As the Chargers look to continue their ascent to the top of the AFC West standings, the Raiders will hope they can avoid dropping their third in row.
Just two weeks ago, Oakland was enjoying a three-game winning streak and was knotted up with Kansas City for first place in the division while San Diego was still struggling to find its offense.
Since then the Chargers have won four straight and with a win could catch the Chiefs –should they lose to Denver — while putting some distance between them and the Raiders.
The Bolts have been averaging 33.3 points during its winning stretch and are coming off an impressive 36-14 victory at Indianapolis last Sunday. QB Phillip Rivers leads the offense having tossed for 3,362 yards and 23 touchdowns –10 of which have come in the last four games. Week 13: Oakland vs. San Diego Preview & Free Pick
However, it’s the defense that has created opportunities for the Chargers to notch a majority of their wins, and it showed forcing five turnovers against Indianapolis, leading to 20 points with a pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns.
As for the Raiders, they are coming off a 33-17 loss to Miami last Sunday and have been outscored 68-20 in its last two. Now they will face the dauntless task of getting back on the rails against a resurrected San Diego team.
And if that isn’t enough, the Raiders will be forced to go with quarterback Jason Campbell, who will start in place of the injured Bruce Gradkowski. Campbell will make his eighth start of the season and has completed just 54.7 percent of his passes for 1,322 yards with seven TDs to six interceptions. He was 13 of 18 for 159 yards with a touchdown versus San Diego earlier this season, a game that ended a Raiders 14-game losing streak with a 35-27 win over their archrivals from the south. But problems led to his benching and No. 3 Kyle Boller was thrust into action.
Oakland will rely heavily on its running game that seems to have faded recently, and will remain optimistic that Darren McFadden finds his mojo. The shifty running back had been averaging 121.7 rushing yards during the three-game winning streak, but has totaled 16 yards on the ground during the team’s last two losses.
The Chargers running game will likely once again be without rookie running back Ryan Mathews after he missed the last two games with an ankle injury. He’s condition remains doubtful. Backup Mike Tolbert has done a nice job filling in, as he has rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries the last two games.
San Diego will also be without holdout receiver Vincent Jackson because of a strained right calf he suffered last week after two plays in his first game back.
A few weeks ago I would have given the Raiders a much better chance to win this one on the road as the underdog, but with the running game fading, quarterback setbacks, and the way the Chargers have been playing….not on your life.
Just two weeks ago, Oakland was enjoying a three-game winning streak and was knotted up with Kansas City for first place in the division while San Diego was still struggling to find its offense.
Since then the Chargers have won four straight and with a win could catch the Chiefs –should they lose to Denver — while putting some distance between them and the Raiders.
The Bolts have been averaging 33.3 points during its winning stretch and are coming off an impressive 36-14 victory at Indianapolis last Sunday. QB Phillip Rivers leads the offense having tossed for 3,362 yards and 23 touchdowns –10 of which have come in the last four games. Week 13: Oakland vs. San Diego Preview & Free Pick
However, it’s the defense that has created opportunities for the Chargers to notch a majority of their wins, and it showed forcing five turnovers against Indianapolis, leading to 20 points with a pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns.
As for the Raiders, they are coming off a 33-17 loss to Miami last Sunday and have been outscored 68-20 in its last two. Now they will face the dauntless task of getting back on the rails against a resurrected San Diego team.
And if that isn’t enough, the Raiders will be forced to go with quarterback Jason Campbell, who will start in place of the injured Bruce Gradkowski. Campbell will make his eighth start of the season and has completed just 54.7 percent of his passes for 1,322 yards with seven TDs to six interceptions. He was 13 of 18 for 159 yards with a touchdown versus San Diego earlier this season, a game that ended a Raiders 14-game losing streak with a 35-27 win over their archrivals from the south. But problems led to his benching and No. 3 Kyle Boller was thrust into action.
Oakland will rely heavily on its running game that seems to have faded recently, and will remain optimistic that Darren McFadden finds his mojo. The shifty running back had been averaging 121.7 rushing yards during the three-game winning streak, but has totaled 16 yards on the ground during the team’s last two losses.
The Chargers running game will likely once again be without rookie running back Ryan Mathews after he missed the last two games with an ankle injury. He’s condition remains doubtful. Backup Mike Tolbert has done a nice job filling in, as he has rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries the last two games.
San Diego will also be without holdout receiver Vincent Jackson because of a strained right calf he suffered last week after two plays in his first game back.
A few weeks ago I would have given the Raiders a much better chance to win this one on the road as the underdog, but with the running game fading, quarterback setbacks, and the way the Chargers have been playing….not on your life.
