Yeah, for the most part, the experts are predicting the Chargers handle the Raiders. But they still have to play the game. And when they do, there are reasons to think the Raiders could take care of business.
Chargers have issues at receiver
This offseason saw an overhaul at receiver for the Chargers. Top receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen are both gone. Williams is with the Jets and Allen is in Chicago.
Attempting to step up to replace them are 2023 first round pick Quentin Johnston and former third round pick Joshua Palmer. There are also free agent additions DJ Chark and rookie second round pick Ladd McConkey. Johnston hasn’t looked great to start his career and Chark is officially OUT for the game.
Things are pretty suspect at receiver for the Chargers and those issues are usually not worked out until they have a few regular season games together.
Gardner Minshew with many great receiver options
The Raiders are far more settled at receiver. They have one of the best receivers in the game in Davante Adams, solid number two Jakobi Meyers, and Tre Tucker who has been showing he is ready to take a big leap in year two.
They also have rookie 13th overall pick Brock Bowers at tight end along with last year’s round two pick Michael Mayer. The Chargers are going to have their hands full covering everyone and with Minshew’s ability to extend plays, the odds he finds a target on most plays is pretty good.
Home field environment at SoFi
It’s odd suggesting the Raiders are opening the season on the road considering they literally have more home field advantage at SoFi Stadium than they do at Allegiant.
At Allegiant the stands are usually packed with opposing fans. At SoFi the SoCal Raiders fans come out in droves to see the Raiders come to town while the Chargers struggle to get enough fans to even compete. This means the Raiders will have plenty of quite with which to work on offense while the Chargers will have to contend with crowd noise from the considerable Raider fan contingent.