The Raiders need a win to make the playoffs on Sunday night, and here is why they will end up beating the Chargers inside Allegiant Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders play host to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18, and the hope is, they will have already clinched a playoff spot before the game even kicks off. As of writing this, the Jacksonville Jaguars are beating the Indianapolis Colts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are losing to the Baltimore Ravens, two scenarios that would seal the Raiders’ fate before the Week 18 game begins.
Here, we look at three reasons why even if they do not get in before kickoff, they will beat the Chargers, and win in on Sunday night.
3 Reasons the Raiders beat the Chargers in 2021 Week 18
No. 1: Waller is back
The Raiders are getting back their best player for the matchup against Los Angeles, as tight end, Darren Waller will play in his first game since Thanksgiving Day. Waller, widely considered one of the best tight ends in the NFL, adds another dimension to this Raiders offense and is someone that the Chargers will have a lot of trouble with.
Los Angeles is atrocious at covering the tight ends, and in Waller, they will have to contain one that is elite, something that could prove too much even if Waller is not 100 percent.
No. 2: Carr and Carlson in the clutch
The two DCs have been clutch down the stretch for the Raiders, as Derek Carr has led this team to many late-game victories, and Daniel Carlson has put the finishing touches on them. In fact, Carlson has to be considered one of the more clutch kickers in all of football, and it was an absolute steal for Las Vegas when they were able to get him as a free agent.
In this one, the game will go down to the wire, and the two DCs will put their stamp on it in a big way.
No. 3: It is time
The Las Vegas Raiders have come a long way to clinch this playoff spot, and after winning three straight with their season on life support, they will take care of business at home against the Chargers. The defense is playing at a high level, and they are winning close games, two keys to beating Los Angeles in this one.
Raiders X-Factors against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18
The Las Vegas Raiders take on the Los Angeles Chargers with a chance to go to the playoffs in Week 18, and here is our X-Factors for the matchup.
It has been five years since the Raiders clinched a playoff spot, and they have been to the playoffs only once since the 2002 NFL season. It is time for the Silver and Black to get into the postseason, and they will accomplish that on Sunday night.