Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers: What Are Experts Saying About San Diego?

The San Diego Chargers (5-4) must be feeling pretty good heading into their Week 11 match with the Oakland Raiders (0-9).

They are healthier, face the only winless team in football and have plenty of experts predicting they will win this game going away.

However, the Chargers dropped off after a 5-1 start, and MVP candidate Philip Rivers hasn’t been his usual precise self. If they are going to reach 6-4, they’re going to have to break some of their current trends.

This article will examine what five experts are writing about the Chargers and determine if their predictions are right or if San Diego won’t win this game as easily as they think.

We’ll start with the thinning of the Chargers’ injury report.

Eric D. Williams: Improved Depth Means Better Performance

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ESPN.com’s Eric D. Williams said the return of Ryan Mathews, Manti Te’o and Melvin Ingram will improve the Chargers’ play, despite what head coach Mike McCoy said. Williams pointed out that the Chargers are now healthier than they were during their three-game slide, as only four players were sidelined from Thursday’s practice.

The Chargers will certainly be more talented on paper due to several starters getting back on the field. However, a player rarely lights the league on fire in his first game back from a prolonged injury. Game shape and getting into a flow are very important factors in this, and Mathews, Te’o and Ingram won’t get both from a couple of practices.

By the end of the season, the returning starters will almost certainly be back to their usual selves, if not better. Against the Raiders, there might be a couple of plays where the rust will show.

Tom Krasovic: Struggling Line Will Fare Well Versus Raiders

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U-T San Diego’s Tom Krasovic said the Chargers’ offensive line has looked bad recently due to the terrifying slate of defensive fronts the team has faced, such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins. Against the less-talented Raiders, the Chargers should have an easier time protecting Rivers and getting back on track.

The Chargers will definitely have a better shot at controlling the line of scrimmage Sunday. Oakland’s best pass-rushers—Khalil Mack and Justin Tuck—rely primarily on strength, which tackles King Dunlap and D.J. Fluker fare better with than speed. Compared to freak talents like Von Miller, Justin Houston and Cameron Wake, this is a welcome change.

The running game could also receive a nice boost. Running back Branden Oliver had one of his best games of the season versus the Raiders, including a game-winning goal-line plunge. Oakland is vulnerable up the middle, as players like Antonio Smith and Miles Burris are easy targets on the ground.

Paul Jackiewicz: Darren McFadden Could Wake Up Versus Average Chargers Run D

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RantSports’ Paul Jackiewicz said Raiders running back Darren McFadden will be an X-factor against the Chargers. He noted that McFadden had his best game of the season versus San Diego—rushing for 80 yards on 14 carries—and that the 17th-ranked Chargers run defense gives the Raiders a better chance at moving the ball.

The Chargers run defense hasn’t been anything special this season, as defensive end Kendall Reyes has no ability to anchor and linemen can move him with ease. It is a spot often targeted with success. The Chargers’ injuries at linebacker haven’t helped the situation either.

Injuries have derailed McFadden’s career, and the reason for his effectiveness on the ground versus the Chargers was due to San Diego being terrified of the red-hot Derek Carr. If McFadden is going to pile up stats, it’s because the Chargers are focusing their attention elsewhere. They’ll gladly accept a couple of eight-yard gains.

OddsShark.com: History Shows Oakland Will Play San Diego Close

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OddsShark.com wrote on Bleacher Report that Raiders vs. Chargers has an unusually high spread, as San Diego has a 2-8 mark versus the line in its last 10 AFC West home games. Additionally, the Raiders have lost by nine or more points only once in their last five games at San Diego.

Divisional games are often close, even if the talent gap is wider than normal. This holds true with the Chargers, especially versus Oakland, which stunned San Diego last year by double digits. The Raiders aren’t being blown out in Jacksonville Jaguars-esque fashion every game, playing the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots closely.

However, this Chargers team is healthier and more talented than its Week 6 iteration, and it is tough to see the Raiders being motivated with no playoff hopes and the looming possibility of 0-16.

Lyle Fitzsimmons: Chargers Better in Every Facet of the Game

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The Miami Herald’s Lyle Fitzsimmons said the Raiders are unlikely to keep up with the Chargers for four quarters due to having the league’s worst offense and a poor defense. Fitzsimmons also said the motivation of getting back into the playoff race will fuel the Chargers more than usual.

The Chargers will be more than ready to snap the losing streak and throw their hat back into the playoff race. Last season, they won five of their last six to sneak into the postseason when most teams would have been dead in the water. Even though the AFC playoff picture is filled with talent, the Chargers have a high ceiling with Rivers quarterbacking the team.

The Raiders are on a more dubious losing streak. Historically, weak depth and talent will prevent them from making this matchup more than a two-score game.