Chargers vs. Raiders: Full San Diego Game Preview

Week 16 gets underway on Christmas Eve with the San Diego Chargers (4-10) taking on the Oakland Raiders (6-8)  in what could be the last meeting between the rivals while residing in different cities. The Chargers and Raiders have partnered on a $1.7 billion stadium proposal in Carson, California, and NFL owners are expected to weigh in on the matter of relocation in January.

But for the time being, San Diego and Oakland still have football teams. The Chargers are in danger of being swept by the Raiders for the first time since 2010 after getting embarrassed at Qualcomm Stadium on Oct. 25 in a 37-29 loss. Oakland led by as many as 31 points in the second half until Philip Rivers pulled San Diego within eight with three fourth-quarter touchdown passes. Nevertheless, the Bolts were not at their best but have a chance to avenge that loss and pick up their first win in the division.

How will San Diego respond on the road in prime time? It's time for this week's preview of the Chargers.

Time: 5:25 p.m. PT (8:25 pm ET)

Location: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, CA

TV: NFL Network

Week 15 Results and Recap

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AFC West Standings

1. Denver Broncos (10-4)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5)
3. Oakland Raiders (6-8)
4. San Diego Chargers (4-10)

Last Sunday was an emotional day at the Q as fans and players alike treated the game as if it were the last in San Diego. Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Eric Weddle and Malcom Floyd were subbed out in the fourth quarter of a 30-14 win over the Miami Dolphins and received a standing ovation, as if to say thanks for all the memories.

Meanwhile, Danny Woodhead may have added another iconic moment to the memory bank for those in attendance as he scored four touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing). The Chargers struck first with a 20-yard pass from Rivers to Woodhead. Josh Lambo made a 28-yard field goal, and Woodhead scored on the ground from two yards out to push the lead to 16-0. Woodhead scored for the third time in the half, catching a nine-yard pass from Rivers before intermission, and he would add one more score through the air in the fourth quarter as San Diego notched only its third home win this season.

News and Notes

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Melvin Gordon Placed on IR; Dreamius Smith Signed To Active Roster

Gordon's rookie season is officially over after the team placed him on injured reserve this week with a left knee injury. Head coach Mike McCoy revealed during Monday's news conference that Gordon had suffered damaged cartilage and would require surgery. Gordon was injured on a run play near the end of the second quarter against Miami when his left leg bent awkwardly while being tackled. He ends the year with 641 rushing yards.

To bolster depth at running back with Gordon out, the Chargers signed first-year player Dreamius Smith, who spent training camp with them last summer before being cut. 

Charles Woodson's Last Game Against Chargers

Woodson announced Monday that he'll retire after this season, ending the career of one of the most decorated players in NFL history. The former AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year went to nine Pro Bowls and was a four-time first-team All-Pro. He's also the only player in history with 50 interceptions and 20 sacks.

Woodson will play one final time in front of the home fans and the last game of his career against the Chargers.

Jason Verrett Named Pro Bowl First Alternate

No Chargers were named to the Pro Bowl directly, but Verrett may be the closest as a first alternate at cornerback. Meanwhile, Philip Rivers and Darrell Stuckey were voted as fourth alternates at their positions. Verrett has come a long way in just two years, and slowly but surely he's getting the attention of the national media. 

Latest Injury News

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Four Chargers did not practice Tuesday: King Dunlap, Kyle Emanuel, Sean Lissemore and Ladarius Green.

Dunlap missed his seventh game last Sunday with a high-ankle sprain he suffered two weeks ago in Kansas City. He didn't practice at all last week and starts this week the same way.

Emanuel suffered a concussion in the first quarter against Miami—his second one this season. He didn't miss a game with the first concussion but was helped out by San Diego's bye week. This time, however, the Chargers play on a short week, so Emanuel won't have the benefit of extra time.

Lissemore hasn't played since Nov. 29 because of a shoulder injury, but he did start practicing last week, albeit in limited fashion. Green has managed to play in five straight games despite a nagging ankle injury, but he's been hardly a factor with only two catches in each of the last three games.

Wide receiver Stevie Johnson and cornerback Steve Williams were limited participants Tuesday. Johnson has been inactive for the last two games with a groin injury but hasn't missed more than two games consecutively this season because of it. Meanwhile, Williams was inactive with a hip injury last week.

All injury information courtesy of Chargers.com.

Key Matchups

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Jason Verrett vs. Amari Cooper

Round 1 went to Cooper as he recorded two catches for 68 yards and a touchdown against Verrett in San Diego, per Pro Football Focus. Cooper had five catches for 133 yards in all against the Chargers and is coming off a Week 15 performance with six catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers, during which he became the first 1,000-yard receiver for the Raiders since Randy Moss in 2005.

Meanwhile, Verrett has allowed just one touchdown in the seven games since facing Oakland, per PFF, and he has an interception in two of the last three games.

Antonio Gates vs. Charles Woodson

Gates and Woodson will meet on the gridiron one last time, and as both are sure to be in the Hall of Fame some day, this is one matchup that can't be taken for granted. Gates was out with a knee injury in Week 7 when the Chargers hosted the Raiders, so this will be the first time this season he faces Oakland and its 28th-ranked pass defense.

Woodson ranks second on the Raiders in tackles (65) and first in interceptions with five. Additionally, Woodson is PFF's highest graded safety in coverage and ranks 14th overall.

Matchup X-Factor

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Chargers' X-Factor of the Week: Danny Woodhead

Coming off a four-touchdown performance against the Dolphins, Woodhead has the hot hand on offense, and the loss of Gordon means we should see more of Woodhead, as well as Donald Brown. Last time out against the Raiders, Woodhead caught 11 of 12 targets for 75 yards and two touchdowns while going up against eight different defenders, per PFF.

Granted, he did most of his damage with the game out of hand and Oakland's coverage playing a bit lax with a big lead, but Woodhead has given teams fits with his pass-catching ability. He ranks second on the team in targets with 86.

Prediction

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The Chargers are six-point underdogs in Thursday's game against the Raiders, according to Odds Shark. Oakland has the better team, but on a short week, anything is possible. However, the Chargers have had some of their worst performances against division rivals this season; three times they've totaled exactly three points against AFC West foes.

Meanwhile, the Raiders are averaging the 14th-most points at 22.8 per game, and the passing game is thriving with Derek Carr at the helm. It helps that he has Cooper and a rejuvenated Michael Crabtree to throw to, but give Carr credit. He's having a heck of a season with 30 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions.

Prediction: Raiders 28, Chargers 16