Who are experts taking in Chargers vs. Raiders?

NFL experts and analysts have made their predictions for the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders.

The Los Angeles Chargers (5-9) are considered 6.5-point favorites over the Oakland Raiders (6-8) in Week 16 of the 2019 regular season. The over/under line is set to 46.5 points, per BetMGM.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 46.5 points.

Our score prediction for the game is a 24-20 win for the Chargers, with a combined total of 44 points. So if we were putting money behind our prediction, we’d bet the under.

As for game picks, a plethora of experts are rolling with Los Angeles to bounce back after suffering defeat last Sunday and pick up a win in their last game played at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Jones (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Sporting News Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Chargers
Pro Football Focus Chargers
Bleacher Report Chargers

Sunday’s contest will begin at 1:05 p.m. PT and will be televised on CBS.

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Raiders players the Chargers must game-plan for in Week 16

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists the Oakland Raiders players the Los Angeles Chargers must game-plan for in Week 16.

The Los Angeles Chargers are preparing for their last game played at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

The last time the two teams met was in Week 10. It was a close battle, but ultimately the Raiders came out on top.

With that, there are a few Oakland players that the Chargers must be game-planned for in order to avoid being swept by them.

Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

DE Clelin Ferrell & Maxx Crosby

In their first meeting earlier this season, quarterback Philip Rivers had very little room to breathe, and that’s largely due to the dominance by Ferrell and Crosby who attributed to their five sacks and handful of quarterback hits that night.

Heading into Week 16, the two first-year players have combined for 12 sacks on the season and they’re both eager to bolster up that column on the stat sheet this weekend once more.

With left tackle Russell Okung likely to be a game-time decision, there’s reason to be concerned. If Okung can’t go, Trent Scott or rookie Trey Pipkins will be tasked with protecting quarterback Philip Rivers’ blindside.

First injury report for Chargers vs. Raiders

The Los Angeles Chargers started their preparation for their Week 16 matchup against the Oakland Raiders this Sunday. Here is a look at today’s injury report. Offensive tackle Russell Okung was the only non-participant. Okung is currently dealing …

The Los Angeles Chargers started their preparation for their Week 16 matchup against the Oakland Raiders this Sunday.

Here is a look at today’s injury report.

Offensive tackle Russell Okung was the only non-participant. Okung is currently dealing with a groin injury that he sustained in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Coach Anthony Lynn said if Okung can’t go then it’ll be between Trent Scott and rookie Trey Pipkins for the start at left tackle.

Scott entered the game in place of Okung last weekend. Pipkins has been a healthy scratch the past two contests.

Wide receiver Mike Williams and running back Justin Jackson were both limited.

Williams has been dealing with a knee issue over a month, but he should be good to go for this weekend.

4 key things to know about Chargers’ Week 16 opponent

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out four key things to know about the Oakland Raiders heading into Week 16.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders meet for the second and last time this season in what will be a bout in the last game played at Dignity Health Sports Park this Sunday.

Here are four key things to know about the Raiders heading into the matchup:

Wheels have fallen off

About a month ago, you would have thought that the 6-4 Raiders were headed to the playoffs. But Oakland has been hit with injuries and they haven’t been able to perform at the level they were earlier this season. As a result, they’re on a four-game losing skid and have been outscored 136-49 during that span.


Defense has taken a dip

When the Chargers and Raiders met earlier this season, you would’ve thought that they had a top-10 defense as they forced three turnovers and sacked quarterback Philip Rivers five times. But the numbers don’t suggest that heading into their second meeting.

Oakland is 27th in league in opposing passing yards per game (263.8), 30th in opposing passing touchdowns per game (2.3) and they’ve struggled at getting to the quarterback, posting only four sacks in their last four games. Along with that, their red zone defense ranks 31st as opponents have a 66.7% conversion rate.


Stout in pass protection

If the Chargers want to have success on the defensive side of the ball, they need to put quarterback Derek Carr under duress. Los Angeles’ pass rush has been one of the more disappointing areas, totaling only 27 sacks this season, which ranks 27th in the NFL. It won’t be an easy task to get hot as defensive end Joey Bosa and company face an offensive line that has yield the second-lowest pressure percentage in the league (18.3%) and the fifth-lowest amount of sacks (24).


