Oakland Raiders: 5 keys to victory vs. Chargers
By John Buhler
Get pressure on Philip Rivers to force turnovers
It’s not just having the Chargers start offensive drives deep in their own territory, Sunday should be about getting after an immobile Philip Rivers and forcing some turnovers. Oakland is one of three teams that do not have an interception this year. The two other teams are the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins. Miami has played in four games.
Oakland hasn’t shown us that it has a defense that can force the opposition into punting situations very often. It is only expounded upon by the secondary’s inability to force any sort of turnover. Rivers will throw interceptions, especially when he’s under pressure.
In essence, Oakland will have to generate pressure from the front-seven to hopefully have Rivers throw the football right to a cornerback or safety. Unless Rivers plays his best game of the season on Sunday, there is no excuse for the Silver and Black to not come up with an interception in this game.
Winning the turnover battle is usually indicative of winning the football game. This is a game that Oakland cannot afford to squander. Not all, but a lot, will be forgiven if the Raiders right the ship on Sunday and get back to .500 and 3-3. Oakland can’t let Rivers carve the Raiders up like Kirk Cousins did on Sunday Night Football in Week 3, period.