Raiders vs Chargers Week 2: Vegas Showdown
Last week in a nutshell
Week 1 was exactly what you wanted to see on the road: 20-13 Raiders in Foxborough. Geno Smith tossed it around for 362 yards, and the defense slammed the door after halftime.
Why the deep shots matter
The team site dropped the fun nugget: nine completions of 20+ yards, tied for the most by a Raiders QB in a game since 1991, plus a franchise mark for passing yards in a debut. If you want to relive it, the full game highlights have every deep shot.
What the numbers say
Now, let's check in with the nerds. Pro Football Focus had a positive Week 1 read on the offense and tight end usage, with Brock Bowers sitting on a 77.1 overall grade and a position-leading 103 receiving yards after Week 1, Michael Mayer grading in the low 70s, and Maxx Crosby credited with seven pressures. The club’s By the Numbers breakdown shows why that traveled on the road: only three points allowed after halftime, three second-half sacks from Tyree Wilson, Jonah Laulu, and Malcolm Koonce, five straight New England drives that ended in a turnover or punt, and just 60 rushing yards allowed at 3.3 per carry. That same piece pulled in Next Gen Stats cut-ups to highlight corner Kyu Blu Kelly’s sticky day in press coverage, where Drake Maye went 1-of-3 for a 56.3 passer rating with Kelly as the nearest defender, plus safety Isaiah Pola-Mao allowing 13 yards on two targets with a minus-4.9 targeted EPA.
The Chargers wrinkle
Los Angeles rolls in feeling good after Week 1 in Brazil, but here is the wrinkle that tilts the board. All-Pro LT Rashawn Slater is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon, and the team addressed it on Chargers.com. Translation: set the table for Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce to hunt while Patrick Graham clogs Justin Herbert’s first read with robber and late rotations.
What I want to see from Vegas
Let the deep balls fly. The Raiders hit nine 20-yarders last week, and that looks like identity, not luck.
Two TE sets. Brock Bowers scares safeties on the seam, and Michael Mayer wins the in-breakers.
Win with four. If the edges are cooking, you do not need to blitz. Sit in coverage and make Herbert nickel and dime you. This approach was very successful against the Patriots in Week One.
Prediction
Raiders 26, Chargers 23. Crosby closes it late!