The Oakland Raiders will play host to the Los Angeles Chargers on a short week in Week 10, and the Chargers are fresh off two straight victories.
The Oakland Raiders offense put on a solid display against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, as quarterback Derek Carr was efficient in the passing game, and rookie running back Josh Jacobs ran all over the Lions defense. For the Raiders, the win was a crucial one, as they had not been home since Week 2, and were looking to stay alive in the Wild Card race in the AFC.
In Week 10, they will welcome division rival Los Angeles into town on a short week, as the two teams will battle it out on Thursday Night Football. Los Angeles is coming off a huge victory of their own in Week 9, as they beat the Green Bay Packers, holding Aaron Rodgers at bay, and sending them to only their second loss of the season.
This matchup will be huge in terms of the divisional race, and the Wild Card race, as the Chargers and Raiders are both very much alive in both. Los Angeles has won two straight games, holding both opponents under 20 points, as their defense, led by Joey Bosa has stepped up immensely over the past two games.
Sunday’s game for the Chargers was even more impressive because they slowed down a Packers team that had looked like the best in the NFC through the first eight weeks of the season. Rodgers was playing at an MVP level, but against the Chargers pass rush, he had no answer, and the team could only muster a garbage touchdown in the fourth quarter.
That could spell trouble for the Raiders, who were already down Rodney Hudson in the Lions game, and then lost star right tackle Trent Brown to a knee injury during. Not having Brown will prove worrisome for the Silver and Black, as the combination of Bosa and Melvin Ingram is one of the best in the game in terms of the pass rush.
Still, this is a Raiders offensive line that has had the next-man-up mantra all season long, and that should continue if Brown cannot go. David Sharpe has been outstanding filling in for Brown at different points this season, and Kolton Miller has been an absolute stud on the left side protecting Derek Carr’s blindside in Year 2.
Overall, this has the markings of being an absolute gem of a game between two teams that downright hate each other. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden hates to lose in front of the Raiders fans at home, and you can be sure that even on a short week, he is going to have a solid gameplan going into this one.
After the Chargers game, the Raiders will have ten days to rest up for the Cincinnati Bengals, who currently do not have a win this season. After that, they will travel East to take on a New York Jets team that just lost to the Miami Dolphins, making this win against the Chargers a must in Week 10.