OAKLAND, Calif. _ The first-place Oakland Raiders?
Yes, that's what they are after Sunday's 34-31 win over the San Diego Chargers pulled them into a tie at the top of the AFC West standings with the Denver Broncos, who lost to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Raiders improved to 4-1 for the first time since the Super Bowl season of 2002 as Amari Cooper renewed acquaintances with the end zone, Michael Crabtree had another huge clutch catch and the defense forced four turnovers.
The only thing that was left to occur was for the Chargers to find a way to bungle it at the end of the game. And the team that held a lead at the two-minute warning game in each of its first four games botched the hold on a potential game-tying field goal that ensured the Raiders win.
