Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers: 3 key matchups in Week 18

Oct 4, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) runs the ball for a touchdown against Las Vegas Raiders safety Trevon Moehrig (25) and cornerback Amik Robertson (21) and defensive back Johnathan Abram (24) during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) runs the ball for a touchdown against Las Vegas Raiders safety Trevon Moehrig (25) and cornerback Amik Robertson (21) and defensive back Johnathan Abram (24) during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
3 of 4
Raiders
Jan 2, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (7) points first down after a play in the first half against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers: 3 key matchups in Week 18

Zay Jones vs the Chargers secondary

Derek Carr may have finally found another reliable option in the 26-year-old wide receiver.

With Carr force-feeding the ball into the hands of Hunter Renfrow on a week-to-week basis, the Raiders passing game which had been one of the top in the league for weeks… had become mundane and predictable.

Somehow though, Carr has found a new and dependable target in the former East Carolina product. He has improved steadily over the last few weeks, and his late-season emergence has come at the perfect timing as the Raiders are fighting for a playoff berth.

With the Charger defense surely to focus its attention on Renfrow and the return of Darren Waller likely this week, this leaves plenty of space for Jones to operate. And now that he has shown Carr and the Raiders coaching staff he can be relied upon, plenty of plays will be drawn up in his favor.

The Charger secondary will have its hands full with the up-and-coming Jones, who will look to outpace a game where he just went over 100 yards receiving.

Schedule