LaDainian Tomlinson just did what he always does versus Oakland.

It was the first time Shawne Merriman got to break his “Lights Out” spasmodic sack dance out since 2007.

For the Chargers, it was just business as usual. Tomlinson scored two touchdowns, one from the Wildcat formation, as San Diego defeated Oakland on Sunday 24-16. It was their 13 win in a row versus the Raiders, the longest active winning streak in the NFL of one team against another.

San Diego (4-3) for their sixth season in a row has swept the series. Many of the Chargers players, including Philip Rivers, haven’t ever lost against Oakland (2-6). For the Chargers is was their seventh consecutive win at home versus the Raiders.

Tomlinson who San Diego drafted in 2001 said, when I first came to San Diego, the atmosphere and intensity of the game kind of rubbed me wrong. Defeating them 13 times in a row means that 13 times Raiders fans went home hanging their heads.

Tom Cable, Raiders coach said, it’s a big hump that we need to get over. This year we had two good chances. We are closer. However until you are able to get over that hump, you don’t have anything.

With Denver losing at Baltimore 30-7, San Diego was able to pull within two games for the lead in the AFC West. The Chargers are attempting to win their fourth consecutive division title.

For Shawne Merriman, his two sacks were his first since 2007. Late second quarter he dropped JaMarcus Russell, and then in the fourth quarter he did it again. San Diego’s outside linebacker is attempting to recover from knee surgery, which last year kept him out of 15 games during the regular season along with two playoff games.

Merriman said, it was a long time coming. I don’t emphasize sacks as much as everyone else. However they are important. In order for our defense to be better I need to get the sacks and make plays. As long as I do that and pressure the quarterback and force him into doing things he doesn’t want to, we will be a better defense.

The Chargers had five sacks, their season high, and allowed only 180 yard, their season low. Shaun Phillips, the Chargers other outside linebacker, had two sacks as well.

Rivers only got sacked once and was very impressive with his defense.

Rivers said, it’s not like they haven’t been pressuring, but still it’s very good to see. Getting the quarterback down on the ground, there something to it. It’s huge I think. Sacks, from what I see from the sideline, in these games these guys have been forceful. When there aren’t sacks, they don’t get as much attention.

With sacks it’s funny because there can be a spurt of a few games. Then suddenly they have six or seven. It just shows I think what a pro he really is, all of the guys are. They just keep on hammering away.

San Diego didn’t need to rally to get the victory like they did in Oakland during the season opener where they got beaten up physically by Oakland, but still won the game 24-20.

Antonio Cromartie, cornerback, intercepted a Russell pass when Zach Miller, Raiders tight end, fell down. For Cromartie, it was his first interception in 20 games. In 2007 he had 10 interceptions, but last season had only two.

The first play for the Chargers from the line of scrimmage was a Rivers pass of 53 yards to Malcom Floyd, a replacement for Chris Chambers who had been struggling, into the starting lineup. The play gave the Chargers first down and goal from the 6 yard line. Tomlinson took the snap directly and ran to the right to score and give San Diego the lead at 7-0.

Early second quarter, the Raiders tied the game after a pass from Rivers intended for Vincent Jackson bounced off of the wide receiver’s hands. Chris Johnson intercepted the pass and returned the ball 20 yards down to the 27 yard line of San Diego. Justin Fargas ran 3 yards to score the touchdown for the Raiders.

On their next two drives San Diego scored and took a 21-7 lead. Rivers connected with Jackson, who was wide open, on a scoring pass of 8 yards. Tomlinson scored the other touchdown on a run of 10 yards.

Rivers went 16 for 25 for a total of 249 yards passing. Tomlinson had 56 rushing yards in 18 carries. Fargas rushed for 59 yards in 18 carries.

During his career of nine years, Tomlinson has scored 28 touchdowns versus the Raiders: 22 rushing, three passing, and three receiving.

For the rest of the game, the Raiders could only manage three Sebastian Janikowski field goals from 28, 41 and 48 yards out.

Russell, who a week earlier had been benched in the team’s 38-0 loss at home to the Jets, went 14 out of 22 for a total of 109 yards passing.

Cable said, today he seemed to be very in control. A few of his throws he would probably love to have back. However, overall today he gave us the chance to win.