Nov 30, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu (45) reacts after a sack against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half at SoFi Stadium.Fernando RamirezMon, December 1, 2025 at 1:16 AM UTC·5 min readWhen describing the Chargers (8-4), the spotlight is usually on quarterback Justin Herbert or an offensive weapon like running back Kimani Vidal, who surpassed 100 rushing yards again.
But Sunday’s 31-14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) belonged entirely to edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTuipulotu was a menace throughout the afternoon, recording two third-down sacks of Geno Smith—one of which directly set up a Chargers touchdown. He also delivered a key stop on 4th-and-1 from the Raiders’ 43-yard line, tripping up Ashton Jeanty for a turnover on downs.
He finished with two sacks, two quarterback hits, and four tackles for loss as the Bolts defense held the Raiders to just 14 points and 153 total yards, while also limiting Jeanty to 31 rushing yards.
On offense, Vidal posted his third 100-yard game since Omarion Hampton’s injury. His 59-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter proved crucial after the teams entered halftime tied 7-7.
Here’s how the game unfolded:
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn the opening Raiders drive, they faced 3rd-and-5 from their own 42 when Khalil Mack and Da’Shawn Hand combined for a sack of Smith, forcing a punt.
The Chargers marched 74 yards in 14 plays, going 3-for-3 on third down. Herbert found Keenan Allen twice for a combined 15 yards and ultimately hit Quentin Johnston, who shook off two Raiders defenders and walked into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
After the drive, Herbert went to the locker room with a left-hand injury. While he was being evaluated, Trey Lance entered following a Raiders three-and-out. Lance moved the ball from his own 7 to the Raiders’ 48, converting two third downs in the process.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHerbert returned with a glove on his left hand and immediately converted a 3rd-and-10 to Allen. Two plays later, he hit Oronde Gadsden on a seam route for 27 yards. But on 3rd-and-goal, his pass intended for Ladd McConkey was intercepted by cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly.
Two plays into the ensuing Raiders drive from their own 3-yard line, Smith attempted a deep ball to Dont’e Thornton Jr., but the pass popped into the air and Tony Jefferson made a diving interception near the sideline—his third of the year—setting the Chargers up at the Raiders’ 27.
Facing 4th-and-1, the Chargers handed the ball to Vidal, but he was stuffed by linebacker Devin White and defensive tackle Adam Butler. It was their second straight missed scoring opportunity.
The Raiders responded with an 82-yard, nine-play drive, sparked by a 16-yard completion to Jack Bech and a 24-yard strike to Brock Bowers. Bowers later scored wide open from six yards out, with Derwin James and Elijah Molden left pointing at each other in confusion.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBoth teams entered halftime tied at 7-7.
The Chargers opened the second half with juice. After posting only 37 rushing yards in the first half, Vidal took a 3rd-and-2 handoff, bounced outside, got a key block from left tackle Jamaare Salyer, and raced 59 yards for a touchdown.
On the next Raiders drive, Smith faced 3rd-and-1 from his own 44 when Tuipulotu burst through for another sack, forcing a punt.
Herbert was then sacked on back-to-back plays—once by Malcolm Koonce and then by Maxx Crosby—to kill the next drive.
Smith wasn’t spared either. On 3rd-and-5, Mack collapsed the pocket with a bull rush, freeing Tuipulotu around the edge for his second sack of the game.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter an 18-yard Derius Davis punt return set the Chargers up at their own 40, Herbert found rookie Tre Harris for 16 yards on 3rd-and-5. The drive ended with Herbert rolling left and hitting a diving McConkey in the end zone for a touchdown.
Following Tuipulotu’s fourth-down stop of Jeanty, the Chargers went three-and-out, and Cameron Dicker connected on a 55-yard field goal to make it 24-7.
Smith tried to rally the Raiders on the next possession, connecting with Thornton for 11 yards and Tyler Lockett for another 11. They eventually reached the 1-yard line, where Smith hit Bowers—who made an excellent one-handed catch low to the turf—for his second touchdown of the night, cutting the deficit to 24-14 late in the fourth.
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker, Daiyan Henley (0) celebrates with teammate Derwin James Jr. during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLos Angeles Chargers linebacker, Daiyan Henley (0) celebrates with teammate Derwin James Jr. during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
The Chargers then put together a long, clock-draining drive to seal the game, improving to 8-4 and boosting their playoff chances to 64%.
But the road ahead won’t be easy.
The Chargers face the Philadelphia Eagles next Monday night, then travel to Kansas City and Dallas before finishing the season at home against Houston and closing in Denver.
That is a brutal stretch.
They’ll need to find at least two wins—possibly three—to secure a playoff berth, a tough task given the defenses awaiting them.
The road to the postseason begins next Monday night against the defending champs. It’s win-or-sink time for Jim Harbaugh’s club.
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