Russell was 23 of 31 for 224 yards and a touchdown, and with some familiarity with the Chargers defense, could be allowed to pass more often. Russell threw only three times in the entire second half against Buffalo and completed six passes total against Kansas City.

PLAYER NOTES

--RB Justin Fargas missed practice with a groin injury and won't return until after the Week 5 bye.

--DT Gerard Warren missed practice with a torn pectoral muscle and will be a game-day decision, but is unlikely to play against San Diego.

--RG Cooper Carlisle missed practice with an ankle injury and will be a game-day decision, but is unlikely to play against San Diego.

--DE Derrick Burgess did individual drills but did not participate in team sessions because of a triceps tear.

--LT Kwame Harris (knee), inactive for two games, practiced and should face San Diego.

--CB Nnamdi Asomugha (foot) did not practice but is expected to face San Diego.

--RB Darren McFadden was limited with a sore turf toe and practiced at about three-quarters speed.

--CB Stanford Routt (ankle) did not practice but is expected to face San Diego.

--TE Ben Troupe, who got in some first-team work the previous day, missed practice with a foot injury and is unlikely to face San Diego.

GAME PLAN: The Raiders have run the ball on 62 percent of their snaps and Lane Kiffin sounds as if he doesn't plan to turn JaMarcus Russell loose any time soon with the pass. That said, Russell played against San Diego last season and threw the ball 31 times, his most in an NFL game, and completed 23 for 224 yards and a touchdown. With it being the first time he has seen a defense the second time, look for a few more first-down throws.

Defensively, the Raiders have been tortured by LaDainian Tomlinson over the years but through three games, the back has played a secondary role to quarterback Philip Rivers. If Gerard Warren is out or limited, the Raiders will need to turn up the pressure in terms of blitzing, something they did with some success in the past two weeks even if it not normally a big part of their philosophy.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Chargers WR Chris Chambers vs. Raiders CB DeAngelo Hall. Chambers is averaging a whopping 25.7 yards per catch on his six receptions and is the Chargers' most dangerous threat at wide receiver. That being the case, you can expect San Diego to do what every team will do until they're made to pay for it -- avoid Nnamdi Asomugha at all costs and isolate their best receiver against Hall. Hall, after a solid game against Kansas City in Week 2, was also playing well against Buffalo. He even got his first interception and set up Oakland's lone touchdown by leaping over the top of Lee Evans and stealing a pass at the 13-yard line. However, when Oakland plays soft instead of aggressive, Hall has taken it to a new and unwanted level and routinely gives up 10- to 15-yard completions.

Raiders C Jake Grove vs. Chargers NT Jamal Williams. Williams has long been a Raiders nemesis, and Oakland has failed to match up with him in the middle since Barret Robbins was playing well. Williams has consistently pushed the middle into the backfield and enabled 3-4 ends Luis Castillo and Igor Olshansky to penetrate as well, with linebackers cleaning up. Grove will be outweighed by 50-plus pounds, with the Raiders looking to run stretch plays with zone blocking, which in theory would enable Grove to cut block Williams and get him on the round, using quickness and technique instead of brute power. The good news for the Raiders is that Williams may be slipping, his supporting cast is missing a key member in Shawne Merriman, and the Chargers have given up 5.0 yards per ground in three games.

INJURY IMPACT: With Warren out at defensive tackle, Jay Richardson taking some snaps inside and the more slender Kalimba Edwards possibly starting for Richardson, the Raiders' defensive line becomes less stout. Oakland has improved its run defense, giving up 104.0 yards per game through three games, but wore down late against Buffalo and could face a similar fate if San Diego can get LaDainian Tomlinson on track.