SAN DIEGO – Perhaps the only thing more annoying to the Raiders than losing 13 consecutive games to San Diego is Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman doing his "Lights Out" dance after every tackle.
So forgive Raiders left tackle Mario Henderson for taking exception to Merriman, coming off a season-ending left knee injury in 2008, dancing on his figurative grave after both of his sacks of JaMarcus Russell on Sunday.
"He didn't work for those sacks," said Henderson, who added he was sick. "JaMarcus was stepping up, and I just turned – that's a coverage sack. He didn't beat me around the edge or nothing like that.
"It was nothing that he did, nothing at all. I'll play him 12 more games, and it'd be the same thing. That'd be the only way he'd get a sack against me."
The two sacks were Merriman's first in a regular-season game since Dec. 30, 2007, in Oakland.
"When they come out and play us," Merriman said, "that's probably their biggest game of the year for a few reasons."
The joy of sacks – Speaking of sacks, Raiders rookie defensive end Matt Shaughnessy picked up his first career sack when he took down Philip Rivers on second and goal from the Oakland 6 with 5:27 remaining.
Shaughnessy, a third-round pick out of Wisconsin, also had five tackles.
"Matt played a ton, probably 80 percent of that football game," coach Tom Cable said. "We've been getting good play out of him and Desmond Bryant both, for two young guys on the line of scrimmage. Very pleased with his effort today."
LT the Great – LaDainian Tomlinson has made a career out of beating the Raiders. Sunday, he became the fourth-fastest (132 games) to reach 12,000 rushing yards, behind Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson and Barry Sanders. But he took special delight in extending the Chargers' winning streak against the Raiders.
"Thirteen in a row means 13 times their fans leave with their heads down," Tomlinson said, "and I love it."
Seen and heard – A Chargers fan held high a sign that read: "Define Bust? Two words – JaMarcus Russell."
Funny, but down in these parts, two other words come to mind quicker – "Ryan" and "Leaf."
Call The Bee's Paul Gutierrez, (916) 326-5556, and read his Raiders blog and more on the team at www.sacbee.com/raiders.
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