Raiders: 3 Keys to victory against the Chargers in Week 18
By Alex Perl
Raiders: 3 Keys to victory against the Chargers in Week 18
Stopping Justin Herbert
The Chargers enter this contest with not only one of the most potent and dangerous offenses in all of football but the passing attack led by second-year quarterback Justin Herbert, who is ranked fourth in yards per game in the entirety of the NFL.
The three touchdown passes that Herbert threw on the Raiders in Week 4 were the key factor in a victory. The defense of this Raiders team has turned into a strong point and has not allowed more than 20 points in four of its last five contests.
The pressure this defensive line can generate has been on display in recent weeks and will be key to stopping the high octane offense of the Chargers. Herbert is a whiz operating around the pocket and has sneaky mobility.
However, escaping the presence of defensive ends Yannick Ngakoue and Maxx Crosby has been a daunting task for all opposing quarterbacks this season.
Although the Colts running game led by Jonathan Taylor led to another 100-yard performance for the dark horse MVP candidate, it was the passing game of the Colts held in check that largely gave the Raiders a victory.
If this depleted secondary which stood its ground on Sunday can continue to cover and play smart in zone and man coverage as displayed on Sunday, the Raiders should not only exact revenge on their rivals this week, but will finally clinch the elusive playoff berth which has now become a ghost in most Raiders seasons.
If this defensive line can accumulate enough pressure on Herbert, and surround itself with stellar coverage from the secondary, it may seem like common sense this would result in victory –however, in such a dismal and absurdly bizarre Raiders season — sometimes you just never know the direction this team will take to win or lose a game.