In a repeat of last season, the Las Vegas Raiders are heading into Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers fresh off a triumphant win versus an AFC East foe. But Geno Smith infamously threw three interceptions in an embarrassing primetime loss last year, so the hope is that the script gets flipped.
Things aren't exactly the same, either, as in 2025, the Chargers had just dominated the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on opening weekend, and this past Sunday, they got beat by the lowly Arizona Cardinals at home by two scores. Los Angeles has a lot more to prove in this one.
But the best way for the Raiders to pull off the impossible and begin the 2026 NFL season 2-0, and to notch an early win over their bitter AFC West rival will be to not make the game too big and to come out on top in several key matchups. Here are three that could decide this divisional showdown.
3 matchups that could very well decide Raiders-Chargers in Week 2
1. Ashton Jeanty & Mike Washington Jr. vs. Chargers' front seven
Jeanty was the star of the show in Week 1 vs. the Miami Dolphins, and Washington Jr. played well with the reps that he was given. But the Chargers' front seven (the defensive line and linebackers) pose a much stiffer challenge for the young running back tandem and the Raiders' offensive line.
If lanes can be paved for Jeanty and Washington Jr. to run through, or if they can make people miss and find chunk yardage on the ground, it'll take the pressure off Kirk Cousins and allow Las Vegas to control the clock and keep the defense fresh, which is always a big key to victory.
Last year, Jeanty managed just 74 total rushing yards on 26 carries in two games combined against Los Angeles. That can't happen again if the Raiders want to escape SoFi Stadium with a victory on Sunday.
2. Justin Herbert vs. Las Vegas' secondary
Herbert is a very good quarterback, regardless of the discourse surrounding him, and he has torched Las Vegas throughout his career. And, against a young and new secondary that has a propensity to give up explosive plays through the air, Herbert could have a field day in Week 2.
Or he could not.
Should the Raiders' defensive backs step up and make life difficult for a Chargers offense that is unlikely to have star wide receiver Ladd McConkey, that would go a long way in tilting the balance of this game. Los Angeles' rushing attack doesn't particularly scare me at this juncture.
Obviously, the Las Vegas pass rush will have to show up and force Herbert into ill-advised throws, and Rob Leonard will have to create some more magic on the back end to confuse the veteran quarterback. But if these young defensive backs can buckle up, the Raiders can control this one.
3. Kolton Miller/DJ Glaze vs. Khalil Mack/Tuli Tuipulotu
Mack has made it a habit to dominate his former team since leaving, and Tuipulotu is one of the most underrated edge rushers in the league. Luckily for Las Vegas, Miller and Glaze were the highest- and third-highest rated pass blockers in the NFL in Week 1, respectively. This'll be a big-time matchup.
And if Miller and Glaze can neutralize Mack and Tuipulotu, both in the pass and run game, then that will go a long, long way in the Raiders' offense staying on time and ahead of the sticks, which is pivotal for a group that doesn't have explosive pass-catching weapons or a big-armed quarterback.
Although the battle on the interior will be important, Los Angeles doesn't really have a player who can go toe-to-toe with Tyler Linderbaum. I like Las Vegas' odds inside. But on the edge, the Raiders' tackles have to find a way to lessen the impact of these two. If they can, they'll be just fine on offense.
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