COSTA MESA, CA – The Los Angeles Chargers will play the Raiders for the last time in “the black hole” in Oakland on Thursday night. With the Raiders moving to their new stadium in Las Vegas next season, many of the Chargers players including running backs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler, and quarterback Philip Rivers all reminisce on their battles in that stadium.
Along with Gordon’s memory, Ekeler has a joyful memory from the times playing in the black hole.
“It was a touchdown that got called back,” Ekeler explained. “I was turning back looking at the field and there is someone flipping me off in the background. There is also a beer getting poured on me. It was amazing. I want to get it framed.”
Rivers who is 18-8 all times against the Raiders shared an interesting memory about the rivalry in Oakland.
“The best way I can describe it is think about the team you played in high school, that was kind of that cross-town team that you always looked forward to. I mean, it’s that kind of old-school rivalry. It’ll be awesome. The fact that it’s a night game, too.”
Head coach Anthony Lynn chimed on in his memories from the Oakland Coliseum aka RingCentral Coliseum.
“I have a lot of memories of the ‘black hole’. That’s a fun place to play football. There’s a lot of energy and a lot of excitement.”
The Chargers face the Raiders in Oakland on Thursday night at 5:20PM PT on FOX and NFL Network.
