The place to look at Raiders vs. Chargers: TV channel, NFL kickoff time, stay stream, unfold, odds, prediction

The AFC West could also be dominated by the Kansas City Chiefs, who opened the 2024 NFL season with an exhilarating last-second victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Two different groups within the division are hoping to make main strides underneath new management, nonetheless, within the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.

The Raiders gained three of their final 4 video games in 2023, then rewarded interim coach Antonio Pierce with the full-time gig, spending large to provide the defensive thoughts a brand new front-seven centerpiece in Christian Wilkins. The Chargers, in the meantime, did their overhauling on the offensive aspect, with former Michigan and San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh transforming quarterback Justin Herbert’s supporting solid.

It is solely becoming that these groups’ first matchup of 2024 will come in opposition to one another. How are you going to tune in after they conflict to kick off this 12 months’s AFC West rivalry? Which gamers might be X-factors? And who’s finally gonna win? Here is our preview and prediction:

The way to watch

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 8 | Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
• Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
• TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+

Key matchups

• WR Davante Adams (LV) vs. CB Asante Samuel Jr. (LAC): The Raiders could have main query marks underneath middle, however journeyman starter Gardner Minshew not less than has a confirmed No. 1 outlet in Adams, who’s maintained Professional Bowl manufacturing into his 30s. Samuel, in the meantime, is definitely the Chargers’ prime cowl man, seeking to make a fair larger leap as a fringe defender. If he can handle to restrict Adams, it might power Minshew to accept much less explosive targets like Jakobi Meyers.
• OT Joe Alt (LAC) vs. DE Maxx Crosby (LV): Speak about a welcome-to-the-NFL introduction for Alt, the Chargers’ first and prime draft-day funding of the Jim Harbaugh period. Whereas the Notre Dame product is taken into account NFL-ready, he might have his fingers full reverse Crosby, a well-liked Defensive Participant of the 12 months decide after three straight seasons with not less than 30 quarterback hits. Remember the fact that Herbert can also be simply coming off a foot harm because the Chargers’ signal-caller.
• OT Thayer Munford Jr. (LV) vs. OLB Khalil Mack (LAC): Talking of harmful move rushers, it is not arduous to think about this recreation coming right down to the trenches. Minshew, in any case, has confirmed comparatively erratic as a passer, and one in all his prime blockers might be a vet in Munford who solely turned a daily up entrance down the stretch of 2023. Mack, in the meantime, could also be getting old at 33 however had arguably the sport of his life in opposition to the Chargers final 12 months, through which he totaled a whopping six sacks.

Burning questions

• Chargers: What, precisely, might be Jim Harbaugh’s calling card? The brand new coach has instilled old-school toughness in Los Angeles, and prioritized each the trenches and working backfield. For his grand return to the NFL, nonetheless, it stays to be seen how a lot he truly leans on the bottom recreation, with former Baltimore Ravens teammates Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins atop the depth chart there. How he deploys a remade receiving corps may also be key to Herbert’s subsequent steps underneath middle.
• Raiders: Is Antonio Pierce’s protection sufficient? That is to not say Las Vegas will not get some juice from the Minshew-to-Adams connection, or maybe rookie tight finish Brock Bowers, who might have a outstanding function out of the gate. However with a comparatively unproven Zamir White headlining the backfield, the Raiders really feel extra like a scrappy defensive outfit. The query is, will that id truly result in an uptick in wins? Particularly in opposition to a seasoned coach like Harbaugh?

Prediction

The Raiders arguably have the sting in premium expertise at extra positions than you may assume going into this divisional showdown; think about if Justin Herbert had Davante Adams out vast, or if Los Angeles’ entrance boasted Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins. Their quarterback scenario is way much less settled, although, even with Herbert coming off harm and making his debut in a brand-new system. Harbaugh’s highway to rivalry within the AFC West is probably not simple, together with in opposition to the silver and black right here. However we belief his observe report. All over the place he is gone, he is discovered a technique to get ends in a rush. So chalk this one up for the Bolts.

Projected rating: Chargers 23, Raiders 17