NFL Game Of The Week: Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders

It's win and you're in for both teams as the 9-7 Chargers head to Las Vegas to take on the 9-7 Raiders Sunday. LA holds the seventh spot in the AFC West, while the Raiders are clinging to the eighth. Both teams have struggled with consistency this season, and in the case of Las Vegas, major off-field troubles,  but have somehow held on and are still alive heading into this last week of the regular season. 

Las Vegas earned their third straight win by beating Indianapolis 23-20 Sunday on a last-second field goal by Daniel Carlson. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr threw two interceptions but completed 24 of 31 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown in the win. 

Carr has completed 408 of 590 passes (69.2%) with 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions this season. His career-high 4,690 passing yards are fourth in the league. Vegas' 274.7 yards per game though the air is sixth in the league and third in the AFC.  

Hunter Renfrow (99 REC, 1,025 YDS, 7 TDS) has emerged as the Raiders leading receiver and had a key third down catch in the fourth quarter Sunday to help set up Carlson's game-winning field-goal. Darren Waller (53 REC, 643 YDS, 2 TDS), Zay Jones (42 REC, 519 YDS, 1 TD), and Bryan Edwards (30 REC, 508 YDS, 3 TDS) round out the Raiders receiving core. Las Vegas is is averaging 25.5 completions per game, fifth in the league. 

While their passing attack has helped keep them in playoff contention, Vegas' ground game has struggled, averaging just 90.2 yards per game, putting them at 29th in the league. They are heading into the last week of the season as one of just seven teams averaging under 100 yards per game on the ground. Josh Jacobs (191 ATT, 740 YDS, 8 TDS), Kenyan Drake (63 ATT, 254 YDS, 2 TDS) and Peyton Barber (55 ATT, 212 YDS, 2 TDs) have split the carries. They'll hope to have more success running the ball against a Chargers team that has the league's 30th ranked run defense. 

Vegas has also had trouble stopping the run, giving up 116.1 yards per game on the ground, putting them at 21st, though they have held opponents to an average of 76.3 during their current three-game winning streak. Linebacker Denzel Perryman leads the team with 145 tackles (94 solo). Cory Littleton, Jonathan Abrams, and Nate Hobbs make up a secondary that is giving up just 214.6 yards per game though the air, good for tenth in the league, but Las Vegas has a total of five interceptions this season, last in the NFL. 

Los Angeles beat Denver 34-13 Sunday to snap a two-game losing streak. Justin Herbert has completed 409 of 608 passes for 4,631 yards this season. His 35 touchdown are a Chargers franchise record and have him tied for third in the league this season with elite the elite company of Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. Turnovers though, have a been a problem, and his 14 interceptions are the fifth most in the league. Kenan Allen (100 REC, 1,086 YDS, 6 TDs) leads the Chargers in receptions and receiving yards, and Mike Williams (67 REC, 1027 YDS, 8 TDS) leads the team in touchdown catches, though he has just two in his last 10 games after catching six in his first five. The Chargers are sixth in the league averaging 27.6 points per game. 

Jared Cook (44 REC, 484 YDS, 4 TDS) and running back Austin Eckler (65 REC, 612 YDS 7 TDS) are a few of Herbert's other favorite targets. Eckler's 847 rushing yards leads the team. He has run for seven more scores to put his touchdown total at 14 for the year. The Chargers are averaging 277.8 yards per game through the air, good for fourth and 109.3 yards per game on the ground (21st). 

Linebacker Kyzir White leads the team with 137 tackles (88 solo). Nasir Adderly (62 tackles) and Derwin James Jr. help lead a defense that has done much better against the pass than the run. The Chargers are giving up 224.3 yard per game through the air, good for thirteenth in the league. They are giving up 136.7 yards per game on the ground, with only Pittsburgh and Houston allowing more. Their inability to stop the run will be tough if they make the playoffs, but they should consider themselves fortunate to be going up against a Raider team that has struggled on the ground. 

Prediction 

This will be a close game between two teams with great strengths and glaring weaknesses. The edge goes to a Los Angeles team with Justin Herbert playing at a high level along with a Chargers ground game that should be able to rack up yards against Las Vegas' run defense. 

Chargers 25-Raiders 20








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