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Chargers outmuscled by Raiders in possible last home game for Philip Rivers

CARSON, Calif. -- In his final home game of the 2019 season, and perhaps for his career with this franchise, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers finished on a sour note.

The Oakland Raiders manhandled the Chargers 24-17 in front of a crowd of 25,380 mostly hostile, silver-and-black clad fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.

Dealing with a hand injury most of the game, Rivers played through the pain. Rivers was mostly solid, but not spectacular, finishing 27-for-39 passing for 279 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions as the Chargers fell to 5-10.

With a final game left on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, Rivers has one last chance to show why he should be the team's franchise quarterback when the Chargers open the new shared facility with the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood next season, or perhaps audition for a new team.

In the final year of his deal, Rivers has said he will take the offseason to decide if he wants to play in 2020. If that answer is a yes, Rivers has said he would like to finish his career with the Chargers, but that the organization also has to want him.

"I think you want to approach every week like it could be your last play," Rivers said earlier this week. "You never know, anything can happen. You never really want to take anything for granted.

"I think you can't overdramatize each week based on the 'What ifs.' I think just be in the moment, be in the present and go play."

Rivers eclipsed 4,000 passing yards for a seventh consecutive season and the 11th time in his career. His 11 seasons with 4,000 or more passing yards is the third-most in league history.

However, Rivers' 18 interceptions this season is second only to Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (28). Rivers has 24 turnovers total.

Rivers managed to go without an interception Sunday for only the sixth time this season.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Chargers could not muster much of a running attack against the Raiders, totaling just 19 yards on the ground for the game. The Raiders dominated both lines of scrimmage up front, allowing them to control the flow.

Promising trend: Austin Ekeler continues to pile up receiving yards. Ekeler finished with five catches for 58 yards. With 940 receiving yards, Ekeler has the second-most receiving yards by a running back in team history (Lionel James tops the Bolts with 1,027 in 1985).