Chargers Could Score in Bunches vs 5-Point Underdog Raiders

The L.A. Charger offense is battling its own hype as usual. As for the Oakland Raiders? The Silver & Black offense is fighting its own defense

The Chargers enjoyed a ton of preseason buzz, but are only 2-2 on the season and staring at the Kansas City Chiefs sky-rocketing ahead of them. It’s got to be frustrating considering the healthy production on offense. In the NFL, the record is everything, even when you’re playing excellent ball.

Phillip Rivers has been impressive, passing for almost 1,200 yards, 11 TDs and only 2 INTs. RB Melvin Gordon continues to develop. The former Wisconsin Badger has 276 yards on the ground, 199 receiving yards, and 5 total TDs. Keenan Allen leads the WR group. Head Coach Anthony Lynn’s offensive pedigree doesn’t hurt anything at all.

But just like the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Bolts are suffering from an injury to a Bosa.

Defensive end Joey Bosa is a superb player, but he’s not seen the field thus far in the 2018 season as he continues to battle a foot injury. It’s looking like the Bolts won’t get him back until mid-season, which is a major blow to a struggling defensive line. The team ranks 23rd in yards allowed per game and have only mustered 6 sacks so far. Melvin Ingram has only 7 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Meanwhile in Raider-ville, Jon Gruden Era Mach-2 tasted maiden victory this past weekend as the Raiders squeaked by the Cleveland Browns in a 45-42 overtime shoot-out. 5^th-year QB Derek Carr seems to have found his stride anew, as he threw for 437 yards and 4 TDs last Sunday.

Marshawn Lynch added another 130 yards on the ground as Oakland dismantled a solid Cleveland defense. WR Amari Cooper and TE Jared Cook each had over 100 yards receiving, but Carr also spread the ball around to 8 different receivers. Oakland ranks 2nd in the league averaging 442 yards per game and 4th in passing yards with 1,332. The offense is clicking, and Lynch continues to show that Beast Mode is an appropriate nickname.

But the Skull & Bones has turned into marshmallows and candy on defense. Gruden’s team ranks 2^nd to last in the league in points-allowed and is giving up a gaggle of rushing yards. They also struggle to get pressure on opposing QBs. Think they miss Khalil Mack these days? The Raiders are a meek -2 in turnover differential and are going to need some type of spark to start stopping people.

With the Oakland Raiders visiting StubHub Center this Sunday afternoon, the Bolts are (-5) favorites at home with a (-225) moneyline.

I’m highly admiring of what Jon Gruden has accomplished with Marshawn Lynch. Lynch has been written off as old, broken down, and unable to play. The shelf-lives of a bang-it-up running backs in the National Football League are chronically short. Rehabilitating a troubled old pro in the backfield is something the 1970s or 1980s Raider organization would do.

But I’m liking the San Diego Chargers for this particular Sunday afternoon at StubHub. The Raiders’ injury report reads like a casualty ward ledger, with 2 kickers, several linemen and some skill players tasting the dirt. The Bolts don’t need to stop Oakland every time the visitors have the football, just enough times to give Rivers a chance to snag a solid lead.

L.A.’s rookie safety Derwin James has lived up to expectations after being drafted 17th overall. The Florida State product has 26 tackles and 3 sacks on the season so far. It’s those sacks – half the number of the entire football team – that should scare the Raiders.

Playing against wild secondary blitzes is fun when you’ve got a good defense backing up the game plan. Quarterbacks can be like sharp-shooters against the blitz, squeezing-off big plays as the D plays its own game of Russian Roulette.

But when Carr and the Oakland offense is under pressure not to “miss turn” in keeping-up with the humming hosts? A safety blitz is a nightmare that could turn the momentum of a drive, a quarter, or an entire half.

Pick the Los Angeles Chargers to make lots of plays on offense, just enough plays on defense, and win by (-5) points or more during this week’s Sunday NFL action.