Raiders face must-win against Chargers

The Oakland Raiders were a trendy pick to win the Super Bowl going into this season. After more than a decade of misery and sub-.500 seasons, the Raiders broke out in a big way in 2016, winning 12 games on their way to a playoff berth for the first time since 2002.

Oakland has stumbled out of the gate instead, going 2-3 with Derek Carr trying to return quickly from a broken transverse process in his back. Originally slated to be out 2-6 weeks, Carr is expected to return this Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers after missing only one game. If he can do so, the fourth-year quarterback is giving his team a much-needed shot in the arm.

However, there is still plenty to overcome for a team that is living on the brink of contention and extinction. Oakland is supposed to host the contest, but the NFL is looking into potentially moving the game due to air quality issues due to California wildfires in the surrounding areas. Per ESPN:

“We continue to monitor air quality conditions in the Bay Area and are in close communication with the NFL, the Chargers & local authorities. At this point, the game remains scheduled for Sunday in Oakland.”

Regardless of where the game eventually gets played, the Raiders have to find a way to put it in the win column. At 2-3, Oakland is sitting a full three games behind the Kansas City Chiefs, the only undefeated team in the NFL. Additionally, the Denver Broncos are 3-1 and already beat the Raiders, putting even more pressure on Oakland to get going.

Oakland is facing the most important portion of its schedule. This week sees the 1-4 Chargers coming to town, a game that has the Raiders as favorites in the eyes of most. Only four days later, Oakland will welcome in the aforementioned Chiefs, a team it is 0-4 against in the Jack Del Rio era. If the Raiders plan on making a serious move in the AFC West, it begins with finally clearing the Kansas City hurdle.

The road ahead is tough for the Raiders, but not impossible if they can get right. The defense is a sieve sans Khalil Mack, forcing the offense to put up a bundle of points each week. Still, we saw them win 12 games in this fashion a year ago, giving the team reason to believe.

All that said, it has to start now. A loss on Sunday would drop the Raiders into last place in the West and put them at 0-2 within the division with the league’s best team coming to visit.