The Chargers and Raiders cap off the entire Week Two slate as they play the second part of Monday night’s double-header. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., so if you’re not in that time zone, you’re bound for a late night.
This matchup also brings together Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll for the first time since they were both coaches in the NFC West duking it out with the Niners and Seahawks. Both coaches have similar offensive philosophies and they both own some of the best personality in the entire league. Everyone will be watching this game which means it’s a great time for the Chargers to take yet another step towards winning the AFC West.
However, you can’t count out the Raiders on their home turf. It’s going to be tough, no matter what that final score reads.
Buckle up. It’s going to be a good one!
Alright, let’s go ahead and check out my three storylines I’ll be watching this week when the Bolts take the field in Las Vegas.
1.) Will it be Omarion Hampton or Ashton Jeanty that outperforms the other?
This is the first of what should be many career matchups between Hampton and Jeanty, both of whom were taken in the first round of this year’s NFL draft. Jeanty was the generational prospect taken sixth overall by Las Vegas while Hampton was the close second behind him in the latest draft class. He obviously ended up in LA with the 22nd pick.
In each of their first real NFL games, both backs struggled to light up the stat sheet. While Jeanty did find the end zone, he posted just 38 yards on 19 carries (2.0 yards per carry). As for Hampton, he took 15 carries for 48 yards (3.2 YPC) but did not record a score.
Both of these teams passed their way to victory in Week One, but we all know each of these head coaches love to run the rock. I would be shocked if at least one of — if not both — Hampton or Jeanty greatly improved on their recent performances.
If I had to guess, I’m going with Hampton as the one with the higher chance of popping off. Joe Alt knows how to handle Maxx Crosby and overall the front five of the Chargers looked better than their Raiders counterpart. Las Vegas averaged just 2.3 yards per carry as a team. The Chargers defense stifled the Chiefs on the ground and I expect them to do the same against another AFC West opponent.
2.) How will the Chargers defense handle All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers (if he even plays)?
As of Thursday afternoon, Bowers was a non-participant in the Raiders’ first practice of the week with a knee injury he sustained against the Patriots. That’s a good thing for the Chargers, but anything could happen with two more practices to go before final reports are due.
When he was healthy, Bowers picked up right where he left off a year ago. Raiders quarterback Geno Smith found Bowers five times for 103 yards against New England as he looked as dominant as he did the entire 2024 season.
So this begs the question: How will the Chargers go about defending Bowers while making sure they don’t allow a Jeanty breakout game?
My guess is something similar to how they put a cap on Travis Kelce (outside of his touchdown where the whole secondary was duped). Derwin James will likely draw that assignment most of the night. Behind him I’d expect Daiyan Henley to also help there. The only issue there is outside of Henley, the Chargers linebacker room is shorthanded with injuries to Denzel Perryman and Del’Shawn Phillips nursing ailments. All this means is there are less players capable of being assigned to him than before. It limits what Jesse Minter can do with his personnel but knowing him, he’ll whip up a plan worthy of this matchup.
3.) Will Khalil Mack record his first sack of the season against his former team?
Mack posted 1.5 sacks in 2024 across his two matchups with the team that drafted him. His franchise record-setting performance in 2023 was also set against the Raiders when he took down Aidan O’Connell six times in one game.
The 2023 season saw Mack record a career-high 17 sacks. However, that number plummeted in year one under Jim Harbaugh to just six, the same number of tackles for loss he recorded, as well. Still, the defense was great and Mack’s influence as a run defender is still just as strong as it’s ever been. While he may not show up in the sack column at the same clip compared to years past, his fingerprints continue to be all over the Chargers’ defensive performances.
But if there was ever a good time to find the quarterback for the first time in 2025, you might as well make it Geno Smith on his home turf.
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