Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
OAKLAND -- Darren Sproles may have done in Lane Kiffin in Oakland.
After 15 days of speculation, it may have been the Chargers' 5-foot-6, 181-pound dynamo of a return man who nailed Kiffin's coffin.
Sproles returned a kickoff to the Oakland 35 with less than three minutes to go. That set the stage for a 47-yard field goal by Nate Kaeding to give San Diego a 21-18 lead with 1:51 to go in the game.
LaDainian Tomlinson added a touchdown less than a minute later.
It was the second time in as many weeks that Oakland blew the game in the fourth quarter.
Oakland led 15-3 the after third quarter and 15-0 at halftime. Last week in Buffalo, the Raiders led 16-7 and 23-14 in the fourth quarter before losing 24-23.
Oakland has played hard the past three weeks but is just 1-3 in a season in which hopes were high. If Al Davis was looking for an excuse or the perfect timing to finally relieve Kiffin of his duties, this would be it.
Kiffin has been the subject of rampant job security rumors for two-plus weeks. The Raiders' brass have said nothing. Not yet. The silence could end soon.
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Bill Williamson
Williamson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Denver Broncos for the Denver Post. He previously covered the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.