The Las Vegas Raiders are in a difficult position here. The Los Angeles Chargers have pretty much locked up a playoff spot with their wins over the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots in the last two weeks, which means they could rest some of their starters. For the Raiders, that's just bad news. They don't need to win this game.
However, knowing how head coach Antonio Pierce is and owner Mark Davis, that's what they want to do. They could really care less about a draft pick. They need a good draft pick to get them a player that they feel like could change the trajectory of the franchise, and the further you move back, the harder it is to get that guy.
So, this game is pretty important for the Raiders. And with that, I spoke with A to Z Sports' very own Adam Holt, who covers the Chargers, to get a better feel for a few things this year.
Raiders vs. Chargers: 3 burning questions
The Chargers have had a pretty successful first season under Harbaugh. What is the thing they have hung their hat on the most when it comes to the 2024 season?
I’d have to say LA is incredibly opportunistic. Harbaugh has them taking advantage of mistakes consistently on both sides of the ball. Blown coverage downfield? Herbert has found it more often than not. A miss by a QB or lineman in protection? Usually ends up in a sack. The secondary has also forced more turnovers than anyone could have expected, too.
It’s starting to feel like this team could rest some of its starters. If so, who is one guy that Raiders fans will need to know about but may not know about?
I’m gonna roll with tight-end Stone Smartt here. He’s exploded onto the scene over the past handful of games as a depth target in the passing game. The Chargers may rest Will Dissly a bit more, giving more chances to Smartt, who has made a name for himself around the fan base this season.
The Chargers are a good example of how, when you get your QB, the postseason will come. The Raiders are looking for their quarterback. How have the Chargers done with putting Herbert in winning situations this season?
They’ve done a much better job at helping the QB this year. That starts up front with a great tackle duo. The running game has been inconsistent, but getting J.K. Dobbins back should aid that going forward. Not to mention, rookie Ladd McConkey has been one of the top offensive rookies in the NFL as Herbert’s safety blanket on third down. That connection is already elite.
After the Raiders have won their last two games in a row against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New Orleans Saints, they have an opportunity to win this game as well and finish with five wins on the year. But, that drastically hurts their draft standings.
