SAN DIEGO -- Qualcomm Stadium, clothed in so much silver and black from marauding Raiders fans who took over the place on Sunday, played host to another kind of coronation.
With the 19-16 survival – yes, that’s what it was – of the San Diego Chargers in front of a sold out and heavily pro-Raiders crowd, the Raiders clinched their first playoff berth since the 2002 season.
Yes, in the same building in which they played their last postseason game…Super Bowl XXXVII.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Plus, the Raiders, who improved to 11-3, also wrested control back of the AFC West and a potential first-round playoff bye with the win and the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss earlier in the day at home to the Tennessee Titans.