The reasons to be optimistic about the Chargers’ season are dwindling. Los Angeles is 5-8, holds a top-ten draft pick, and placed Justin Herbert on injured reserve on Tuesday.
But…it’s still the Raiders.
Here are four reasons to be optimistic about a Chargers win in primetime.
Josh Palmer's return
Los Angeles activated Palmer from injured reserve this week, and the third-year receiver logged full practice sessions on both Monday’s estimated injury report and Tuesday’s actual practice. His return comes at an auspicious time, with Keenan Allen (heel) yet to practice this week, putting his game status in doubt.
If the Chargers are without Allen, Palmer will lead the receiving corps, which is less than ideal. But it’s better than going into a game with Quentin Johnston, Alex Erickson, and Derius Davis as the only options on the active roster. Palmer led the team in receiving against the Raiders in Week 4, sealing the game with a 51-yard reception while the Chargers were backed up in their own territory.
The Khalil Mack difference
The first matchup with the Raiders brought us the Khalil Mack Game: six sacks of Aidan O’Connell, including two forced fumbles. That sack number came just one short of the single-game record.
There’s less on the line for Mack on Thursday. The veteran has been vocal about his frustration with how the season has gone for Los Angeles, and he’s earned the right to do so. But perhaps he channels that into another monster game against his former team, which put him in a similar position multiple times. While the former Defensive Player of the Year probably won’t have six sacks again, he should be able to get O’Connell to think twice about holding on to the ball for too long.
Stuck in the mud
Las Vegas has scored 20 points or more just once in the last seven weeks, in a 30-6 dismantling of the Giants. That stretch was underscored by a 3-0 loss to the Vikings last Sunday, a game that Minnesota eked out despite benching their starting quarterback midway through the contest.
The Raiders also only managed to score 17 points against the Chargers in Week 4, thanks in part to three O’Connell fumbles. But that was still before Los Angeles worked out some of the kinks in their scoring defense: over the last seven weeks, the Chargers have allowed more than 24 points only once.
Las Vegas being unable to move the ball also takes some pressure off the offense, which has been stuck in neutral for the last few weeks, even with Justin Herbert in the lineup, and will almost certainly take a big step back with Easton Stick under center. Throwing Stick into the fire against a team that likely won’t crack 20 points could do wonders for his confidence in his first career start.
Missing pieces
The Chargers are missing plenty of key contributors in Thursday’s contest: Herbert, possibly Allen, Mike Williams, Joey Bosa, etc. But Las Vegas is plenty banged up as well.
Maxx Crosby, Josh Jacobs, and starting offensive linemen Kolton Miller and Andre James did not practice on Monday or Tuesday. Crosby has played without practicing for the last few weeks as he deals with a knee injury and will probably still go on Thursday. Missing Jacobs would be a massive factor for the Raiders, who got 58 yards and eight catches for 81 yards out of their running back in the first matchup between these teams. Las Vegas is also not particularly deep along the offensive line – if both starters are out on Thursday, O’Connell could be in for a punishing evening.
