Palmer leads Raiders to victory over Chargers

Win 24-17

SAN DIEGO - Carson Palmer looked like an NFL quarterback again, not like a guy who had settled into semi-retirement in Southern California.

Philip Rivers looked, well, like the turnover-prone quarterback that he's been since opening day.

Palmer threw two touchdown passes and Michael Bush ran 30 times for a season-high 157 yards and one touchdown to lead the Oakland Raiders to a 24-17 win over San Diego on Thursday night, the Chargers' fourth straight loss.

The Raiders (5-4) broke a two-game losing streak and took a half-game lead over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.

"I wouldn't call it a must-win, but it was a big win for us," Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour said. "These games in a sense count twice. It's a win and also it's a win in the division. It gives us a leg up right now."

Palmer threw touchdown passes of 33 and 26 yards to Denarius Moore in his second start and third appearance since being acquired in a trade with Cincinnati. He'd been semi-retired and living in Del Mar, just north of San Diego, before being traded. He lives next door to Chargers coach Norv Turner. Palmer was 14 of 20 for 299 yards, with one interception.

Bush helped carry the load for the Raiders with running and also had three catches for 85 yards.

The Chargers (4-5) looked dismal most of the night and lost left tackle Marcus McNeill, right guard Louis Vasquez and linebacker Takeo Spikes to injuries.

The Raiders have won three straight against the Chargers. Before that, San Diego had won 13 straight in a rivalry that dates to the birth of the AFL.