The Raiders and Chargers will rekindle their AFC West rivalry when they kick off their 2022 NFL regular seasons on Sunday afternoon (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS). The last time these two teams played each other, the Raiders defeated the Chargers 35-32 in overtime in last season's finale. With the win, the Raiders moved onto the NFL playoffs while the Chargers sat at home, but heading into Week 1, both teams have their eyes on the postseason.
The Raiders hope to start the regular season with a win under new head coach Josh McDaniels. This will be McDaniels' second head coaching stint after spending the past 10 seasons with the Patriots as their offensive coordinator. In addition to McDaniels, Las Vegas also upgraded their offense with the acquisition of superstar wide receiver Davante Adams. Adams reunites with his former college quarterback (Derek Carr) and joins a talented offense that has Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow, and a loaded backfield.
The Chargers are looking to enact some revenge on the Raiders for ruining their playoff dreams last season. Los Angeles made a couple of big moves in the offseason on the defensive end, signing Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson and acquiring three-time All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack from the Bears. However, Los Angeles will not have Jackson on Sunday due to an ankle injury.
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Below, we'll give you all the information you need before placing a wager on Raiders-Chargers, including the updated odds from Sports Interaction, tips, and our prediction for this Week 1 AFC West contest.
Raiders vs. Chargers odds for NFL Week 1
Betting odds courtesy of Sports Interaction
- Spread: Chargers -3
- Over/Under: 52
- Moneyline: Raiders +151, Chargers -181
The Chargers come into Week 1 as a field goal favorite, but this line has moved multiple times throughout this week. Depending on the sportsbook, you could've got the Chargers -4 or -3.5. Meanwhile, the total is sitting at 52 points, which is not surprising, as both teams have stellar offenses and two quarterbacks who are not afraid to air it out.
Raiders vs. Chargers all-time series
The Raiders currently lead the all-time series over the Chargers with a record of 67-56-2. Las Vegas has won three of the past five meetings, which includes last season's finale at Allegiant Stadium. The Chargers will try to sweep the Raiders for the first time since the 2018 season. Nevertheless, whoever wins on Sunday, that team will have a leg up on the competition in a tough AFC West division.
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Three trends to know
-- The Raiders are 4-2 against the spread in their past six games against the Chargers. Coincidentally, Las Vegas is also 4-2 straight up over that span against Los Angeles.
-- The Chargers are 2-5 against the spread in their past seven games when they were listed as the favorite.
-- Despite the Raiders' recent success, 53 percent of the money and 51 percent of the tickets are siding with Herbert and the Chargers, according to BetQL.
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Three things to watch for
The Derek Carr-Davante Adams connection
Sunday afternoon will be the first time we will see the Carr-Adams connection in action, as the veterans did not play in the preseason. The Raiders will look to air it and get their superstar wide receiver involved early as the Chargers will be without Pro Bowl corner J.C. Jackson (ankle). The last time we saw these two on the field together was in college at Fresno State. If Adams can get off and soften up the Chargers' defense, it should allow for Waller and Renfrow to make some plays.
Keenan Allen vs. Raiders' secondary
Allen has surprisingly struggled in his past two games against the Raiders. Las Vegas did an excellent job last season of not allowing the star wide receiver to score a touchdown and held him to 13 receptions (19 targets) for 88 yards. The 30-year-old wideout will look to break his scoring drought against the Raiders' secondary Sunday. Allen will likely be covered by Nate Hobbs or Rock Ya-Sin. Hobbs was solid in coverage last season, allowing just one receiving touchdown. However, that will not deter Herbert from throwing the ball toward his side.
Has the Chargers' run defense improved?
One of the keys to a successful season for the Chargers will be their ability to stop the run. Last season, Los Angeles struggled in that department, allowing 138.9 rushing yards per game and 22 rushing touchdowns (third most in the NFL). In Week 18 last season, the Raiders pummeled the Chargers on the ground to the tune of 174 yards. If the Chargers want to win on Sunday, they must be able to slow down the Raiders' running back committee of Josh Jacobs, Brandon Bolden, Ameer Abdullah, and rookie Zamir White.
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Stat that matters
99.7. That's Herbert's quarterback rating in four career games against the Raiders. Herbert will look to pick up where he left off last season when he had six touchdowns and one interception in two games against Vegas. Over his career, Herbert has completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 1,245 yards, 10 touchdowns, and an interception against the Raiders.
Raiders vs. Chargers prediction
This game will likely be one of the best in Week 1, as these two teams remember what took place in Week 18 last season in Las Vegas. The Chargers are talented on both sides of the ball and will be able to put up points on the Raiders' defense. However, the Raiders' offense should be able to advantage of the Chargers' defense, which does not have its top corner. In their past four meetings, the average margin of victory is only 6.3 points per game. The Raiders, who went undefeated in the preseason, will ultimately get the cover and win outright over the Chargers.
