Los Angeles Chargers

Preview and Prediction: Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:22 p.m. ET

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The Oakland Raiders (3-1) will look to earn heir first home victory of the season over their division rivals, the San Diego Chargers (1-3) on Sunday.

With this being Oakland’s first AFC West matchup, here is a deeper look at how the Silver and Black will open division play.

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; (Editors note: Caption correction) Oakland Raider wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) runs for a touchdown after making a second quarter catch as San Diego Chargers defensive end Corey Liuget (94) and cornerback Jason Verrett (22) give chase at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders’ Receiving Corps to Bully Banged-Up Secondary

The broken record hasn’t stopped playing in San Diego, as Pro Bowl cornerback Jason Verrett will join star receiver Keenan Allen and several other key Chargers players (Manti Te’o, Danny Woodhead, Branden Oliver) on the sidelines for the remainder of the 2016 season.

Verrett, a first-round pick out of Texas Christian University in the 2014 NFL draft, started all four games to the start the 2016 season, accumulating 13 combined tackles, three pass deflections, and one interception, per ESPN.com.

To add to the dismay, Chargers No. 2 cornerback Brandon Flowers (concussion) and safety Jahleel Addae (clavicle) will also miss Sunday’s contest against Oakland, as both defensive backs are officially out, according to Chargers.com.

With Verrett and Flowers officially out, Chargers nickel cornerback Casey Hayward will be thrust into the role of the No. 1 corner, and second-year cornerback Craig Mager will likely earn the nod opposite of Hayward.

Mager, a second-year player out of Texas State, will earn his fourth career start on Sunday.

Hayward has graded out as the No. 2 cornerback in the league (88.4) through four games (trailing only David Amerson), and his lowest season grade since entering the league in 2012 sits at 75.4, per ProFootballFocus.com. The former Vanderbilt standout leads the team with six pass deflections and three interceptions.

Hayward and Mager will have their work cut out for them, as Oakland’s starting receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper have put on a clinic to begin the season, combining for 46 receptions for 626 yards and four touchdowns.

Crabtree, responsible for all four of the pair’s receiving touchdowns, will likely draw Hayward to his side because of his impact as a scorer, and, as a result, Cooper will benefit from having Mager opposite of him for a majority of the game.

Raiders slot receiver Seth Roberts should also take advantage of either third-year cornerback Pierre Desir or fourth-year cornerback Steve Williams — whichever cornerback will be responsible for covering Oakland’s slot WR.

Desir has seen just 22 defensive snaps this season, and Williams just re-signed with the Chargers after spending the last month on and off the inactive list with the Los Angeles Rams

Roberts, a former undrafted free agent out of West Alabama, has brought in 10 of 19 targets for 83 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Facing poor matchups across the board, look for the Raiders’ receiving corps to find the end zone early and often on Sunday.

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) throws a pass as Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) defends during the second half at Qualcomm Stadium. Oakland won 37-29. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Rivers Will Rally in a Shootout

Regardless of the injuries to his receiving corps and offensive line, future Hall of Fame quarterback Phillip Rivers will do whatever it takes to compete in a high-scoring affair, especially against an unproven Raiders defense.

Despite having back-to-back defensive stands to secure victories in Weeks 3 and 4, the Raiders defense is still among the worst in the league, as the Silver and Black rank 32nd in passing yards allowed per game (325.5) and 31st in rushing yards allowed per game (134.5).

On the heels of improved performances from their edge-rushers and defensive backs, the Raiders’ defense is heating up as the season progresses; however, their play doesn’t compete with Rivers’ hot start to the season.

Through four games, Rivers has completed over 67 percent of his passes for 1,110 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception.

Even without guys like Allen and Woodhead in the lineup, Rivers has exceeded expectations with the little talent still standing within their receiving corps.

After signing a four-year, $24 million contract this offseason, former Cleveland Browns receiver Travis Benjamin has landed in a premier role, pulling in a team-high 21 receptions for 277 yards and two touchdowns.

Though he has dropped the ball at times, Benjamin hasn’t completely flopped beneath weight of his contract and the plethora of injuries.

Opposite of Benjamin, second-year receiver Tyrell Williams has breathed life into the Chargers’ receiving corps, and unlike Benjamin, he doesn’t have a costly fumble tarnishing his record.

At 6’4”, 205 pounds, Williams, an undrafted free agent out of Western Oregon, has brought in 16 receptions for 241 yards and a touchdown, 145 of his yards coming after the catch. He could be an x-factor for San Diego on Sunday.

Inside of Benjamin and Williams, Rivers has also effectively utilized rookie tight end Hunter Henry in wake of veteran Antonio Gates’ injury.

Henry has brought in nine receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown in his last two games.

Dec 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) carries the ball against San Diego Chargers cornerback Adrian Phillips (31) during the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Raiders defeated the San Diego Chargers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

No Murray, No Problem

What was a three-headed monster in Oakland could be downgraded to dynamic duo against San Diego, as Raiders rookie running backs DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard are expected to share the lead role in wake starter Latavius Murray’s injury.

