The Los Angeles Chargers want to achieve what the other LA team achieved last season by winning the Super Bowl. Their 2022 campaign got off to a solid start as the Chargers defeated rival Las Vegas Raiders 24-19.
With the revamped AFC West, every division matchup matters—even Week 1. With an MVP candidate and a revamped defense for LA, everyone had their eye on this matchup, and the Chargers certainly didn’t disappoint. Justin Herbert completed 26 of 34 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns. He not only controlled the game, but chose and chose his shots, finding success in the process. Keenan Allen led the team with four catches for 66 yards, but left early due to a hamstring injury. Free-agent addition DeAndre Carter impressed, catching three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.
As for the Raiders, Derek Carr completed 22 of 37 passes for 295 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, while his new wideout Davante Adams caught 10 passes for 141 yards and one score. The Las Vegas offense scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to close things, but turned the ball on the next possession after the two-minute warning that sealed the deal.
Here are some key points from AFC West’s showdown between the Chargers and Raiders:
Why did the Chargers win?
There’s plenty of credit to go around when it comes to this Chargers win. It wouldn’t be fair to pick one player, or position the group or side of the ball to offend the other. Herbert looked fantastic, completing 26 of 34 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns. The ground game wasn’t too effective, but it didn’t have to match the defense’s play.
Carr was sacked five times for a 29-yard loss and he threw three interceptions. Even when the Raiders scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to get within five points and then forced a three-and-out of the Chargers, the LA defense stood up and forced the Raiders to turn the ball on downs. Newcomer and former Raider Khalil Mack scored three sacks to go along with six total tackles, and he was arguably the player of the game.
Why did the Raiders lose?
The Chargers seemed to be the better team on Sunday, but you have to give the Raiders credit for beating their opponents 16-7 in the second half. To put it bluntly, Vegas lost the turnover battle 3-0 and the offensive line struggled against this tenacious Chargers pass rush. On the other hand, the Raiders didn’t pick up a single bag!
The Raiders got a little behind eight ball in the first half, as the Chargers scored 14 unanswered in the second quarter. A 17-3 deficit at halftime, it felt like a tough fight all the way through. Week 1 is Week 1, but going forward, we need to keep an eye out for Vegas to score one, points and two, can protect Carr.
Turning point
This was the moment of all moments — the game that ultimately determined the game. Fourth-and-8 with the game on the line, and Carr was fired for the third time by Mack. You can’t talk enough about how good Mack was on Sunday, and he’s clearly a playmaker who will show up at big moments – not just to fire the quarterback – but also to drive the ball loose.
Playing the game
Okay, so the Raiders didn’t have their best performance in Week 1, but at the same time, this is the first game of the regular season. We haven’t seen everything this team is capable of. Adams is a huge addition to this squad given his rapport with Carr, and he definitely showed in his first game as a Raider. The former Packer caught 10 passes for 141 yards — including this 41-yard thing of beauty.
Be it his release, his route he walks, his catching ability or what he does after the reception, this man is simply elite. Make sure you watch to the end of the clip.
What’s next
The Raiders return to Vegas next week to host the Arizona Cardinals (0-1) on Sunday, September 18, while the Chargers head out on Thursday, September 15 to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs (1-0).
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