Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Matchup Preview (1/9/22): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Matchup Preview (1/9/22)

There is a lot riding on teams in week 18 and no two teams know that better than the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers. These division rivals are both 9-7 on the season, fighting for a wild card spot in the AFC. The Raiders and the Chargers faced off earlier this season and the Chargers put away the then-struggling Raiders team, 28-14. Since then, the Raiders have proved themselves in a big way and are currently on a three game tear that includes an upset over the Colts. The Chargers are coming off a big win against the Broncos that they needed in the worst way after losing to the Texans the week before. This game is the closest thing to a “winner takes all” game that we are getting before the playoffs, but it’s not guaranteed. The Colts, who play earlier in the day on Sunday, have to beat the Jaguars at their home to make this an elimination game. That outcome seems obvious, but here’s a hot take: the Colts haven’t beat the Jaguars at home since 2014. If the streak continues, then the Colts wave goodbye to their season and the Raiders and Chargers can tie and both advance to the postseason. But if the Colts do pull it off, then they’re going to the playoffs and the winner of this game is going with them.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Betting Odds

The Chargers are a 2.5-point away team favorite in this divisional game. They are 4-3 on the road this year and 3-2 in divisional play which bodes well for them this week against a Raiders team that is 4-4 at home and 2-3 in their division. The Chargers have covered 50% of the time this year and are 3-2 ATS in their last five games. In those five games, they’ve hit the over every time. On the other hand, the Raiders have hit the over just once in their last five games. But, the Raiders have proven that we can’t count them out in more ways than one, which includes their 6-4 record ATS as the underdog, two of which came in their last two wins. 

It’s hard not to choose Justin Herbert and his lethal offensive pass catchers in this game given all that they have achieved as an offense this year. And while I think the Raiders definitely deserve a chance to fight for a playoff spot given all they have overcome this season, I think their fight ends here.

My predictions: Chargers win 31-27, Chargers cover, over 49

TV Schedule

Date: Sunday, January 9
Time: 8:20 PM ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, NV
TV Coverage: NBC

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Live Stream

Where can you watch Chargers vs. Raiders online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Chargers vs. Raiders Free Online Now.

Los Angeles Chargers Analysis

Justin Herbert is the new franchise record holder for touchdown passes in a season with 35. This certainly wouldn’t have been possible without his expert receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and pass-catching running back Austin Ekeler. Allen and Williams have both tallied over 1,000 receiving yards this season and 14 touchdowns, collectively. Ekeler has added 612 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns to this pass offense and 857 yards on the ground with 11 rushing touchdowns. He’s scored in their last seven games. 

As good as this offense is, the Raiders have continually proven that they can hang, specifically in pass defense where they rank sixth in yards against, so it won’t be a walk in the park, even for this offense. But they do average 387.1 yards per game (fourth most in the league) and 27.6 points per game. 

If there is anything that has prevented this team from more wins in the win column, it’s their defense. They did have one of their better defensive performances last week against the Broncos where they held them to 81 yards rushing, but that was on the account of the Broncos more than anyone. They rank 30th in the league in rushing yards against and in the bottom five in every other rushing defense category. Despite their struggles here, they hold teams to the lowest fourth down conversion percentage in the league but are playing an offense with one of the highest fourth down conversions. They do have a better pass defense than they do on the run, which is more threatening to Derek Carr’s offense, whom they held to under 200 passing yards last time they played.

Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart

QB: Justin Herbert
RB1: Justin Jackson
RB2: Joshua kelley
WR1: Maurice Ffrench
WR2: Keenan Allen
WR3: Joshua Palmer
TE1: Jared Cook

Las Vegas Raiders Analysis

The Raiders have pulled off some impressive wins this season, and last week’s win against the Colts was among the most impressive. It wasn’t necessarily pretty, but they got the job done, (which seems to be a recurring theme for them this season) and Daniel Carlson has now kicked four game-winning field goals this season. This team has been faced with more adversity than anyone this year and somehow have stumbled into a spot to make the playoffs, so they should be proud regardless.

The big news for the Raiders this week is that head coach Rich Bisaccia rendered hope that tight end Darren Waller will be back for this Raiders offense this week. He has 53 catches for 643 yards and two touchdowns over the ten games he’s played in this year and should give the Chargers something to worry about. In Waller’s absence, Hunter Renfrow has emerged as their biggest target tallying 1,025 yards and seven touchdowns over 99 receptions. Despite having far fewer threats offensively, this pass offense averages less than a yard less than the Chargers’ pass offense per game. This aerial-heavy offense has one of the highest completion percentages among offenses in the NFL. That seems staggering considering this offensive line has allowed 37 sacks on Carr. This weak offensive line makes way for Joey Bosa to add to his 9.5-sack season. They still should be able to do damage against this Chargers defense, but they’d be luckier if they could run the ball against this Chargers defense. Their main running threat is Josh Jacobs, who has eight touchdowns this year but has scored just once in their last four games and is leading a running offense to 29th place in the league. 

Defensively, they hold teams to 225 yards in the air but allow almost 80% of opponents in the red zone to score, which is the worst defensive conversion percentage in the league. They do have defensive threats that were especially imminent last week against the Colts like Denzel Perryman and Divine Diablo who each had a handful of solo tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup, respectively. Yannick Ngakoue leads the team with 10 sacks and Maxx Crosby follows behind with six.

Las Vegas Raiders Depth Chart

QB: Derek Carr
RB1: Josh Jacobs
RB2: Peyton Barber
RB3: Jalen Richard
WR1: Hunter Renfrow
WR2: DeSean Jackson
WR3: Bryan Edwards
TE1: Foster Moreau

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Daily Fantasy Picks

Austin Ekeler has had less than 11 points just twice this year and is the second highest scoring running back in fantasy this year. He is projected to have 16 points this week against a mediocre Raiders run defense. He is particularly useful in fantasy because of his pass-catching, do-it-all abilities. I like the ground game for this Chargers team this week because the Raiders have a solid pass defense that will likely try and close in on Williams and Allen. 

Darren Waller should be very clutch for this Raiders offense this week if he in fact returns. He has been plagued by injury, then illness, for the latter half of the season and needs his breakout game.