The Raiders head into Sunday’s matchup with the Chargers trying to get to 2-0, and the setup gives Las Vegas a real chance for a few players to shine.
That starts up front, where the Chargers are already dealing with a major hit after losing their starting center before the season. Tyler Biadasz is out, and that leaves a backup center to handle the middle against a Raiders front that can make life miserable.
Adam Butler looks like the guy best positioned to cash in. The quick interior pass-rusher should be living in the backfield, disrupting run plays and bringing heat on Justin Herbert.
Butler has quietly been one of the most underrated players in the NFL over the last few seasons in Las Vegas, and this matchup gives him a chance to put up big numbers.
The Raiders could also have an opening in the secondary if Ladd McConkey sits. That would keep the Chargers from deploying their top pass-catcher, which is exactly the kind of break Jack Jones can use.
The Raiders need turnovers from Herbert and the offense around him, and Jones still hasn’t picked off a pass since 2021. Even so, this is a spot where he has a chance to jump routes and make a play or two.
After a solid game against the Miami Dolphins last week, he’s in position for another productive afternoon.
At tight end, Michael Mayer may be set up for a bigger role again with Brock Bowers still on the mend. The Chargers just watched Trey McBride feast on them last week, and that only reinforces the idea that tight ends can do damage against this defense. Mayer, who just landed a contract extension, should get his share of targets and has a chance to make an impact in the passing game if Los Angeles keeps leaking production to the position.
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 there was enough good in it to make the result feel meaningful. The defense held up well against Los Angeles passing game, and the offense got a major lift from wide receiver Tucker, who piled up more than 100 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Even so, the performance looked a lot like what showed up in training camp and the preseason, with flashes of upside mixed with the same familiar issues.
Las Vegas still had trouble getting the run game going and converting on third down, which kept the offense from ever fully settling in. There were also some questionable play calls along the way, the sort of details that can get buried in a win but tend to linger when a team is trying to prove it can be more than just competitive. The Raiders have the kind of result they needed, but the way they got there left a problem fans know all too well still hanging around. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Have A Cody White Decision They Can't Ignore
Cody White went from a roster afterthought to one of the more interesting names in the Raiders early-season picture in a hurry. After being signed to the practice squad and elevated for the first two weeks, the receiver made his case in Las Vegas Week 2 win over the Chargers, finishing with two touchdown catches and showing enough to make the conversation around him much more serious than a temporary fill-in.
Now the Raiders have a real personnel choice on their hands. Keeping White on the 53-man roster would reward the kind of production teams are always chasing, while sending him back to the practice squad would leave him exposed to other clubs looking for a receiver who has already proven he can help right away. For a team trying to sort out its depth and identify who belongs in the long-term mix, White has become a decision they cant afford to brush aside. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Get An Early Opening Against A Shorthanded Chargers Defense
The Chargers are already juggling lineup changes before they even get to Sunday, and that gives Las Vegas a chance to press an edge early in the week. Ladd McConkey and Trey Pipkins are among the names dealing with injury concerns, and the reshuffling has pushed Kayode Awosika into the left guard spot while Tony Jefferson is expected to start at safety. For a Raiders offense looking to settle in against AFC West competition, any uncertainty on the other side only adds to the leverage.
Defensively, Los Angeles is trying to clean up after a rough Week 1 showing, but the personnel picture is still unsettled. The secondary is a particular area to watch, with changes possible as the Chargers sort through their matchups and availability. For the Raiders, that creates an opening to test a defense that is still searching for answers, even before the game plan really gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]