SAN DIEGO (AP) -- At least the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers can take out their frustrations on each other.

When the AFC West rivals play Sunday, the major motivating factor for each will be trying to escape the clutches of yet another losing season.

The Raiders do remain mathematically alive in the playoff picture at 7-7, but because those slim hopes rely mostly on what other teams do, they could be eliminated even if they win Sunday.

And the Chargers? Had they beaten the Miami Dolphins last Sunday, they, too, would still have a remote shot at the postseason, and there might actually be a buzz in the air at Qualcomm Stadium.

But last Sunday, on an afternoon when the Chargers couldn't find the end zone, John Carney bounced what would have been the tying field goal off the left upright, securing their fourth straight non-winning season.

While the Raiders can finish with a winning record, the best the Chargers (6-8) can finish is .500.

"There are some things that are out there, if you need tangible reasons to play and get ready," said Chargers rookie coach Mike Riley, who's seen the extremes of a 4-1 start followed by a six-game losing streak.

"We don't want to have a losing season," quarterback Jim Harbaugh said. "That's a big motivation."

And it would be a big change from consecutive 4-12 and 5-11 seasons.

Besides finishing 8-8, the Chargers would like to beat the Raiders and then the Denver Broncos so they'd have at least one win against every division rival.

One more motivating factor for the Chargers likely will be the Pro Bowl snub of linebacker Junior Seau. Seau said being left off the AFC team after an eight-year run will give him extra motivation next year. Knowing Seau, he won't wait that long.

Oakland beat the Chargers 28-9 on Nov. 14, the fourth game in San Diego's six-game losing streak.

The Raiders have been erratic, though, which is why they're only a game ahead of the Chargers in the standings.

Last week they routed Tampa Bay 45-0, the worst loss in Bucs history and the Raiders' biggest victory margin since they joined the NFL in 1970. It left many Raiders wondering why it took so long to have a game like that.

"I can't explain it, that's what's so scary," said offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy, who grew up in San Diego.

"It's a little frustrating to see so late in the season what the team can do if we put it all together," linebacker Greg Biekert said.

The Raiders haven't had a winning season since going 9-7 in 1994. They haven't been in the playoffs since 1993.

The Raiders have three Pro Bowlers: defensive tackle Russell Maryland and cornerback Charles Woodson as starters, and quarterback Rich Gannon as a backup.

On offense, the Raiders are everything the Chargers aren't. They have the NFL's top-ranked rushing game, and Gannon has thrown for 12 touchdowns in the last six games.

By comparison, the Chargers have the second-worst running game, and Harbaugh has thrown for only eight touchdowns in the 12 games he's played.

OAKLAND Season schedule and results

SAN DIEGO Season schedule and results

September 12 @Green Bay L 24-28 September 19 @Minnesota W 22-17 September 26 Chicago W 24-17 October 3 @Seattle L 21-22 October 10 Denver L 13-16 October 17 @Buffalo W 20-14 October 24 NY Jets W 24-23 October 31 Miami L 9-16 November 14 San Diego W 28-9 November 22 @Denver L 21-27 November 28 Kansas City L 34-37 December 5 Seattle W 30-21 December 9 @Tennessee L 14-21 December 19 Tampa Bay W 45-0 December 26 @San Diego 4:05pm ET January 2 @Kansas City 1:00pm ET

September 19 @Cincinnati W 34-7 September 26 Indianapolis L 19-27 October 3 Kansas City W 21-14 October 10 @Detroit W 20-10 October 17 Seattle W 13-10 October 24 Green Bay L 3-31 October 31 @Kansas City L 0-34 November 7 Denver L 17-33 November 14 @Oakland L 9-28 November 21 Chicago L 20-23 November 28 @Minnesota L 27-35 December 5 Cleveland W 23-10 December 12 @Seattle W 19-16 December 19 @Miami L 9-12 December 26 Oakland 4:05pm ET January 2 @Denver 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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