SAN DIEGO — LaDainian Tomlinson did what he always does against the Oakland Raiders.
Shawne Merriman got to break out his spasmodic “Lights Out” sack dance for the first time since 2007.
It was simply business as usual for the San Diego Chargers, who got two touchdowns from Tomlinson — one out of the wildcat — in beating Oakland 24-16 on Sunday, their 13th straight victory over the hapless Raiders. It’s the longest active NFL winning streak by one team over another.
The Chargers (4-3) have swept the series for the sixth straight season. Many Chargers, including quarterback Philip Rivers, have never lost to the Raiders (2-6). It was San Diego’s seventh straight home win against the Raiders.
“When I first got here, the intensity and atmosphere of the game, it rubbed me the wrong way,” said Tomlinson, who was drafted by the Chargers in 2001. “By beating them 13 times, it means 13 times their fans went home with their heads hanging.”
With the Broncos losing at Baltimore, the Chargers pulled within two games of the AFC West lead.
Merriman got his first two sacks since 2007, dropping JaMarcus Russell late in the second quarter and again late in the fourth.
The outside linebacker has been working his way back from knee surgery that cost him the final 15 regular-season games and both playoff games last year.
“It’s one of those things that was long coming,” Merriman said. “I don’t put as big an emphasis on sacks as everybody else does, but they are important.”
San Diego had a season-high five sacks and allowed a season-low 180 yards. The other outside linebacker, Shaun Phillips, also had two sacks.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie intercepted Russell when tight end Zach Miller fell down. It was the first pickoff in 20 games for Cromartie, who had 10 in 2007 but dropped off to two last season.
Oakland tied it early in the second quarter after Rivers’ pass to Vincent Jackson glanced off the receiver’s hands and was intercepted by Chris Johnson, who returned it 20 yards to the San Diego 27. Justin Fargas scored on a 3-yard run to cap the short drive.
All the Raiders got the rest of the way were three field goals by Sebastian Janikowski, of 48, 41 and 28 yards.
Russell, benched in a 38-0 home loss to the New York Jets a week earlier, was 14-of-22 for 109 yards.
“He seemed very much to be in control today,” Raiders coach Tom Cable said. “A couple throws he’d probably like to have over again, but for the most part he gave us a chance to win today.”
