The Raiders head into Week 2 with a chance to turn one solid opener into something a lot more meaningful. A win over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium would push Las Vegas to 2-0 and hand it an AFC West victory, which matters even more given that the Raiders have won just one divisional game over the past two seasons combined.
This meeting also arrives under different circumstances than a lot of the recent early-season matchups between these teams. Las Vegas enters after looking better than plenty of people expected in Week 1, while the Chargers are coming off a surprising loss to the Arizona Cardinals and suddenly face the pressure of avoiding an 0-2 start.
The Raiders, meanwhile, have spent the offseason building something that looks different from the versions of this team the Chargers have seen since both franchises relocated. In the opener, that showed up in the overall feel of the team. Las Vegas looked more organized, more functional, and more like a complete unit.
That doesn’t guarantee anything in Los Angeles. The Raiders still have to go on the road and prove that Week 1 wasn’t a one-off. A victory Sunday would be their first road win over the Chargers since 2019, and it would say plenty about how quickly this new group has moved past the franchise’s recent struggles in the division.
One of the biggest things to watch is whether the ground game can do what it did against the Dolphins. Ashton Jeanty and the Raiders ran for more than 100 yards in that game, and after two of the last three seasons finished with the fewest rushing yards in the league, that number stands out for a reason.
If Las Vegas gets that kind of production again, it probably means the game is being played on its terms. That’s exactly the kind of script the Raiders want against an opponent that may be better on paper. A productive run game can shorten the game, keep the Chargers from dictating pace, and create the kind of manageable downs that let an offense breathe.
The additions of Tyler Linderbaum and Spencer Burford give Las Vegas a real chance to lean into that more often than it did last season. If the run game is working at all, expect the Raiders to keep feeding it, using every carry to chase third-and-short and open up either more runs or the passing options they can stack behind it. Jeanty, Mike Washington, and the rest of the ground attack are central to that plan.
Defensively, the Raiders need their front to make life uncomfortable for Justin Herbert. The hope is that the revamped defensive line and linebackers can create steady pressure, but the Chargers have had all week to think about how to keep Herbert clean. If Las Vegas can’t get home, the burden shifts heavily to the secondary.
That’s where the Raiders’ defensive backs may have to carry more of the load, especially against a Chargers offense that brings more to the table than Miami did. For Las Vegas to leave with a win, it likely needs another full performance - and that starts with the defense holding up its end against a team trying hard to keep Herbert upright.
In Other News...
Raiders Coaching Search Could Create A New Legal Problem
A Raiders coaching search from the recent past has surfaced in a very different kind of spotlight, as a subpoenaed Korn Ferry document has become part of the Brian Flores litigation and is now being fought over under a protective order. Korn Ferry wants the material to stay sealed, while Floress legal team is pressing to see it, arguing the document could matter to claims of discrimination or retaliation tied to NFL hiring practices.
What makes the issue especially relevant for Las Vegas is that the document is connected to a Raiders search, possibly one conducted after Feb. 1, 2022, and could have implications beyond the original hiring process. The broader concern is whether it may shed light on coaching decisions that still echo into 2024, 2025 and even 2026, leaving the Raiders with another legal thread hanging over a subject that has already drawn plenty of league-wide scrutiny. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Already Have A New Line Leader Fans Will Love
Tyler Linderbaum did not wait long to make an impression in Las Vegas. In his debut during the win over the Dolphins, the Raiders center drew praise from head coach Klint Kubiak and quarterback Kirk Cousins, a noteworthy start for a position group that can quietly shape everything an offense wants to do. For a team looking to build cleaner operation up front, that kind of first outing matters.
Kubiak and Cousins both singled out the way Linderbaum handled himself, which is exactly the sort of early signal a coaching staff loves to see from a new line leader. The Raiders do not need a highlight reel from their center, but they do need steadiness, command and trust, and Linderbaum seems to have checked those boxes right away. For a team trying to establish a dependable identity, that is a promising place to begin. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Enter AFC West With One Big Concern Around Kirk Cousins
The Raiders are shifting into AFC West play with a clear eye on how their offense translates against division opponents, starting with the Chargers. Kirk Cousins debut last weekend gave Las Vegas a look at both the promise and the problems in the passing game, with 160 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions offering a mixed first snapshot under center.
Kirk Cousins and coach Klint Kubiak both pointed to the same issue afterward: the deep-ball game is still not where it needs to be. Defenses are taking away explosive plays downfield, which puts more pressure on the Raiders to find answers quickly if they want their offense to hold up once the games start counting inside the division. [Read more 🡒]