The Chargers will look to get back on track in a Week 13 matchup with the Raiders on Sunday.
Here are a few reasons to be pessimistic about a win for Los Angeles.
How to limit Maxx Crosby
Crosby only had one pressure against the Chargers in Week 2 while matching up primarily against right tackle Trey Pipkins III, but that was in a game where LA had Joe Alt at left tackle and thus could send more help with tight ends and running backs to Pipkins’ side. Now that Alt is out for the season and Jamaree Salyer is set to become the Chargers’ fourth left tackle of the year, help will likely be heading to that side. That leaves Pipkins on his own to keep Crosby at bay.
Bat downs
Crosby’s ability to get after the passer is its own concern, but the Raiders’ defensive line also leads the league with 17 passes defensed by a wide margin (Philadelphia is second with 12). Crosby and edge rusher Charles Snowden have interceptions this season as well. Justin Herbert tends to allow his passes to be batted down at the line, which could rear its head on Sunday against such an aggressive pass-batting team, especially with more quick concepts likely in the game plan to keep Herbert from taking an exorbitant amount of hits.
Kickoff return potency
Raiders kick returner Raheem Mostert averages 30.5 yards per return, which is second in the league only to Ray Davis in Buffalo. Meanwhile, the Chargers continue to have the worst kickoff coverage unit in the NFL, allowing an average of 29.2 yards per return, half a yard worse than the 31st-ranked team. Against inferior opponents, the best way to let them into the game is to allow a big play on special teams, as the Chargers saw against the Titans earlier this season.
Offensive line shuffling
Salyer, again, is set to be the fourth starting left tackle for the Chargers this season. A preseason trade for Austin Deculus yielded mixed results but sprung some big games on the ground. A deadline move for Trevor Penning resulted in a benching in his one and only (thus far) start as a Charger in the Jaguars game. Salyer filled in reasonably well when Alt was injured a few weeks ago against Tennessee, but Los Angeles struggled a bit to run the ball with him in the lineup. LA will be hoping that Omarion Hampton’s potential return from an ankle injury will smooth some of those issues over, while Salyer adds a higher ceiling in pass protection.
New coordinator bounce
The Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly earlier this week and have replaced him with quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, who will call the plays for Las Vegas for the third time in his long coaching career. One of Kelly’s major shortcomings was his inability to maximize the talent of tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, but Olson will likely be directed to, or will independently conclude, that the offense should flow through those two young stars in the making. The Chargers have just an average run defense, and Bowers will be in a heavyweight battle with Derwin James Jr. in coverage, where both are likely to win a few reps.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: 5 causes for concern for the Chargers against the Raiders in Week 13
Reporting by Alex Katson, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
