NFL 2011 Week 10 - Palmer Throws for 299 Yards, Raiders Top Bolts to Take AFC West Lead

Palmer Throws for 299 Yards, Raiders Top Bolts to Take AFC West Lead
Jojo Doria

San Diego, CA

Carson Palmer had a solid outing, throwing for 299 yards, and the Oakland Raiders claimed a huge triumph over the San Diego Chargers 24-17 in a key divisional showdown Thursday night at Qualcomm Stadium.

With the win, the Raiders hiked their record to 5-4 and are now in first place in the AFC West.

The Raiders and Chargers entered the tilt in a three-way tie with Kansas City for first place in the AFC West.

Both the Raiders and Chargers were also coming off losses entering the first Thursday night matchup of this season's season half.

Against the Broncos, Palmer had three passes picked off, but managed to finish with 322 yards and three TD in the loss, the second straight for the Oakland.

Palmer, who came out of retirement and brought in after Jason Campbell went down, hooked up with rookie receiver Denarius Moore five times for 123 yards and two scores.

Michael Bush once again helped carry the load for the Raiders with his running with the absence of standout back Darren McFadden, dealing with a foot problem.

The 245- pound reserve Bush amassed 242 yards from scrimmage. He also had had 157 yards rushing with a TD on 30 carries while adding 85 yards on three catches as the Raiders snapped a two-game losing skid.

San Diego's Philip Rivers, outduelled by Palmer, had his moments but threw a key interception in the end zone late in the game. Rivers threw for 274 yards with two scores and an interception on 23-of-47 passing.

That costly interception off Rivers in the end zone with 3:22 left was his NFL- and career-high 15th interception.

San Diego has dropped four in a row and fell to 4-5 on the season.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man was stabbed during a fight in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot after the Raiders' victory, police said.

According to a San Diego Union-Tribune report, the fight took place near the front gate of the stadium around 7:30 pm, with the victim suffering a stab wound to the abdomen.

The injury does not appear to be life threatening.

The victim was treated at a hospital but was uncooperative with police about giving details of the incident.