MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

BY ADAM GREENE

For the second straight week Monday Night Football delivers a key divisional match up, this time with the nation’s eye moving west to California. The Las Vegas Raiders bring the most dangerous man in football, Derek Carr, to everybody’s favorite upstarts, the Los Angeles Chargers and their fresh faced QB Justin Herbert at SoFi Stadium.

Neither of these teams made the postseason last season, but three weeks into 2021, both look like squads that should play into January. Las Vegas head coach Jon Gruden is in his fourth year and it’s now or never. Chargers head man Brandon Staley is in his first and is already dealing with high expectations and he’s delivered.

As two of the original AFL franchises, the Chargers and Raiders have an extensive history. This will be the 124^th meeting between the two clubs, with Las Vegas holding a 66-55-2 edge. Last year they split their games, with LA claiming a 30-27 win on Dec. 17 to break a three game Raiders win streak.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (-3, O/U: 51.5)

Location: SoFI Stadium, Inglewood, Calif.

Broadcast: ESPN

Kickoff: Oct. 4, 8:15 p.m.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (3-0)

Last week the Raiders survived their second overtime tilt of the year, knocking off the Miami Dolphins 31-28 as time expired in the extra period. Derek Carr, who has made an early case for NFL Most Valuable Player, completed 26 of 43 for 386 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Peyton Barber rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown in the place of Josh Jacobs and Bryan Edwards led all receivers with three catches for 89 yards. Las Vegas’ defense sacked Miami QB Jacoby Brissett twice.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (2-1)

LA’s coming off their biggest win in a while and certainly of Staley’s short head coaching career. The Chargers knocked off the Kansas City Chiefs 30-24 in what amounted to a fourth quarter come from behind victory. Justin Herbert finished 26 of 38 for 281 yards and four touchdowns with no picks. Mike Williams is making his case to be a co-number 1 receiver alongside Keenan Allen, catching seven passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Los Angeles’ defense picked off Patrick Mahomes twice, including the interception that all but ended the game, sacked him twice and forced two fumbles.

THE PICK

Los Angeles is going to be a trendy pick here for good reason, but though this is a home game, I see a significant contingent of Raiders fans showing up. In fact, this will sound a whole lot more like a Las Vegas home game and with the way Carr is playing right now, I’m just not going against him. Raiders 27, Chargers 24

Last week

Straight up: 11-5

Against the spread: 10-6

Season

Straight up: 32-16

Against the spread: 26-22

The NFL season is underway and the Week 4 Schedule is up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG.

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