Chargers vs. Raiders: What's the Game Plan for San Diego?
The San Diego Chargers play their last prime-time game of the season in Week 16, as they visit the Oakland Raiders on Christmas Eve. The Raiders beat the Chargers 37-29 in Week 7 and will be looking for their first sweep in the series since 2010.
San Diego (4-10) is coming off an emotional victory at home last week. Danny Woodhead scored four touchdowns, and the Chargers won 30-14 over the Miami Dolphins in what might have been the last game played at Qualcomm Stadium.
Oakland (6-8) is in a similar boat as the Chargers, with relocation to Los Angeles a possibility after this season. The Raiders dropped a 30-20 decision to the Green Bay Packers last week and now host the Chargers in their home finale, maybe the last at O.co Coliseum.
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Let's get into the game plan for San Diego.
Offensive Game Plan
First and foremost, the Chargers have to find a way to protect against the league's sacks leader and recently named Pro Bowl defensive end Khalil Mack, who is on a tear, with 10 sacks in the last four games and 15 on the season. According to Pro Football Focus, 68.3 percent of Mack's rushes have come from the left side, matching him up with right tackle Joe Barksdale, who allowed only one hurry against the Raiders in Week 7.
Philip Rivers will need to pay close attention to where Mack is on the field at all times and make sure he has the right protection setup before the snap. If not, it could be very long day for Rivers, who has been the most pressured quarterback in the NFL this season, per PFF.
When Rivers throws, he'll need to be wary of an Oakland secondary that gives up the fifth-most yards per game (266) but also has the 15th-most interceptions, with 12.
Free safety Charles Woodson, who is retiring after this season, is PFF's top-graded safety in coverage, and cornerback David Amerson ranks 12th at his position in that category. Woodson has intercepted five passes this season, and Amerson has intercepted three, with a league-leading 23 passes defensed.
| Yards Per Game | 366.9 | 23rd |
| Pass Yards Per Game | 265.6 | 28th |
| Rush Yards Per Game | 101.2 | 13th |
| Scoring Defense | 25.4 | 22nd |
This week, the Chargers got back receiver Stevie Johnson from a groin injury after missing the last two games. Johnson has been a limited participant in practice so far, but if he plays, he'll add some much-needed experience to go against the Raiders. Rivers has relied mostly on first- and second-year receivers Javontee Herndon and Dontrelle Inman in the passing game, as well as tight end Antonio Gates and running back Danny Woodhead.
And speaking of Woodhead, the Raiders probably took notice of the running back's four touchdowns against the Dolphins last Sunday, so he'll be somebody the defense will try to key in on. Flying under the radar, however, is seventh-year back Donald Brown, who will assume the rushing load left by injured rookie Melvin Gordon. The Chargers placed Gordon on injured reserve this week, thus ending his rookie season.
| Name | Position | Injury | Game Status |
| King Dunlap | OT | Ankle | Out |
| Ladarius Green | TE | Ankle | Questionable |
| Stevie Johnson | WR | Groin | Questionable |
| Chris Hairston | OT | Abdomen | Probable |
Brown, meanwhile, had 90 yards rushing against the Dolphins, including a season-long 53-yard run. He and Woodhead will work together in the backfield, with Brown taking over on early downs.
Defensive Game Plan
Oakland's greatest strength on offense is the passing game led by second-year quarterback Derek Carr, who is having a breakout season with 3,589 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes.
Carr's top weapon at receiver is fourth overall draft choice Amari Cooper, who as of last Sunday is the first Raiders receiver with 1,000 receiving yards since Randy Moss in 2005. Cooper has exceeded 100 receiving yards in five games this season, including against the Chargers in Week 7, when he recorded five catches for 133 yards and a touchdown.
The man responsible for shadowing Cooper in the secondary has to be Jason Verrett, who was named a first alternate for the Pro Bowl. Verrett is PFF's third-highest graded cornerback in coverage, and he has two interceptions in the last three games for San Diego, which ranks 11th against the pass.
And when it isn't Cooper catching passes from Carr, it's former San Francisco 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree, who leads the team in targets (131), receptions (76) and receiving touchdowns (seven). After a couple of disappointing seasons with the 49ers, Crabtree has rejuvenated his career in Oakland and has Carr to thank for it.
Brandon Flowers, who matched up with Crabtree the last time these teams played, is done for the season on IR, so the Chargers will have to try either Patrick Robinson or rookie Craig Mager on Crabtree, maybe even Steve Williams if he's healthy. Crabtree didn't do too badly himself against the Chargers in Week 7, as he caught six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Do you know who else had a good game against the Chargers? Running back Latavius Murray.
The Raiders don't have a strong running game, as they rank 25th overall in yards per game (93.1), but Murray has his good days, and Oct. 25 against San Diego was one of them. He rushed for 85 yards on 15 carries and had the game's opening touchdown—a one-yard run after linebacker Malcolm Smith intercepted Rivers on his very first pass attempt.
San Diego has allowed the ninth-most rush yards per game (120.6) and fourth-most rushing touchdowns with 14. However, the Chargers are sporting a new inside linebacker duo these days consisting of Manti Te'o and rookie Denzel Perryman, who is PFF's fourth-highest graded inside linebacker against the run. Perryman has come on strong since being named a starter, and he should factor against the run on Thursday.
Key Matchups and Players to Watch
Jason Verrett vs. Amari Cooper
Cooper got the upper hand against Verrett in Week 7, totaling two catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, per PFF. But San Diego's top corner has improved since then, and as an added bonus, he'll have All-Pro safety Eric Weddle helping out in the secondary, which he didn't have the first time. Weddle missed the Oakland game with a groin injury but is back and fully healthy.
Antonio Gates vs. Charles Woodson
Woodson's last game against the Chargers means one final battle with Gates, and as both are sure to be Hall of Famers some day, this is one matchup fans can cherish one last time. Like Weddle, Gates was inactive for the first meeting against Oakland due to injury, but he's healthier now and coming off a six-catch, 88-yard performance last Sunday.
Melvin Ingram
Ingram has a career-high eight sacks on the season, and four in the last three games, but he won't have it easy going up against the second-highest rated offensive line in pass-blocking efficiency according to PFF. Carr has been hit only 15 times and pressured 116 times.
Chris Hairston
With King Dunlap out because of injury for a second straight game, Hairston will make his eighth start of the season at left tackle. He's been dreadful the past three games, surrendering nine hurries and five sacks, per PFF, but at least Mack isn't on his side.
Prediction
Christmas Eve could be the last game at O.co Coliseum, and as such, the Raiders will be extra motivated to get a win for their fans, much like the Chargers were last Sunday when they played maybe their last home game at Qualcomm Stadium. That, plus the Raiders being a much-improved team this season should lead to another win for the Silver and Black.
Predicted Score: Raiders 28, Chargers 16
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