Murray, who leads the Raiders with 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns, will miss Sunday’s contest with turf toe, per Josh Alper of NBcSports.com.

Behind Murray, Washington and Richard have combined for 40 carries for 291 yards and one touchdown on the ground, and as receivers, the pair has brought in 11 receptions for 76 yards.

Both standing at 5’8” and a little over 200 pounds, Washington and Richard lean on their elite explosiveness and athleticism to burst through running lanes and make people miss in open space.

“We’re both playmakers, we both do good things and have good strengths,” Washington said, per Michael Wagaman of the Associated Press. “It’s fun to watch him do his thing. It’s kind of just like a tag-team deal. I get in, I do my thing. Just be ready when you’re number is called.”

Washington, a fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech, will likely hear his number called more often because of his ability as a pass protector, but Richard big-play potential will keep him from spending too much time on the sidelines.

Richard took his first NFL carry 75 yards for a touchdown in route to the Raiders’ comeback victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 1.

Though the Chargers do feature the NFL’s seventh ranked rushing offense in terms of average yards per game, the Bolts face possibly their toughest test of the season against Oakland.

Chargers rookie inside linebacker Jatavis Brown, a former Akron product drafted in the fifth-round, has filled in admirably for the injured Te’o, earning the second highest grade on this defense (81.0) behind Hayward.

Brown is tied for the team high in tackles (22) with second-year linebacker Denzel Perryman.

Perryman, on the other hand, missed practice on Thursday and Friday with a shoulder injury. He is officially listed as questionable for Sunday.

With injuries continuing to hurt San Diego within their front seven, the Raiders’ physical, bruising offensive line will torment the Bolts’ big men in the trenches and carry that success to the second level.

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) and outside linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong (57) look across the line during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Mack and Irvin Will Decide Which Gunslinger Prevails

Raiders edge-rushers Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin aren’t taking the NFL by storm, statistically; however, the Baltimore Ravens experienced the eye of the storm in Week 4.

Mack and Irvin terrorized the Ravens’ offensive tackles through four quarters, forcing Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco into enough poor decisions to ultimately take home the victory.

“Well, they always were right, they just played hard,” Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said, via Kyle Martin of Raiders.com. “The offense chipped them just like they usually do, but they just played hard. They play hard every week and some weeks they’ll have better games and you’ll feel them more than others, but at the same time, with Bruce (Irvin) and Khalil (Mack), those are two really good football players who really play hard all the time. So, they’re always going to be out there, but you really felt them a lot more last week.”

Now preparing to face off against two struggling offensive tackles in San Diego, the Mack and Irvin could have a similar impact against Rivers and the Chargers.

Chargers left tackle King Dunlap, who missed the last two weeks due to injuries, is listed as questionable (illness) despite fully participating in Friday’s practice. With just 136 snaps under his belt this season, Dunlap will struggle to brush the rust off against All-Pro Mack.

Opposite of Dunlap, Chargers right tackle Joe Barksdale, also listed as questionable (foot) for Sunday, has earned a below average pass blocking grade (67.5) through four games this season, per PFF.com.

Look for both Mack and Irvin to pick up where they left off in Baltimore, and, in turn, Rivers will have a much harder time going score for score with quarterback Derek Carr and the Raiders’ offense.

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (28) runs the ball during the second half of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Oakland won 37-29. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Melvin Gordon Should Keep the Bolts’ Offense Two-Dimensional

Chargers second-year running back Melvin Gordon has successfully rebounded after seeing the end zone zero times during his rookie campaign, as the former Wisconsin back now shares the NFL lead in touchdowns (6) with San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde.

Without Woodhead and Oliver, Gordon stands alone as the Bolts’ feature back, and though he is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry, he should have a positive impact against Oakland’s porous run defense.

In addition to giving up the second most rushing yards per game this season, the Raiders have allowed opposing backs to average a league-high 5.1 yards per carry.

Raiders inside linebacker Malcolm Smith is officially listed as questionable after being limited in Friday’s practice with a quad injury, and if he is unable to suit up, his absence will only add to Oakland’s woes against the run.

In wake of Smith’s injury, Oakland added former Washington Redskins linebacker Perry Riley Jr., and despite just joining the team on Tuesday, he is looking forward to making an impact, early.

“Terminology is the biggest thing,” Riley said, via Eddie Paskal of Raiders.com. “Assignment wise it’s pretty much the same. Linebacker is linebacker no matter where you play at, but just the terminology, the way they get to explaining… what I’m supposed to do, is a little different than what I’m used to, but I’ll get it, over time, I’ll get it.”

With Riley Jr. taking over in the middle, the Raiders’ interior defense will undoubtedly take a step back because of his inexperience with the offense, and, in turn, Gordon and the Chargers should look attack the middle of Oakland’s defense on the ground.

Prediction: Oakland Raiders 34; San Diego Chargers 28