OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Raiders looked like they would be buried in the "Black Hole." Then, Rich Gannon revealed his MVP form.
Gannon led a pair of touchdown drives with under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter before Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 46-yard field goal with 5:01 remaining in overtime, lifting the Raiders to a 34-31 victory over the San Diego Chargers.
Coming off an embarrassing loss at Denver, the defending AFC champion Raiders (2-2) struggled for much of the game defensively and looked like they were headed for another defeat.
But Gannon engineered TD drives of 60 and 64 yards just under three minutes apart. He found Alvis Whitted with a 36-yard TD pass with 4:38 left and Charlie Garner ran 24 yards for a score with 1:24 remaining, tying the contest at 31-31.
"This is what a veteran quarterback is all about," Raiders coach Bill Callahan said. "You couldn't have any better play at crunch time then a situation with a veteran quarterback and league MVP. There is nobody else that I want on my side at that time than Rich Gannon."
Gannon enjoyed his best game of the season, completing 26-of-43 passes for 348 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He went 15-of-22 for 207 yards and two touchdowns in the second half.
"When we got down, (offensive coordinator Marc Trestman) Marc and Bill (Callahan) did a great job of staying with what we talked about all week and trying not to come undone," Gannon said. "When we got behind with five or six minutes to go, we kept our composure. I thought the guys did a great job. I thought we had a good plan and great balance."
On the Raiders' second possession of overtime, Gannon moved his club 64 yards in nine plays before the troubled Janikowski converted the winning kick.
Gannon's big game overshadowed a huge afternoon from Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who rushed for 187 yards and a touchdown. Tomlinson also threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Drew Brees in the first quarter.
"We thought we had it," Tomlinson said. "I guess they showed why they went to the Super Bowl last year. They know how to win games and we don't."
Brees also passed for a touchdown as the Chargers (0-4) remained one of four winless teams.
It was an offensive show with the teams combining for 878 yards and 44 first downs. There also were 16 penalties for 168 yards.
"When you get as many points as we had, when you get as many yards we had, I would like to think that we'd find a way to win but we didn't and that's what's disappointing," Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said.
On the winning drive, the Raiders took over on their own 8 and Gannon went right to work, finding Jerry Rice down the left sideline for 29 yards. Rice finished with seven catches for 118 yards.
Gannon, who went 4-of-5 on the drive, had a nine-yard completion to Tim Brown, moving the ball to the San Diego 35. Brown had six catches for 110 yards.
After the Raiders picked up seven yards on three plays, Janikowski came on to drill the winning kick.
"I felt good going into that situation," Janikowski said. "It felt good coming off my foot."
"In this league, you have to keep fighting and we know that better than anyone," Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown said. "Our motto today was to just keep fighting. The name of this game is making plays and we made enough to win."
Janikowski, who was arrested last week on suspicion of misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor vandalism and for being drunk in public, has converted all eight of his field goals this season.
The Chargers looked to be in control after fullback Lorenzo Neal ran three yards for a touchdown with 5:59 remaining for a 31-17 lead. After the score, replays caught Raiders free safety Rod Woodson shaking his head in disbelief.
But Gannon needed only four plays before finding Whitted down the left side for a 36-yard touchdown with 4:38 remaining.
After the Chargers went three-and-out, Gannon needed just five plays before he led the Raiders to the tying score. Garner capped the march by breaking through the line and racing 24 yards for a touchdown with 1:24 to play.
"I'm really proud of the way we came back in the fourth quarter," Callahan said. "It was a determined, gritty effort. Hopefully, this will get us going again. I hope this game served as a launching pad for us to take off again."
Garner carried 12 times for 70 yards.
Brees tried to get the Chargers in position for the win. He Eric Parker for 10 yards to the Raiders 32, but the Chargers did not have a timeout left and the clock expired.
Brees completed 21-of-31 passes for 187 yards, one touchdown and an interception.
Gannon opened the scoring with a 36-yard touchdown pass 3:34 into the contest before the Chargers responded.
On a halfback pass, Tomlinson found Brees down the left sideline for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 6:46 to go in the first quarter, tying the contest at 7-7.
Early in the second quarter, the Chargers used a big play on special teams to grab the lead. Anthony Dorsett had a punt hit his leg and Jesse Chatman recovered for the Chargers at the Raiders 18.
A roughing-the-passes penalty on Rod Coleman moved the Chargers inside the 10, and Brees found Justin Pelle from seven yards, giving the Chargers a 14-7 lead.
Gannon responded by capping an 11-play, 92-yard drive with a two-yard TD toss to tight end Doug Jolley with 8:14 left in the half.
On the Chargers' ensuing possession, Tomlinson ran for 13 yards on first down, then two plays later he broke up the middle for a 55-yard touchdown, giving San Diego a 21-14 lead with 6:44 left in the half.
In the half, Tomlinson carried 16 times for 143 yards. But the Raiders were able to control one of the NFL's top backs after intermission.
Steve Christie kicked a 32-yard field 4:19 into the third quarter, giving the Chargers a 24-14 lead. Andrew Pinnock's 41-yard punt return set up the score.
