With 3:30 left in the Raiders season opener against the Chargers, they lined up with an opportunity to drive for the game-winning score. It was not unlike the 2021 season finale against the Chargers. Only this time there was a notable difference — Khalil Mack.
I don’t know if you heard about this, but Jon Gruden and the Raiders traded Mack to the Bears prior to the 2018 season rather than pay him top dollar to play in his prime for them.
This set the table for Mack coming to Vegas to face the Raiders and the man who sent him packing last season and obliterating them in a 20-9 dismantling.
It was Gruden’s offensive emails that cost him his job, but it was Mack who ushered him out in a script right out of Hollywood.
Continuing the script, Mack was traded to Hollywood to suit up for the rival Chargers and his first game, he would get another shot at his former team.
The same result followed.
Mack would put up three sacks in his Chargers debut. It was the most sacks Mack has put up in a single game since his five-sack game with the Raiders against the Broncos 2015.
The first sack, Mack put the bull rush on right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, driving him into Derek Carr’s lap. Eluemunor recounts what happened on the play.
“He’s probably the best player I’ve ever gone against,” said Eluemunor. “It was a good rush by him, I think he was starting to get a little frustrated. It’s one of those things you can look back at and be like “Dang, if I’d put this hand right here then I would’ve stopped him again.’ But it was a good battle between us.”
That sack occurred in the second quarter. The next sack came on the next Raiders possession. After the Raiders defense stopped the Chargers on fourth down for a turnover on downs, Carr held onto the ball too long and Mack kept up the pressure to eventually get the sack.
A seemingly rattled Carr would slightly underthrow Darren Waller over the middle on the next play and was picked off by Drue Tranquill. Thus ending the Raiders chance to score again before the half.
Instead it was the Chargers who would score a touchdown to go up 17-3 at the half.
Fast forward to that final Raiders possession. Carr would be sacked on third down and fumble the ball. But John Simpson recovered it to keep their hopes alive to go for it on fourth and eight.
Carr danced around the pocket a bit as it closed and once again it was Mack to make the sack, ending the Raiders hopes and securing his and the Chargers’ revenge.
