Los Angeles Chargers vs Las Vegas Raiders Pick & Prediction, Sun Jan 09 08:20 PM
Jimmy Liu
As we close the NFL season, there are a few playoff spots left up for grabs in the AFC. If the season ended today, the Chargers would be the No.7 seed. However, they have a huge game in front of them against the Las Vegas Raiders. If they can win it, they’re in the playoffs, lose and they’re out. Unfortunately for them, the team just behind them in the race is the Raiders.
The Raiders have had a roller coaster of a season this year, but they’re on the right path. They’ve won three straight games, most recently a huge win over the Colts. As they prepare to take on the Chargers, the implications of this game are huge. The last time they played the Chargers they lost 28-14. If they lose this time, they can kiss a playoff berth goodbye.
Chargers vs. Raiders Betting Odds
TV: NBC
MONEY LINE: Chargers (-161) vs. Raiders (+141)
SPREAD: Chargers -3 (-116) vs. Raiders +3 (-104)
GAME TOTAL: Over 50 (-110) vs. Under 50 (-110)
Chargers at Raiders Preview for Week 18
The Los Angeles Chargers have the sixth-best scoring offense in the NFL. On average, they put up 27.6 points a game and most of it is through the air. Each game, the Chargers pass for an average of 277.8 yards per game, ranking 4th in the NFL. We imagine they’ll take the same approach against the Raiders this week. Especially because this is how they won the first time.
However, the Chargers might want to try for a more balanced approach here. The Raiders aren’t pushovers and held each of their last three opponents to 20 points or less. The Chargers are also the same team that lost 41-29 to the Texans a few weeks ago. The last thing they’ll want to do is underestimate what the Raiders can bring to the table.
Justin Herbert, the quarterback for the Chargers, is great when he’s not under pressure. When he is, you can see some of his inexperience seep through. If the Raiders find a way to keep Herbert from getting comfortable, they can win this game. All it takes is a few turnovers to swing the momentum of the game. Although their defense isn’t great, they’ve picked it up recently.
Being one of the best passing teams in the NFL hasn’t led to scoring for the Raiders. They average 274.7 passing yards per game, but just 21.2 points per game. We think it’s time that they switch up their approach on offense. The Chargers are the third-worst team against the run, allowing 136.63 yards per game. The Raiders should take advantage of that this weekend.
Chargers vs. Raiders Prediction
Chargers 23 - Raiders 27
The Chargers come into this game as just 3-point favorites. By looking at their last three games you can see why the margin is so narrow. There are a few players potentially returning for the Raiders, Darren Waller and Jonathan Hankins being two of them. With those guys back in the lineup, the Raiders have a shot to take this one.
We also like that the Raiders are on a hot streak and just took down the Colts. The Chargers have been pretty inconsistent this year on the road. Although neither team is great against the spread, we’ll take the home team to win this one. The Raiders have a point to prove and a spot in the playoffs to play for.
EXTRA POINTS
1. On average, the Chargers’ defense allows 24.94 points per game.
2. The Las Vegas Raiders are 7-9 ATS this season.
3. Las Vegas is 4-2 in their last six games.
Best Bet: Las Vegas Raiders ML +141
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Recap DEC 17TH 2020
Josh Jacobs' 18-yard touchdown run with 1:02 left Thursday night lifted the Oakland Raiders to a 26-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland.
On third-and-1, Jacobs burst through a huge hole blown open by center Rodney Hudson and left guard Richie Incognito, then broke an arm tackle near the 10 for the score. Daniel Carlson missed the ensuing extra-point attempt, but the Raiders hung on to improve to 5-4. Los Angeles fell to 4-6, seriously damaging its playoff hopes.
Philip Rivers completed 17 of 31 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, including a 6-yard pass to Austin Ekeler with 4:02 remaining in the game for a 24-20 lead. But the Chargers' final possession ended with Karl Joseph intercepting Rivers at the Oakland 35 on a fourth-and-10 heave with 20 seconds left, Rivers' third pick of the game.
Derek Carr hit on 21 of 31 passes for 218 yards with a touchdown for Oakland, which was outgained 315-278 and had the ball for only 25:50. But the Raiders sacked Rivers five times and played a turnover-free game.
Melvin Gordon rushed 22 times for 108 yards and a score for Los Angeles, his first 100-yard game of the year.
Rivers came out of the gate in shaky fashion. Erik Harris intercepted him twice in the first nine minutes, the first one leading to a field goal and the second becoming a 56-yard touchdown return for a 10-0 Oakland lead.
But Los Angeles finally found footing offensively with two second-quarter touchdowns in a 4:10 span. Rivers flipped a 2-yard scoring strike to tight end Hunter Henry, and Gordon gave the Chargers a 14-10 lead on a 3-yard run with 4:14 left in the half.
The Raiders' offense then put together its first good drive to close the half. Oakland marched 76 yards in 10 plays, taking a 17-14 halftime lead when Carr found Alec Ingold for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds remaining.
The teams exchanged short field goals in the third quarter, setting the stage for a dramatic ending.
--Field Level Media
- All
- MLB
- NBA
- NCAAB
- NCAAF
- NFL
- NHL
