Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers: 3 Players to Watch in Week 16
By Matt Holder
Clelin Ferrell
Lost in the mix of Oakland’s losing streak is the play of Clelin Ferrell. The rookie has become one of the team’s best run defenders and the last four weeks he earned the four highest PFF grades of his career, culminating with an elite grade against Jacksonville. Continuing this hot streak will be crucial to the Raiders’ success against the Chargers.
When these two teams met during Week 10, Los Angeles had one of it’s best games on the ground. The Bolts racked up 146 rushing yards – their third-highest total on the year – and Melvin Gordon put together his only triple-digit performance of the season. Obviously, stopping the run will be crucial for the Silver and Black’s defense.
Of course, slowing down the Chargers’ rushing attack will take a team effort but Ferrell needs to set the tone and show some of the leadership qualities that led to his high draft selection. It seems like the Clemson product has started to adjust to the NFL and this weekend is another opportunity to show how much he has grown. With another strong performance, the narrative surrounding the number four overall pick might start to change.