5 keys to victory for Raiders vs. Chargers in Week 17
By John Buhler
It may be the final week of a lost 2017 NFL season for the Oakland Raiders. The team will finish at best 7-9 should the Silver and Black be able to knock off the division rival Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17. While Oakland is eliminated from playoff contention, Los Angeles is still fighting for its playoff live.
Obviously, the Chargers will need some help to make it in as a wild card team, but they are only getting in if they win anyway. Oakland may be on a three-game slide, but have looked competitive in the last two weeks versus the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles in primetime. Maybe the Raiders have one more decent showing left in them before 2017 comes to an end?
This will be the second time that the Raiders will face their division rival this season. The last time these two AFC West foes faced off, it was back in Week 6 in Oakland. Los Angeles defeated the Raiders by a point on a last-second field goal by placekicker Nick Novak. That defeat was the fourth in a row for the Raiders, as they fell to 2-4 after that loss.
Los Angeles could theoretically be the fourth team in a row to beat the Raiders in in two separate four-game losing streaks. Let’s not let that happen. Here’s to the Raiders finishing 2017 on a strong note with a division win over the Chargers at the StubHub Center in Carson. These are the Raiders’ five keys to victory.
Limit Keenan Allen‘s effectiveness in the receiving game.
A big reason that the Chargers are still alive in the AFC wild card race even after an 0-4 start to the season is the great play of their star receiving Keenan Allen. When this guy is healthy, he is one of the best wide receivers the AFC has to offer. He could be more than a handful for the Raiders secondary to cover.
Allen is a smart receiver that can make plays both outside the numbers and in the slot. When he’s lining up wide, look for guys like Sean Smith and Dexter McDonald to try to contain him. Though Smith or McDonald could track him inside, that would best be reserved for slot corner T.J. Carrie to handle.
Carrie has done well this season in a contract year for the Raiders. He’s made the most of his increased reps. However, Allen might be the most difficult matchup for him to cover in the slot. In essence, he can’t do it alone. Look for rookie linebacker Nicholas Morrow or even veteran linebacker NaVorro Bowman to help out in that regard.
If the Raiders can keep Allen in check, then they will have a shot at upsetting the Chargers on the road in Week 17. Should Allen have his way with the Raiders defense and have like 10 catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, that will be all she wrote for the Raiders in this final ball game of 2017.