LA Chargers Perfect First Half Secures a Win Over Las Vegas Raiders, 28-14

The LA Chargers defeated the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football, leveling with the big rivals atop the AFC West division. The final score of the match was 28-14 for the hosts, who had a very strong start, which determined the winner.

LAC was up 21-0 at halftime, having a marvelous first half that saw them trashing the Raiders on both ends of the field. Justin Herbert was finding his teammates all over the place, and he would throw three touchdowns during that time.

After beating the Kansas City Chiefs on the road last week, the Chargers posted another big victory, and their head coach Brandon Staley was more than happy about that.

“I think that was our first time being able to respond to a big win like that and to be able to come back home in front of the world. I really felt like we played a complete game in all three phases.”

The Chargers’ defense was at its best in the first half, creating all sorts of trouble for the Raiders’ offensive line. Derek Carr couldn’t catch his rhythm because of an excellent pass rush coming from the other side. Eventually, the game was decided, with Derwin James intercepting Carr’s pass with 3:22 to go.

Though, we need to say that the guests started rolling in the second half, and that Carr opened that sequence with two TDs and nine completions in ten attempts. The third period saw the Raiders pulling two TDs, one by Hunter Renfrow and the other by Darren Waller. They had a lot of changes in the final 15 minutes, even a missed FG, yet the punishment for all that came in the form of Austin Ekeler’s 11-yard rushing TD that sealed the game.

Ekeler had 117 yards on the ground in 15 rushing attempts and was demolishing the Raiders’ defense. He also added one receiving score, and 28 yards through the air. Jared Cook racked 70 receiving yards and a touchdown, and Donald Parham Jr also caught a TD.

Herbert had another very good game, not being picked, and going 25-for-38 for 222 yards.

On the other side, Derek Carr was 21-for-34 for 196 yards, two TDs, and one pick. The Chargers’ defenders sacked him four times for 31 negative yards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNpnDxdQqfM

Josh Jacobs played last night, but his contribution was far below the expected – 13 snaps and just 40 yards. Henry Ruggs III had 60 yards in three receptions, but one of them was a 51-yard slalom. Darren Waller had 50, and Renfrow had 45 receiving yards.

The Raiders suffered their first defeat of the year, and are now ahead of a big test. They will have a chance to bounce back against the Chicago Bears next week in Las Vegas. Afterward, Gruden’s boys head for the Mile High to meet the strong Denver Broncos in another divisional matchup. What follows are two matches against the NFC East opponents, at home vs. Eagles and on the road vs. Giants.

Meanwhile, the Chargers have two very tough matchups. The first is against the Cleveland Browns at SoFi Stadium, and after that, they head for Baltimore to face yet another AFC North rival, the Ravens. Herbert and the boys will await the New England Patriots in Week 7.

The way things started developing, it seems that the AFC West could turn out to be the most interesting division in the entire NFL this year.