The Chargers’ opening touchdown drive against Arizona covered 77 yards in eight plays. Over their next nine possessions, only two snaps traveled farther than 24 yards. Mike McDaniel’s first game calling this offense left a great deal to fix, and, as always with these Justin-Herbert-led Chargers, it feels like it’s a problem with the offensive line. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for this week’s NFL game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
Chargers vs. Raiders prediction, preview
Admittedly, however, the running game gave Justin Herbert little help. Chargers backs averaged -0.13 yards before contact per carry, which means, indeed: Defenders reached them behind the line on average. Omarion Hampton managed 43 yards on 12 carries and received no targets in a McDaniels scheme. When Los Angeles reached third down, it needed an average of 12.4 yards and converted twice in eight tries. McDaniel needs his blockers to keep defenders out of the backfield, with guard/tackle Trey Pipkins now out. The replacements looked bafflingly lost last week.
Las Vegas just held former McDaniel prodigy De’Von Achane to 36 yards on 11 carries last week. The Raiders have a reasonable chance to make Herbert carry the offense again, although their secondary is far less reassuring. Corner Darien Porter is out, and Herbert has averaged 8.17 yards per attempt against Cover 3 and Cover 4 since 2025. Las Vegas used those coverages on roughly 60% of its opening-week coverage snaps. There’ll be downfield completions for Herbert, so long as he has just enough time to sling one off.
An uncomfortable amount of the Chargers’ scoring capabilities rests on Ladd McConkey, who’s questionable with a rib injury after missing two practices. Herbert averaged 10.3 yards per attempt with him on the field against Arizona, and 5.4 without him. Thirteen attempts with him and 14 without are far too few to isolate his value, but it’s clear he was the focal route tree for McDaniels in Week 1. All the same, I’d rather trust Herbert to win this game with McConkey available. But Keaton Mitchell is healthy, Quentin Johnston is still a red-zone force, and Oronde Gadsen and Charlie Kolar should get open for looks in heavy packages.
Las Vegas can keep its own offense moving through Ashton Jeanty—gosh, it feels so good to finally, confidently say that. He carried 23 times for 102 yards against Miami, caught six passes for 45 more, and ran a route on 61% of Kirk Cousins’ dropbacks. If the Chargers bring another defender toward the line, Cousins can still dump off to Jeanty. With Khalil Mack and Teair Tart cleared to play for Los Angeles, I especially like involving Jeanty as a receiver, and would be targeting his rush + receiving yards as a prop.
Raiders vs. Chargers pick, best bet
Tight end Michael Mayer caught six passes himself. With Brock Bowers doubtful after missing the opener, that distribution is already familiar to Cousins. Across from them, new Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary is trying to improve a unit that allowed Arizona 23 first downs and nearly 400 yards. Mayer has averaged 1.64 yards per route against Cover 3 and Cover 4 since 2025, across 116 routes, and Los Angeles used those coverages on 53.5% of its coverage snaps last week. I’d work him between the linebackers with Jeanty releasing into the flat; Cousins can read where those underneath defenders commit and keep finding manageable completions.
Cousins’ 160 passing yards on 30 attempts still worries me, and Herbert is the better quarterback by a considerable margin. I favor Los Angeles outright. Jeanty’s work in both phases should keep Las Vegas scoring, though, while the Chargers’ blocking problems make a string of efficient possessions difficult to trust. I’ll take the Raiders +6.5 at -102.
Best bet: Raiders +6.5 (-102).
Projected score: Chargers 24, Raiders 20.
