Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers: Keys to the Game

Nov 16, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins (85) is brought down by San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) and strong safety Marcus Gilchrist (38) during the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Raiders hit the road after the week off, taking the short trip to O.Co South AKA Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego to take on the division rival San Diego Chargers. The Raiders are looking to avoid a third straight loss after dropping two in a row before the bye, while the Chargers are looking to rebound after a loss last week in Green Bay.

The game is somewhat make or break for each team: the 2-4 Chargers need this win to try to resurrect what has so far been a disappointing season while the Raiders want to return to .500 before three tough matchups in a row. Whoever wins will be in control of second place in the AFC West, which should make for an intense affair on Sunday afternoon.

As always, there are several things the Raiders can do that can help them ensure a victory on Sunday. Here are five of these keys to the game:

Next: Keys to the Game: Exploit Chargers Injuries