Struggles to beat Chargers on the road

The Raiders might have taken care of business in the team’s first meeting, but history shows the Bolts have had their number whenever the game is played in Southern California. In last two games played at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Chargers have won by the scores of 26-10 and 30-10. Quarterback Philip Rivers has been red hot in those contests, completed 78% of his passes, while throwing five touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Who’s favored in Chargers vs. Raiders?

The Los Angeles Chargers have opened as home favorites over the Oakland Raiders in Week 16.

The Los Angeles Chargers (5-9) have opened up as 5.5-point favorites over the Oakland Raiders (6-8) in Week 16 of the 2019 regular season, per BetMGM.

The Chargers are coming off their worst loss of the season to the Minnesota Vikings as they were plagued by turnovers and were outmatched in all three phases. As a result, they suffered defeat by the score of 39-10.

The Raiders are also entering Week 16 off a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 20-16. In their last game in the Coliseum, it was an ugly scene as the players were booed and had food thrown at them by fans as they walked off the field.

The last time the two teams met was in Week 10 of this season. It was a back and forth battle, but the Chargers were unable to prevail on their game-winning drive attempt, losing by the score of 26-24.

While the Raiders might not be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, it would have to take nearly a miracle in order for them to keep playing in January.

For the Bolts, they have been eliminated of playoff contention for the past two weeks, but they are hoping to avoid being swept by Oakland this season.

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Time, date set for Week 16 matchup between Chargers-Raiders

The time and date has been set for the Week 16 battle between the Oakland Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.

The league announced that the Week 16 battle between the Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders is set for Sunday, Dec. 22 at 1:05 p.m. PT.

The game from Dignity Health Sports Park will be televised on CBS.

The date and time had not been set yet because there was a possibility that the two teams could have been playing a day before on Saturday night on primetime television.

The Chargers will get their opportunity for revenge after losing to the Raiders last Thursday night by the score of 26-24 before finishing the 2019 season against the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Chargers OT Trey Pipkins shows flashes in debut vs. Raiders

Chargers offensive tackle Trey Pipkins made his debut the Raiders and while he did struggle at times, he did show some flashes.

On April 26, Trey Pipkins was pulled over on a highway as he was on his way to dinner when he received the phone call of his dreams. The former Sioux Falls product was about to be drafted by the Chargers in the third-round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Many people, including Pipkins, were shocked to hear his name called that early. The small-school standout didn’t have much tape available to see what he had to offer, but Los Angeles knew exactly what they were getting when they selected him.

Though he was inexperienced against top competition, they saw potential in him. To the team, Pipkins boasted the NFL frame, traits, and movement skills that could translate into solid player at this level.

Stamped as a developmental player and one not likely to play in Year 1, Pipkins was forced into his professional regular season debut in an unexpected manner when left tackle Russell Okung went down with a groin injury against the Raiders

Like any rookie, there came growing pains in the first game played. The pass protection was the worst that it’s been this season, allowing 5 sacks and while the majority of the pressure came from right tackle Trent Scott’s side, the Raiders exploited Pipkins’ inexperience at times.

A lot of Pipkins’ woes were resulted in not being able to handle speed off the edge. From the opposite angle, you shouldn’t see his jersey number so clearly if his block is effective. He attempts to get depth, but it’s not enough and defensive end Clelin Ferrell dips and turns the corner with a full steam ahead.

But Pipkins had a handful of positive reps, as well. He was effective to help produce gaps for running back Melvin Gordon on a few occasions.

Here, Pipkins mirrors well to stay in front of his defenders, using adequate footwork and hands.

Ferrell attempts to beat him with an arm over, but Pipkins gets underneath him and blows him off the line of scrimmage.

Pipkins takes Ferrell inside and he quickly recognizes the stunt to allow quarterback Philip Rivers time to throw the touchdown pass.

Here, Pipkins stymies defensive end Maxx Crosby and the defensive tackle.

The bottomline is while Pipkins is not necessarily someone that’s ready to take full-time starting job at the moment, he has made the strides to get adapted to the NFL speed and he has gotten stronger since coming onboard.

Okung is likely to resume his starting duties against the Chiefs next Monday night and moving forward for the rest of the season, but Pipkins showed promise of a player that could be called upon if needed and one that may be a starter down the road.

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