SAN DIEGO — Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said on Sunday after their game against the Chargers that he completes that throw — a deep pass to the left corner of the field — 100 out of 100 times.
And when asked at a press conference on Monday, Chargers rookie cornerback Jason Verrett, who intercepted that pass from Carr during the dwindling minutes of the fourth quarter, how often he makes that catch — he said100 out of 100 times.
That interception — a leaping grab over the Raiders receiver and the planting of both of his feet inbounds — all but sealed the 31-28 win for the Chargers against their division rivals the Raiders in Oakland on Sunday.
The interception marked the first of Verrett’s career.
It was a “tough” win, said veteran receiver Malcolm Floyd. It was tough, he said because the Raiders threw some schemes at them they weren’t expecting, and they started off fast.
But a lot of veterans stepped up, as well as some young guys who are playing like veterans, including rookie running back Branden Oliver and Verrett, said Floyd.
Floyd said he knew Verrett’s play at the end was huge, because if the Raiders intended receiver Brice Butler made the catch, the Chargers would’ve been in trouble.
“That was (Sebastian) Janikowski’s range right there, and if we didn’t get that pick we were in trouble of going into overtime,” Floyd said.
“The most important thing in the fourth quarter, we needed a big stop, we got the three and out and then we created the turnover,” said head coach Mike McCoy.
“The great thing during that game, too, at the fourth quarter there was no panic,” McCoy said. “We had a lot of confidence that we would find a way to win it and that’s what we did.”
The Chargers are entering week seven having won five in a row. They’ll be facing another division rival in the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.
But Floyd said the locker room isn’t keeping track of the win streak.
“I think we just got to continue to focus and not lose track of what we’ve been doing as a team. We’ve been doing a good job of going in every game focused on that week, the schemes, breaking down other teams and game film, and that’s all been carrying over into the game,” said Floyd.
“We can’t look too far ahead,” adding, “we have to take it one week at a time.”
