Oakland Raiders: 5 matchups to watch vs. Los Angeles Chargers
By John Buhler
The Oakland Raiders’ home game on Sunday versus the division rival Los Angeles Chargers could ultimately decide the season for either of these two teams. A loss for either club essentially knocks them out of playoff contention in the AFC. If 2-4 for the Raiders doesn’t, 1-5 for the Chargers almost certainly will.
It’s only Week 6, but this is a must-win game for Oakland and Los Angeles. The Raiders should be the home favorite in this one, but Los Angeles is coming off its first win of the season. Oakland might be the better team, but not decidedly. The Raiders also aren’t playing great ball in the last few weeks, so that matters.
This game will come down to who plays better in a few key matchups. Most of these matchups will be in the trenches. It will be about who gets better pressure on the edge in the pass rush, as well as who can set the edge with solid play along the offensive line.
With the season hanging in the balance, let’s take a look at five matchups that could inevitably decide Sunday’s game between the Raiders and the Chargers.
Bruce Irvin vs. Russell Okung
Raiders outside linebacker Bruce Irvin has not had a great start to his season. He played an excellent game in Week 4 versus the Denver Broncos, but has not been able to provide consistent pressure out on the edge all season.
He faces a tough matchup in new Chargers left tackle Russell Okung. At one time, Okung was a Pro Bowl tackle for the Seattle Seahawks. Now he is playing on his third team in three years. He had spent the 2016 NFL season with the Broncos, but is now in Los Angeles hopefully to give a snakebitten Chargers offensive line some consistency.
One could argue that Okung is already the best player on the Chargers’ offensive line. While Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack could wreak havoc on him, keep in mind that Mack plays on the opposite side of the field on most snaps. It will be up to Irvin to get it done in attacking the blind side.
Keep in mind that the Chargers’ starting quarterback in Philip Rivers is getting up there in age and isn’t exactly mobile. Playing behind a struggling offensive line, this could be a huge day for the Raiders’ pass rush. Maybe Irvin can put together his second excellent game of the season?