The Raiders and Chargers have spent decades turning this matchup into one of the AFC West’s most familiar storylines, and the history between them still leans Las Vegas’ way overall. Sunday’s meeting at SoFi Stadium will be the 134th time these franchises have lined up across from each other, with Klint Kubiak’s Raiders facing Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season.
The all-time series still belongs to the Raiders, 69-62-2, even if that number doesn’t fully reflect how much the Chargers have controlled stretches of the modern era. The early years were all Oakland.
The Raiders dropped their first six games against the Chargers, then flipped the rivalry once Daryle Lamonica arrived in 1967. Over the next 21 meetings, Oakland won 18 times, lost once and tied twice, including a 10-game run from 1972 to 1977 and an 18-game stretch without a loss from 1968 to 1977.
The pendulum swung again in the 1980s and 1990s. Marcus Allen helped spark another Raiders surge in 1982, when Los Angeles won seven straight over San Diego and 14 of 18. After that, the series settled into another back-and-forth phase before Oakland put together another strong run, winning 10 of 14 from 1997 to 2003.
Then came the Chargers’ best modern answer. With Drew Brees and Philip Rivers steering the offense, San Diego beat the Raiders 13 straight times from 2003 to 2009 and took 19 of 23 from 2003 to 2014.
Oakland answered with four straight during the Derek Carr years in 2015 and 2015. More recently, the Chargers have strung together four wins in a row, setting the stage for Sunday’s meeting between 0-1 Los Angeles and 1-0 Las Vegas.
If you want one game that captures the stakes and the bite of this rivalry, the Raiders’ 1980 AFC Championship Game win over the Chargers is the one that stands out. San Diego entered that season as the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and the matchup was loaded with tension after the teams split during the regular season.
Jim Plunkett delivered three first-quarter touchdowns, one rushing and two passing, with scoring throws to Raymond Chester and Kenny King. Mark Van Eeghen added another touchdown to make it 28-7, before the Chargers stormed back with 17 unanswered points.
Oakland steadied itself late. Chris Bahr knocked through two field goals to restore a 10-point cushion, and San Diego could only manage a field goal over the final 1 1/2 quarters.
The Raiders held on 34-27, then rolled past the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in Super Bowl XV. Cliff Branch finished with three catches for 78 yards, Lester Hayes had an interception, and the Raiders forced four fumbles, with Ted Hendricks forcing and recovering one and John Matuszak forcing another.
The more recent chapter was a rough one for Las Vegas. In Week 13 last season, Pete Carroll and Geno Smith’s Raiders were handled by a depleted Chargers team that leaned on third-string back Kimani Vidal. Filling in for Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris, Vidal ran for 125 yards and a touchdown and added an 11-yard reception in Los Angeles’ 31-14 win.
Smith threw for 165 yards and two touchdowns, though one came in garbage time. He also had his signature interception, his fourth of the season against the Chargers, while taking five sacks and losing a fumble.
Ashton Jeanty was bottled up on the ground with 31 yards on 15 carries, though he added six catches for 30 yards. Brock Bowers was one of the few bright spots, finishing with four receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown on a standout grab in the front corner of the end zone.
On defense, Jeremy Chinn piled up 17 tackles and Devin White added 11. Maxx Crosby turned in a big stat line of his own with 2.0 sacks, four tackles for loss and nine tackles overall, including six solo. Kyu Blu Kelly also came away with an interception.
In Other News...
Raiders Win Still Exposed A Problem Fans Know Too Well
The Raiders left Week 2 with a win over the Chargers, and for stretches they looked like a team capable of leaning on the parts of the roster that were working. The defense kept Los Angeles from finding much through the air, while the offense got a big early lift from wide receiver Tucker, whose first-half production gave Las Vegas the kind of spark it had been searching for since camp and preseason.
Still, the same familiar issues showed up again in a game the Raiders were able to survive. The running game never really got going, third-down success remained a problem, and some of the play-calling left room for questions even in a victory. It was the kind of outing that can feel encouraging and frustrating at the same time, because the Raiders won while also reminding everyone there is still plenty to clean up. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders 2-0 Start Has Fans Asking If This Team Is Different
The early returns in Las Vegas are looking a lot more stable than they have in years. After beating the Chargers 26-14, the Raiders are 2-0 for the first time since 2021, and the offense has shown enough balance and efficiency to make the start feel more meaningful than a fast opening stretch usually does.
Kirk Cousins was central to it, finishing 19 of 29 for 253 yards and three touchdowns while giving the Raiders the kind of quarterback play they have been searching for. Klint Kubiak is now the fourth full-time head coach in franchise history to win his first two games, and with the salary cap already part of the bigger conversation, the next question is how long this version of the Raiders can stay together before the contract talk really starts to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Harbaugh Already Has A Chargers Problem That Could Get Worse
Jim Harbaughs first month with the Chargers has not exactly inspired confidence, and the early results have only amplified the concerns. Los Angeles opened the 2026 season with back-to-back losses to teams that missed the playoffs a year ago, a rough start for a roster that was supposed to look sharper on both sides of the ball. Instead, the Chargers have had trouble keeping opponents out of the end zone, have been beaten badly through the air, and have given away too many possessions to feel stable.
For a Raiders team watching the AFC West from across the rivalry, the bigger issue may be what comes next for Harbaugh if the slide continues. The schedule is about to stiffen, with playoff teams lining up ahead, and that kind of stretch can turn an early stumble into a much louder conversation about accountability. If the Chargers do not find answers quickly, the pressure around Harbaugh is only going to grow. [Read more 🡒]