The Chargers beat the Raiders, 24-17, in Week 4 of the 2023 season.
After the victory, here is what the national media thinks of the Bolts:
USA Today: 22 (Previous: 21)
“Two wins in a row is nice – especially in spite of the analytics cheat sheet suggesting it was smart to sneak your franchise quarterback on fourth-and-short after he broke his finger or a defensive back giving himself up deep in his own end after an interception (with 2:33 to go) which he likely could have taken back for a 97-yard pick-six.”
Touchdown Wire: 11 (Previous: 13)
“The Chargers were leading 24-7 against a bad team with a rookie quarterback under center, and I never felt confident they would win. And would you look at that, they let the Raiders back in it and the game came down to the waning minutes the way it always does with the Chargers.”
NFL: 13 (Previous: 15)
“The win over the Raiders was arguably the Chargers’ most complete performance, even if it came down to a wild sequence of events and included a failed fourth-and-short conversion attempt late in the game in their own territory. Points for creativity, boys. It’s also interesting that the defense has allowed fewer points with each game (although the Vikings did rack up 475 yards on them in Week 3). Khalil Mack did a lot of the damage, working against a rookie QB in his first start, but it’s progress nonetheless. Sunday was also arguably the Chargers’ worst offensive performance, with Justin Herbert’s finger injury surely playing a part. After a couple epic losses, the Chargers have settled in comfortably entering their Week 5 bye.
CBS Sports: 16 (Previous: 22)
“They are 2-2 and the defense was much better against the Raiders. But when will Brandon Staley stop going for it in his own end? One day? He can’t this week since they are on their bye.”
ESPN: 12 (Previous: 14)
Defensive efficiency: 43.0 (26th)
Biggest issue on defense: Pass defense
“No matter the quarterback or offense — from Tagovailoa to Tannehill — when teams have desired to beat the Chargers for deep passes, they’ve almost always been successful. The Chargers have allowed the most passing yards in the NFL (1,199). Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders was the first time the Chargers’ pass defense didn’t allow a completion of more than 20 yards — thanks to a rookie quarterback making his first start and six sacks from outside linebacker Khalil Mack. Still, for the Chargers to ever have a shot at contending in the AFC, the pass defense will need to solve this issue.”
Yahoo Sports: 14 (Previous: 18)
“The Chargers have a bye, and it probably comes at a good time with Justin Herbert suffering a fractured finger on his non-throwing hand in Week 4. Not that a week off will heal a broken finger but it can’t hurt to give it extra time.”
The Athletic: 11 (Previous: 16)
“Head coach Brandon Staley has a spot on the coaching staff of our All-Chaos Team. In each of the last two weeks, Staley has attempted to preserve a late lead by going for it on fourth-and-1 deep in his own territory. In each of those weeks, the Chargers have failed to convert and won anyway. And, oh by the way, L.A.’s Khalil Mack had more sacks Sunday (six) than four teams have all season and added four quarterback hits to that against his former team.”