Oakland Raiders: Third Quarter schedule breakdown and predictions
By Kevin Saito
Los Angeles Chargers
After losing a close first game to Los Angeles, the Raiders get their second shot at their division rival. By week ten, the pack of playoff contenders from playoff pretenders should start beginning to separate a bit.
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And, if these predictions somehow prove accurate, the Raiders will be sitting in a decent spot at 5-3, looking to build toward a possible division title and a playoff berth. Beating a division rival would certainly help go a long way toward achieving those goals.
Succss in this game is going to depend, in large part, on Oakland’s offensive line. If the line can blow open holes for Marshawn Lynch to run through, and also keep Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram off Derek Carr‘s back, they’ll have a good shot in this game.
It’s a tall task, given the fact that the Chargers racked up 43 sacks last year, with Bosa’s 12.5, and Ingram’s 10.5 leading the way.
Just as important as keeping Carr clean will be, the play of Oakland’s rebuilt secondary will likely loom even larger. In their two game sweep of the Raiders last year, Philip Rivers passed for a combined 643 yards on 73 percent passing (53/73) with four touchdowns against zero interceptions.
Rashaan Melvin, Gareon Conley, and whoever else fills out Oakland’s secondary is going to have a tough test against what has been one of the league’s better passing games year in and year out for a while now.
Gruden knows this though, and will have his team ready. He also knows how important this matchup will be. Notching division wins is critical, especially as you begin coming down the home stretch of the season.
After losing in LA earlier in the year, home court will play a role in this as Oakland moves to 6-3 on the year.
Chargers: 24 Raiders: 27