The Chargers will be looking for a win on Thursday night after a relatively dismal stretch since the bye. Los Angeles is 3-6 after they originally got back to .500 on the season. While playoff contention is out of the picture without Justin Herbert, jobs are still on the line. These last four games could still play a pivotal role in determining which players, coaches, and front-office members are back next year.
Here’s how the Chargers can get back on track against the Raiders.
The run game has to move for Easton Stick to execute
The Chargers had a better day on the ground against the Broncos compared to the production they had been getting. Austin Ekeler had 51 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown while Isaiah Spiller’s touches didn’t look too bad.
They’ll need to build on the positive momentum from the run game last week in this one. Given the circumstances for Easton Stick, a solid rushing attack is how they can slow down the game for him. More chances at calling RPOs to let Stick get into a rhythm seems like the way to go as opposed to dropping him back a lot vs. Maxx Crosby.
They don’t need amazing production from the running backs, but 80-100 yards would go a long way toward aiding the situation. Las Vegas is 25th in the league with 127.4 rush yards allowed per game.
Dealing with the Maxx Crosby issue better this time
The offensive line has been a bit of a mess without Corey Linsley as the season has gone on. LA has allowed the highest rate of unblocked pressures in the league since his absence.
The first game the Chargers played without Linsley was their first meeting with the Raiders in Week 4. Justin Herbert was sacked five times and took 15 pressures. Star edge defender Maxx Crosby had eight pressures himself with two sacks while also opening up opportunities for his teammates to get in unblocked.
Simply put, the Chargers have to find a way to deal with Crosby better than they historically have. I’m not expecting Trey Pipkins or Rashawn Slater to have their best reps against him given the state of the offensive line this season. But whether it’s chipping or getting extra help, the offensive line has to find some way to stabilize against Crosby for any chance at a salvageable offense.
Quentin Johnston, early and often
The Chargers will have Josh Palmer available to play tomorrow, but Brandon Staley has said he’s less than likely to play a full load. Keenan Allen has registered two DNPs on Monday and Tuesday on the injury report with a heel injury. His status seems less than certain.
Johnston had his first 90+ yard game in his rookie season and it feels like a big part of the Chargers’ offensive purpose over these last four games should be feeding him to work towards 2024. Assuming Mike Williams is not back next season and the wide receiver room looks different as a whole, Johnston will be relied on heavily.
Assuming Nate Hobbs works in the slot against either Allen or Palmer for a majority of the game, Johnston should at least be able to get some more favorable matchups outside.
DB’s turning over Aidan O’Connell
The Chargers were able to force Aidan O’Connell into some turnover-worthy plays in their last matchup. Asante Samuel Jr. had a pivotal pick given the point in the game.
O’Connell has four interceptions over his last three games, including a three INT effort against Miami. If there was a game for the secondary to make some turnovers, it’s this one.
This is not a game where you need to produce tons of Raiders’ turnovers to stop them defensively, but it’s important to set up Stick with at least a few chances at short fields. The fewer drives that he has to manufacture yardage himself, the better.
Hopefully, this is also a get-right game for Derwin James after his lowest graded game of the season vs. Denver last week.
Getting home on pressures
The Chargers totaled 25 pressures against Denver on Sunday. However it never really felt that way with how Russell Wilson generally stayed steady in the pocket with evasiveness. LA only brought down Wilson for two sacks.
The Raiders’ offensive line has not exactly stabilized since the last time the Chargers played them either. Since O’Connell’s return to the starting role, Las Vegas has given up 60 pressures in four games. O’Connell has been sacked ten times.
Khalil Mack had six sacks in the Chargers and Raiders’ last matchup. As he leads the NFL in sacks with 15.0, he’ll be looking to score some potentially easy ones again.
Getting pressure is obviously another way to force turnovers too. Mack had multiple strip sacks on O’Connell the last time the two teams met.
