The Raiders need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive on Thursday, and here are three things to keep an eye on in the matchup with the Chargers.
With the team still clinging to hopes of being a playoff participant this season, the Las Vegas Raiders will play host to division rival Los Angeles on Thursday night. The short week is usually an advantage for the home team, but with the Raiders losing so many players heading into this matchup, it is really anybody’s guess as to what the game will look like.
Las Vegas has been one of those teams that is impossible to predict every week, and divisional games are always close. With that said, here are three things to keep an eye on in this crucial AFC West battle.
Raiders establishing the run game
Against the Colts, the Raiders abandoned the run game due to the fact the game was starting to get out of hand, and a hobbled Josh Jacobs rushed for only 49 yards on 13 carries. That kind of gameplan is not going to fly against the Chargers, especially with so much talent out on the defensive side of the ball for the Raiders.
Las Vegas needs to pound the ball with Jacobs and Devontae Booker in this one, as that will keep Justin Herbert and company off the field. Jacobs was able to go after being touch-and-go for most of the week during practice heading into the Colts game, and on Thursday, the team has to find a way to get him 20-plus carries against Los Angeles.