Oakland Raiders: Keys To Victory Over San Diego Chargers

Sep 27, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) stiff arms Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Tank Carder (59) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Raiders won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Attack The Weak Points

The Chargers have been fairly tough against the pass all year. For the season, San Diego is giving up just 221.8 yards per game – good enough to have the league’s seventh rated defense against the pass. But that doesn’t mean that their pass defense is invincible.

San Diego corner Brandon Flowers has struggled this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Flowers has a -9.0 grade in coverage – which incidentally, ties with D.J. Hayden as the second worst in the NFL.

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OC Bill Musgrave and Derek Carr would be smart to go after Flowers immediately. On their first play from scrimmage, the Raiders should target Flowers and air one out. Even if it ends up in an incompletion, it will get him thinking. Maybe get inside his head. And then letting Amari Cooper or Michael Crabtree to catch a few long ones to help boost Oakland’s confidence – while simultaneously killing Flowers’ confidence.

Carr and the Raiders need to establish up front that they are not afraid of San Diego’s defense. They were able to move the ball and make some plays against an even tougher defense in Denver two weeks ago, so it’s not oustide the realm of possibility that they can replicate that effort against the Chargers. But they’re going to have to identify the soft spots in the defense – such as Brandon Flowers – and then attack it without mercy.

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