Week 15 of the NFL season will get started with an AFC West matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders (5-8) and the Los Angeles Chargers (5-8) on Thursday night. The Chargers won the first meeting Week 4 in Los Angeles 24-17 as seven-point favorites. According to Caesars Sportsbook, the Raiders are three-point favorites coming into this meeting, and the total is low at 34.5 points.
Head to head, these teams have split the last ten meetings outright, and six of the last 10 meetings have fallen below the total. The playoff hopes for both the Chargers and Raiders already look bleak, and the loser of this contest will lose the little hope left.
Los Angeles Chargers vs Las Vegas Raider game:
The Raiders started the season 3-5 before firing their previous head coach, Josh McDaniels. Under interim head coach Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas got a short boost, winning games over the Giants and Jets, but have now lost their last three contest, falling to the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Vikings.
The Chargers have dropped four of their last five games and lost quarterback Justin Herbert for the season in Sunday’s 24-7 loss to the Broncos.
A low-scoring game is expected Thursday, as Los Angeles has scored a total of 23 points over their last three games and will be starting backup quarterback Easton Stick. The Raiders have also had issues scoring, as they have put up 17 points or less in six of their last seven games. Usually, Raiders and Chargers games project a lot more offense.
The total in each of the last 10 meetings has been at least 45 points or higher, and these teams have combined for at least 41 points in each of their last nine head-to-head matchups. This season, the Chargers and Raiders have both seen 10 of their 13 games fall under the total.
MATCHUP | SPREAD | TOTAL | MONEYLINE |
---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Chargers vs Las Vegas Raiders | +3 (-110) -3 (-110) |
o34.5 (-102) u34.5 (-120) |
+145 -165 |
The Raiders are 14th in the NFL in yards per play allowed defensively, and the Chargers are 26th on the season. The Chargers’ offense has been better overall, ranking 14th in yards per play compared to the Raiders’ at 27th, but without Herbert, the Los Angeles offense is substantially less dangerous. Los Angeles is also only 27th in time of possession, and the Raiders are 30th. The Chargers have been better in turnover margin, ranking 11th in the NFL, while the Raiders are tied for last.
Expect a low-scoring and ugly game on Thursday. Although both teams have struggled to score points recently, I expect the issues for Los Angeles to be more amplified due to starting Easton Stick on a short week. I will take the Raiders to cover and for this game to fall below the total.
Prediction: Raiders 17 Chargers 13
Six storylines to watch for on Thursday Night Football đź‘€#LACvsLV
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 13, 2023
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| Title: Chargers vs Raiders Thursday Night Football Preview
| Author: David Marotta
| Date: December 13th, 2023