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Kiffin attempts to keep Raiders focused on Chargers

Sep 23, 2008 - 8:00 PM SAN DIEGO (1-2) AT OAKLAND (1-2), 4:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin likes the direction his team is headed. Whether he's around to see where that goes is another matter.

With rumors again swirling that Kiffin's firing is imminent, the Raiders host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday in an AFC West contest.

Oakland (1-2) is coming off a crushing 24-23 loss at Buffalo last weekend. The Raiders held a nine-point lead with just over six minutes to play, only to see the Bills rally to win it on Rian Lindell's 38-yard field goal as time expired.

"I think we're much improved," Kiffin said. "There's no moral victories, but I do like the direction we're going."

Team owner Al Davis might not concur with his coach's assessment. Following Sunday's loss, multiple media outlets reported that Kiffin could be fired as early as the following day. A similar scenario unfolded after the Raiders were thrashed, 41-14, by Denver in their season opener.

"Does it help?" Kiffin said of the rumors. "No. I'm not going to sit up here and lie and say it helps and that it brings our team together and we're going to bond together like the movie 'Major League.' ... But I can't control it so all I can do is keep our team together."

The Raiders put forth a gritty effort against the unbeaten Bills, twice holding nine-point leads, the second coming on JaMarcus Russell's 84-yard scoring pass to Johnnie Lee Higgins.

With the high-powered Chargers coming to town, Oakland will rely on a running game that amassed 300 yards in a 23-8 victory at Kansas City two weeks ago.

The Raiders managed just 97 yards against the Bills as star rookie Darren McFadden was bothered by a turf toe injury and Justin Fargas was sidelined by a groin injury.

San Diego (1-2) finally broke into the win column with a 48-29 rout of the New York Jets on Monday night.

Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes for the third consecutive game for the Chargers, who bounced back from a pair of last-second defeats.

Despite star running back LaDainian Tomlinson's failure to crack 100 yards yet due to a nagging toe injury, San Diego has scored 110 points - second only to Denver's 114.

The Chargers, who swept the Raiders last season, are seeking their 10th consecutive win in the series.