Justin Herbert and Chargers secure AFC's No. 5 seed with 34-20 win over Raiders

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said he could tell from the noise his teammates made from neighboring meeting rooms on Saturday “that good things were happening.”

Los Angeles needed the Steelers to lose to the Bengals that night to have a shot at the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs. Cincinnati did its part by beating Pittsburgh, which provided the Chargers with a big opportunity Sunday.

They had some early red-zone troubles, but behind Herbert's 346 yards passing and two touchdowns, the Chargers secured that No. 5 seed with a 34-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Chargers (11-6) closed the regular season with a three-game winning streak under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh and will visit the fourth-seeded Houston Texans (10-7) on Saturday.

Had they lost, they would have faced Baltimore in the latest edition of the Harbaugh Bowl. John Harbaugh coaches the Ravens and has never lost to his younger brother.

“I'm very proud of the way the team played, starting with the quarterback,” Jim Harbaugh said. “I'm not going to say unbelievable because I believe it and I see it every day. But there were throws that he was making ... that were like handoffs. They were right where you would put it if you were handing the ball off on a running play. Just incredible game by him.”

Las Vegas, which had won back-to-back games, finished 4-13 with coach Antonio Pierce on the hot seat. Pierce twice said “no comment” when asked about his future.

This was the Chargers' first victory at Las Vegas since 2020 and their first season sweep of their AFC West rival since 2018. That also was the last time the Chargers won at least 11 games.

Herbert showed off his arm and legs, taking off for a 41-yard run in the third quarter to set up a 2-yard touchdown pass to Will Dissly for a 27-13 lead.

His top target was Quentin Johnston, the second-year pro who set career highs with 13 receptions for 186 yards. Johnston had been criticized for dropping a key pass in a 30-23 loss to the Ravens on Nov. 25.

“He's playing the right football at the right time,” Herbert said. “He's confident. He's having fun. You can tell. He's feeling it, and whenever he's doing that, you've got to get him the ball no matter how it is.”

Ladd McConkey caught five passes for 95 yards, his 10th consecutive game with at least 50 yards to break the rookie record that Odell Beckham Jr. set in 2014. His 82 receptions for 1,149 yards are Chargers rookie records.

J.K. Dobbins rushed for 63 yards to finish with 905 on the season.

Aidan O'Connell passed for 214 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders, and Jakobi Meyers caught nine passes for 123 yards and a TD. Meyers topped 1,000 yards for the first time in his six-year career, becoming the 11th undrafted free agent to accomplish that.

Brock Bowers had four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown to finish the season with 1,194 yards, falling just short of becoming the ninth tight end with 1,200 in a season.

The Chargers outgained the Raiders 473 yards to 264, but failed to score touchdowns on three of their first four trips to the red zone to keep the game close. Las Vegas led most of the first half and appeared set to take a 10-9 lead into halftime.

But O'Connell's dump-off pass to running back Alexander Mattison was intercepted by Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley to give Los Angeles possession at the Raiders 30-yard line. That set up Herbert's 6-yard TD pass to DJ Chark and 2-point pass to McConkey for a 17-10 lead with 10 seconds left.

The Chargers never trailed again.

“When we got that pick, it sent a surge of energy because it was a little down going into that drive,” Henley said. “And then you see Justin Herbert, what he does when that ball is in his hands.”

This was quite a different feeling for the Chargers the last time they were at Allegiant Stadium. Las Vegas had its way with a 63-21 victory that led to the firings of coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco the next day.

Now LA is preparing for the playoffs while the Raiders — where Telesco is now GM — get ready for an offseason of major questions, beginning with whether Pierce is given another shot.

“I really like AP as a coach,” Bowers said. “We'll see what happens. It's up to certain people and not us. But I really liked playing for him and I thought he was a great coach.”

Chargers: RB Gus Edwards (ankle) and WR Josh Palmer (foot) did not play, and T Rashawn Slater (knee) was scratched after what was described by the team as discomfort in pregame stretches. G Trey Pipkins (oblique) left early in the third quarter.

Raiders: RB Ameer Abdullah (foot) and CB Nate Hobbs (illness) did not play.

Chargers: At AFC South champion Houston on Saturday. This is their first playoff appearance since 2022 and second since 2018.

Raiders: In addition to Pierce, they must decide whether to stick with O'Connell or make a change at quarterback.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, middle left, is congratulated by tight end Brock Bowers after scoring against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, left, walks on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (9) celebrates after scoring against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) is tackled by Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Cam Hart (20) during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Los Angeles Chargers place kicker Cameron Dicker (11) celebrates with teammates after kicking a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) is congratulated by Scott Matlock (44) after scoring on a two point conversion during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) celebrates with head coach Jim Harbaugh during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs against Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja has announced he will retire from international cricket after the fifth Ashes test beginning Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

He didn't go quietly.

The Pakistan-born Khawaja, who was the first Muslim to play for Australia, used his retirement announcement Friday to criticize the “racial" stereotyping he experienced during his career.

It will be the 39-year-old Khawaja's 88th and final test — played at the ground where he began his first-class career. Khawaja scored his first Ashes century at the SCG with 171 against England in 2018.

It was also at that the SCG where he revived his career at age 35, scoring two centuries against England. That prompted one of the great late-career revivals, as Khawaja hit seven centuries in his next two years back in the side.

But Khawaja’s position had come under scrutiny and criticism this season after being unable to open in the first Ashes test in Perth due to back spasms and then missing the Brisbane test with the injury.

He was then initially left out in Adelaide until Steve Smith’s vertigo allowed Khawaja to return, before an 82 in the first innings there ensured he would stay in the side for the fourth test in Melbourne. Australia, with a 3-1 lead going into the fifth test, has retained the Ashes.

Khawaja said he felt he was treated “a little bit different, even to now,” because of his Pakistan and Muslim background.

"Different in the way I’ve been treated, different in how things have happened,” he said at a media conference in Sydney. “I had back spasms, it was something I couldn’t control. The way the media and the past players came out and attacked me . . . I copped it for about five days straight. Everyone was piling in.

“Once the racial stereotypes came in, of me being lazy, it was things I’ve dealt with my whole life. Pakistani, West Indian, colored players...we’re selfish, we only care about ourselves, we don’t care about the team, we don’t train hard enough."

Khawaja said he knew the end of his career was imminent.

“I guess moving into this series, I had an inkling this would be the last series," he said. "I’m glad I can go out on my own terms.”

Khawaja has scored 6,206 runs at an average of 43.49 in his 87 tests with 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries.

“Usman has made a huge contribution to Australian cricket both through his outstanding achievements as one of our most stylish and resilient batters . . . and off field, particularly through the Usman Khawaja Foundation,” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said in a statement.

“Usman has been one of Australia’s most reliable opening batters and testament to his success was him being named ICC test cricketer of the year the same season that Australia won the World Test Championship (in 2023).”

Khawaja said his No. 1 emotion on announcing his retirement was “contentment.”

“I’m very lucky to have played so many games for Australia the way I have,” Khawaja said. "I hope I have inspired people along the way.”

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja with his wife Rachel and daughters Aisha and Ayla after announcing that he will retire from international cricket following the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Usman Khawaja, centre, sits with teammates after announcing he will retire from international cricket following the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Usman Khawaja warms up during a practice session ahead of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Travis Head, right, is congratulated by teammate Usman Khawaja after reaching 50 runs during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Usman Khawaja sign autograph to fans after they won the third Ashes cricket test match against England in Adelaide, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 (AP Photo/James Elsby)