Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers: 3 Surprises in Week 4

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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 04: Running back Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers rushes against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half at SoFi Stadium on October 4, 2021, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers: 3 Surprises in Week 4

Lack of physicality upfront by the Raiders

In what become a running theme t his season, the Raiders always start games with a lack of the physicality needed to win in the trenches. There was about a 30 minute delay to start the game due to lightning, but I don’t believe that’s the reason for what happened to open the game against the Chargers.

That is because this has happened not only against the Chargers, but also last week against the Dolphins, and in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens. It not only happens on the offensive line, which is understandable as most of them are new starters almost across the board but also on the defensive side, where teams can get pushed back in the run game as well.

The defensive line has done a good job overall in quarterback pressures but hasn’t been able to finish most of them for sacks. The Chargers ran for 175 yards on the ground in Week 4 and got constant pressure on Derek Carr resulting in four sacks.

Time and time again the Raiders failed to respond when a team comes into the game and punches them in the mouth.

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