J.K. Dobbins rushes for 135 yards as the Chargers beat the Raiders 22-10 in Jim Harbaugh's debut
J.K. Dobbins rushed for 135 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown, and the Los Angeles Chargers had a successful debut under Jim Harbaugh as they rallied in the second half for a 22-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
All 10 of Dobbins' carries came in the second half. It was the fifth 100-yard rushing game for Dobbins, who signed a one-year deal with the Chargers during the offseason after beginning his career in Baltimore.
Dobbins played in only one game last year when he tore his Achilles tendon during the second half of Baltimore's opener against Houston.
Justin Herbert was 17 of 26 for 144 yards and a touchdown as the Chargers avenged a 63-21 loss to the Raiders last December, which resulted in the firings of coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. That set in motion the eventual hiring of Harbaugh after he led Michigan to a national title.
Gardner Minshew was 25 of 33 for 257 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his first game for the Raiders.
Dobbins also had the second- and third-longest carries of his career in his Chargers debut. His 46-yard run up the middle on third-and-1 from the LA 47-yard line set up Cameron Dicker's third field goal and put the Bolts up 9-7 with 9:08 remaining in the third quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Dobbins went 12 yards off right tackle to put the Chargers up 16-7.
Midway through the fourth quarter and with Los Angeles up 16-10, Dobbins had a 61-yard run off left tackle to the Raiders 14. Three plays later, Herbert connected with Ladd McConkey for a 10-yard touchdown to put it out of reach. The 2-point conversion was no good.
Dicker opened the scoring with a 53-yard field goal with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter. The Chargers got the ball on the Raiders 40 after Poona Ford stopped Zamir White for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1.
The Raiders took a 7-3 lead on the ensuing possession when they went 67 yards in seven plays. On first-and-10 at the Chargers 31, Minshew checked down and threw a screen pass to Alexander Mattison, who caught it at the 35, hurdled over Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and broke through an attempted tackle from linebacker Daiyan Henley near the right sideline at the 27 before scoring his first touchdown with the Raiders.
It was the longest play in the career of the sixth-year running back, who previously was with the Vikings.
The Chargers got within 7-6 late in the first half when Dicker was good from 25 yards. Los Angeles took over at the Las Vegas 12 after Khalil Mack returned Minshew's fumble 22 yards. Minshew bobbled a snap and lost the ball on a scramble.
Raiders: DE Tyree Wilson suffered a knee injury during the first quarter and did not return.
Raiders: At Baltimore next Sunday.
Chargers: At Carolina next Sunday.