OAKLAND, Calif._In an Oakland Raiders season when everything was going right, something went very wrong.
In a Cleveland Browns season when everything was going wrong, something finally went right.
The playoff-bound Raiders, in the running for the AFC's No. 1 seed, lost quarterback Derek Carr to a broken leg in a 33-25 victory over Indianapolis on Saturday. He's the club's best quarterback since Rich Gannon and an NFL most-valuable-player candidate. The devastating blow puts the franchise in the hands of backup Matt McGloin, who last started a game in 2013 and has 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his career.
Carr is reportedly scheduled to undergo surgery Sunday for a broken fibula.
"It feels like we lost the game," Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin told reporters. "We lost our leader."
About 2,500 miles away, the Browns experienced the other end of the emotional spectrum. On the verge of joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only NFL teams to go 0-16, Cleveland swerved at the last minute and beat San Diego, 20-17, in the second-to-last week of the regular season.
The merciful win came when Chargers kicker Josh Lambo missed 45-yard field goal as time expired, failing to force overtime.
As the ball fluttered wide right, an entire city did the Lambo leap.
"I was looking around for people to hug," Browns tackle Joe Thomas said. "There were a few tears in my eyes. I was really happy. There was a genuine feeling of joy. The Christmas spirit was amongst us, for sure."
For Cleveland, the downside of winning was they lost the inside track on the No. 1 overall pick, as one-win San Francisco has a weaker strength of schedule. The Browns regained pole position by the afternoon, though, as the 49ers picked up their second victory with a season sweep of the Rams.
If it wasn't clear already, the loss by San Diego virtually ensures Mike McCoy won't be the Chargers' coach next season, whether they're playing in San Diego or Los Angeles. That means the Rams and Chargers could be sharing a city and competing for the same coaching candidates.
