The Las Vegas Raiders will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers to begin the 2024 season.
The Raiders had an active offseason, hiring Tom Telesco as general manager and naming Antonio Pierce the full-time head coach while also acquiring multiple new starters through free agency and draft.
Like the Raiders, the Chargers also underwent a massive franchise overhaul, hiring a new general manager-head coach tandem and reshaping the roster around quarterback Justin Herbert.
With the Raiders and Chargers set to square off on Sunday, let's run through some bold predictions for the AFC West showdown.
Las Vegas Raiders bold predictions for Week 1
Davante Adams will post over 150 receiving yards
The Chargers' secondary is abysmal, as the team will trout out Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton as its starting corners on Sunday. Davante Adams should easily pass the 100-yard threshold, but the six-time pro bowler could be in for a monster game in Los Angeles.
Adams posted his fourth straight 100-catch, 1,000-yard campaign in 2023 and did so with inconsistent and subpar quarterback play. If Minshew can play efficient football and find Adams in his spots, a 150 receiving yards game for the future Hall of Famer is in the cards.
The secondary will snag two picks off Justin Herbert
The biggest question mark for the Raiders on defense is the secondary. Jack Jones is a solid CB1, Nate Hobbs is one of the better slot corners in the league, and the safety duo of Marcus Epps and Tre'von Moehrig present an intriguing mixture of run defense and coverage support. However, the CB2 spot is a massive question mark and the depth in the position group is lackluster.
Despite its flaws, Patrick Graham's secondary doesn't have the hardest test to open the season, as the Chargers lack experience and high-end talent at wide receiver. Jones and co. should be able to make some plays and create some turnovers with the help of the defensive line led by Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins.
Over seven career games against the Raiders, Herbert has only thrown two picks in total. Look for him to toss a pair on Sunday.
The Raiders will blow out the Chargers
Los Angeles undoubtedly has the better quarterback in this contest, but the Raiders match up well with the Chargers. Las Vegas' defensive line will be missing Malcolm Koonce in this game, but Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins are both top-10 players at their positions, with Crosby being an All-Pro level player.
As stated earlier, the Chargers' secondary is lackluster, while the Raiders' wide receiver corps., led by Adams and Jakobi Meyers, has immense big-play ability.
Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack will be the toughest test for Las Vegas in this game, but if Thayer Munford Jr. and Kilton Miller can do a serviceable job on the dynamic pass-rushing duo, the Raiders should leave California with a win.
