5 Oakland Raiders to watch vs. Los Angeles Chargers
By John Buhler
The Oakland Raiders have an important divisional game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6. Here are five Raiders you’ll need to watch on Sunday.
The Oakland Raiders are faced with a huge game we didn’t expect at the start of the year in Week 6. After dropping three in a row to the Washington Redskins, the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens, Oakland has a must-win game versus a division rival at home this week.
Coming to The Coliseum will be the Los Angeles Chargers. Though the Chargers are the worst team in the AFC West in terms of record, this game will decide who gets to hang out in the cellar all by their lonesome at the end of the week. Oakland would be 2-4 with a loss, while Los Angeles would be an awful 1-5.
One could argue this is a must-win for both teams. A loss in Week 6 probably knocks the loser out of playoff contention in the AFC for good this season. Keep in mind that the Chargers are coming off a rare East Coast win over the still winless New York Giants in Week 5.
Oakland has to step it up in this game to avoid a complete disaster of a season the rest of the way. Here are five Raiders that will need to have big games to get the Silver and Black back to .500 at 3-3 after Sunday’s matchup with the division rival Chargers.
Florida State Seminoles. Mario Edwards Jr.. 5. player. 28. . Defensive End
Though the defense has not been anything close to great this season, one player that has looked solid for the Raiders has been defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. After an injury-riddled first two seasons in the league, we are beginning to see why he was so highly touted coming out of Florida State in 2015.
Edwards has nine tackles, three assists and three quarterback sacks on the season. He has been the cornerstone of a possibly improving Raiders’ defensive line. Being able to disrupt the pocket and factor in run defense will be key to taking down the Chargers on Sunday afternoon.
Los Angeles does not have anything close to a solid offensive line. In fact, the offensive line has been the bane of the Chargers’ existence for the last several years since long-time center Nick Hardwick retired. The Chargers can be exposed along the offensive line all game if Oakland is up for the challenge.
With Edwards already surpassed his career-best in terms of sacks, look for him to probably add another on Sunday against a weak Chargers offensive line and an immobile aging quarterback in Philip Rivers. It may not be just Khalil Mack living in the Chargers backfield on Sunday. Look for Edwards to do the same from the defensive interior.