Raiders-Chargers Has Greater Sense of Urgency
After a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders have only four days to recoup and prepare for their second game this season against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football.
The Raiders had a brutal offensive output, generating only 202 yards of total offense against the Vikings on a day when their defense was playing at an incredibly high level.
The Silver and Black now face their AFC West rival Chargers again, a team that beat them in SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Week 4, 24-17. That was rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell’s first career start, and he played reasonably well.
Now, both the Raiders and Chargers are 5-8 after losses on Sunday. The Chargers lost, 24-7, to the Denver Broncos, one of the hottest teams in football over the last few weeks.
The Raiders might avoid seeing star quarterback Justin Herbert, who sustained a broken finger on his throwing hand. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Herbert will undergo an MRI to determine how much time he will miss and if he can return this season.
If Herbert can't play, the Raiders probably would face backup Easton Stick, who passed for 179 yards in relief. Herbert struggled in Week 4, throwing for only 167 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
What plagued the Raiders in their first game with the Chargers was their offensive line not holding up. The Chargers sacked O’Connell seven times, six coming from former Raider Khalil Mack.
The Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers both face a sense of urgency heading into Thursday's game.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Raiders did not have standout left tackle Kolton Miller against the Vikings because of a shoulder injury, and his absence was felt as O’Connell was constantly under pressure. He was sacked four times and hit five more, so the Raiders need Miller back to guard against the Chargers’ formidable pass rush.
The defense has played well in the last few weeks, but the offensive output has not matched it. The Raiders must play complementary football to defeat the Chargers and keep their season alive.
The Raiders and Chargers will play this game with their backs against the wall. Winning a divisional game can do wonders, and the other team falls even further down the standings with only a few weeks left in the season.
The Silver and Black will turn around quickly and host their AFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers, on Thursday, December 14, at 8:15 p.m. EST/5:15 p.m. PST.
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