Raiders vs Chargers Season 2021 Week 4: 5 things to watch out for

It’s the first day of October and it’s already starting to look like the playoff push here.

That’s what happens when the Las Vegas Raiders start 3-0 for the first time in 19 years. Things are getting serious and there’s a big game on Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, who are 2-1 and come off a huge road win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

This is the first time since 2002 that the Raiders and Chargers face each other with a winning record. So, yeah, this game is pretty huge.

Here are the five keys to the Raiders’ victory on Monday night:

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Distribute the ball around:
If the Raiders’ passing game continues at a historic pace, they will obviously be tough to beat. Henry Ruggs, Darren Waller, Bryan Edwards and Hunter Renfrow have all received over 200 yards and they are all on track to have a receiving season of over 1,000 yards. This is the first time that a team has four players with at least 200 receiving yards in three games. No team has ever had four 1,000-yard receivers. only five teams already have three 1,000-yard receivers. So if Raiders quarterback Derek Carr can keep spreading the ball around him, it could see the Raiders winning, and at an historic rate.

Start quickly:
The Raiders haven’t had much of a problem so far in 2021, but they’ve been clumsy at first. Hence the two 14-0 home deficits they had to overcome. The Raiders were outscored 21-5 in the first quarter in three games. At some point living this way is going to bite a team. There is no time like the present to change this trend that is starting quickly for Jon Gruden’s team.

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Throw the ball :
The Raiders won mostly thanks to Carr’s warm arm. However, Gruden loves to run and the opportunity will be there this year. One of the few big issues for the Chargers in 2021 has been their running defense. They allow 170 rushing yards per rushing game. It is terrible. Starter Josh Jacobs has the chance to play this week. A rotation of Jacobs, Week 2 star Peyton Barber and Kenyan Drake could wear down the Chargers’ defense. The Chargers have the seventh best pass defense, allowing just 201 yards. So maybe Gruden and Carr will take what the Chargers give them.

Contains Mike Williams:
The Chargers offense isn’t just Justin Herbert and wide receiver Keenan Allen. Fellow veteran receiver Mike Williams is having a huge start to the season. He has 22 catches for 295 yards with four touchdown catches. It is difficult to cover. The Chargers ‘passing play is another reason it could be the Raiders’ toughest job yet, especially on defense.

To be strong:
This is the one coming out for the Raider Nation. According to Vivid Seats, 74% of SoFi Stadium will be dropped off by Raiders fans. This has often been the case with the Chargers’ home games for the Raiders. But they must mark the first game of this rivalry with SoFi Stadium fans by completely taking over. Cowboys fans helped Dallas hand the Chargers their only loss in Week 2 by being very loud at SoFi. Now it’s the turn of the Raiders fans. You can do it.

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