Chargers cruise past Raiders, 34-7

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Chargers finally looked like world-beaters.

It’s probably too late.

LaDainian Tomlinson scored on a 3-yard run against his favorite punching bag and Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes, including a 59-yarder to Vincent Jackson, to give the Chargers a 34-7 victory against the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night.

It was San Diego’s 11th straight win over their archrivals in a series dating to the birth of the AFL in 1960.

The Chargers (5-8) snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in seven games. Once considered favorites to reach the Super Bowl, they’re still going to need a miracle to reach the playoffs. They trail Denver by 21‚Ñ2 games in the AFC West, and the Broncos have four to play.

San Diego’s Darren Sproles caught two TD passes. His 87-yard touchdown on a punt return in the fourth quarter was called back after rookie Antoine Cason was called for an illegal block in the back.

Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell was intercepted twice by linebacker Stephen Cooper and also lost a fumble, leading to 17 points for the Chargers. Russell didn’t get up right away after throwing his second interception and was later taken to the locker room on a cart with an injured right ankle.

Andrew Walter replaced Russell at the start of the third quarter. Walter was intercepted by Matt Wilhelm late in the fourth quarter.

The Raiders (3-10) reached double digit losses for the sixth straight year. They are 22-71 since being routed by Tampa Bay and former Raiders coach Jon Gruden in the Super Bowl in San Diego on Jan. 26, 2003.

Tomlinson’s TD midway through the first quarter was the 137th of his brilliant eight-year career, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the career list. He had been tied with Marshall Faulk, who was at the game working for the NFL Network.

L.T. had 91 yards on 25 carries.