'd say they're heading in the right direction. What team with RB Josh Jacobs wouldn't have a future upside. (Roll Tide)

Two things the Coliseum did right last night. They highlighted players from the 1981 Super Bowl team with a creative championship big play reenactment featuring young high school players from Tennyson High School (Hayward, Ca.). And they had Oakland native Montell Jordan ("This Is How We Do It') sing the national anthem. Oakland and the Raiders should be proud of the silver & black image they broadcast for the national football world to see.  And those of us who were at the game have new Raiders memories that will last for generations to come; This Is How We Do It!!!!

Where were you when the Oakland Raiders played their last Prime Time game in Oakland?  I was at the Coliseum, where else would I have wanted to be!

Final Score

Chargers 24

Raiders 26