We are still three-plus months away from the start of the NFL season but experts have already begun predicting what will happen in the Week 1 game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
The Raiders are coming off an 8-9 season that saw them make a coaching change and thrive afterwards. Following a 3-5 start under the disastrous Josh McDaniels, the Raiders fired him and put Antonio Pierce in his place. Pierce took the Raiders to a 5-4 finish the rest of the way, nearly making the playoffs. He was rightly rewarded with the full-time gig this offseason.
Los Angeles also made a coaching change last season, firing Brandon Staley after the Raiders stomped the Chargers in Week 15, 63-21. Los Angeles has since hired former San Francisco 49ers and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who will be making his Chargers debut in this game.
There are still plenty of Chargers players who were on last year's team that would like to return the favor after getting embarrassed on national television, but will they? Let's see what experts think in our way-too-early Week 1 picks roundup.
Bill Speros, Bookies.com: Chargers
Buzz: Welcome (back) to the NFL, Jim Harbaugh. The first-year Chargers coach will be in for a shock when SoFi Stadium is packed with Raiders fans, many of whom long for the day that team played in LA. Harbaugh's offense will be fun to watch and he's the most proficient offensive-minded coach Justin Herbert's had in his NFL career. Keep an eye on Herbert in the NFL's futures markets, BTW. The Raiders QB room is considered the worst in the NFL. This game could get out of hand early.
Levi Damien, Raiders Wire: Chargers
In his first game back in the NFL, Jim Harbaugh is going to have some tricks up his sleeve and some nice weapons at his disposal to deploy them.
Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire: Chargers
The Chargers begin the Jim Harbaugh era at home against the Raiders, who are still proudly holding their 63-21 victory over the Bolts from last season despite facing a backup quarterback in Easton Stick. Los Angeles uses this as fuel and sets the tone with this new regime by beating former Chargers general manager Tom Telesco’s led Raiders.
Mike Moraitis, Sporting News: Raiders
Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports: Chargers (26-18)
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