Terrelle Pryor found out what it’s like to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Pryor made his first career start, in place of injured Carson Palmer, in the Raiders’ 24-21 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. He threw his first two career touchdown passes and scored on a 3-yard run.
Game Report Card
- Offense
Making his first NFL start QB Terrelle Pryor, had mixed results. Pryor completed less than 50 percent of his passes and threw an interception, but did toss two TD passes and run for another to bring the Raiders closer in the fourth quarter. Running back Darren McFadden’s lost season continued as he managed just 57 yards rushing on 19 carries.
Grade: C+ - Defense
On paper, the Raiders’ defense didn’t perform too poorly despite the 24-21 loss. The Raiders held San Diego to just 210 yards of total offense and a paltry 70 yards rushing on 31 attempts. However, the secondary allowed Philip Rivers to connect for two big touchdown passes. Defensive lineman Lamarr Houston was stellar all game, picking up eight tackles and 1½ sacks.
Grade: C- - Special teams
Whenever you allowing the opposing team to run back the opening kick for a TD, it’s a bad day for the special teams department. And that’s exactly what the Raiders did. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski didn’t have a FG try and punter Shane Lechler averaged 46.2 yards on six punts.
Grade: D
He also made some mistakes.
With Sebastian Janikowski warming up on the sideline for a possible field goal attempt in the final seconds of the first half, Pryor scrambled but didn’t get out of bounds and the clock ran out.
Early in the third quarter, Pryor got too much air under a pass and was picked off in the end zone by Quentin Jammer.
“There were some throws that I missed today that I didn’t miss in practice,” said Pryor, who completed 13-of-28 passes for 150 yards, with one interception. “That’s one thing I know I can critique myself and work on and have some bigger guys stand there and work on that in the offseason. There were two throws that could have been touchdowns. And I’m upset about that.”
San Diego’s Micheal Spurlock returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
San Diego linebacker Takeo Spikes and Oakland running back Mike Goodson were ejected following a skirmish in the second quarter.
San Diego coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith are expected to be fired today because the Chargers (7-9) missed the playoffs for the third straight season. The Raiders finished 4-12.
Pryor threw his first career touchdown pass, a 9-yarder to Heyward-Bey early in the second quarter, and scored on a 3-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to pull the Raiders to 24-14. He threw a 5-yard TD pass to Denarius Moore late in the game.
“I thought he did some good things,” coach Dennis Allen said. “Obviously there is still some work to be done there. He obviously provided a little spark and so I think that is something to build on.”
Pryor’s first TD pass came two plays after Spikes and Goodson were ejected.
Goodson was blocking Spikes when the two locked up on a pass play in the second quarter. They remained locked up after the play ended and a larger scrum broke out.
Spikes and Goodson were flagged for personal fouls and ejected. Spikes had to be restrained by field judge Scott Edwards from going after referee John Parry.
After Oakland scored, San Diego took the ensuing kickoff and went on a long drive that resulted in Philip Rivers’ 11-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates for a 17-7 lead with 2:48 left before halftime.
Rivers also threw a 34-yard scoring pass to Danario Alexander.
Rivers completed 13 of 17 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
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