Chargers vs. Raiders Point Spread: NFL Week 15 Odds, Prediction
The Los Angeles Chargers, likely without starting QB Justin Herbert, will visit the Las Vegas Raiders, who are -3 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
This should be the last non-afternoon NFL game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas until Super Bowl 58 as the Raiders don’t have any primetime games left on the schedule and hard to see any flexed into that spot.
The Chargers are currently coached by Brandon Staley and the Raiders by interim coach Antonio Pierce, and it’s most likely that neither is back next season. Go ahead and mark Staley as fired. It’s possible the rather cost-conscious Raiders give Pierce the full-time job if they finish strong. They started well under him after firing Josh McDaniels but have since faded.
Los Angeles tries for the season sweep as it beat Las Vegas 24-17 in Week 4, a game that really symbolized both teams’ offensive issues that have been prevalent this year. The Chargers had just 305 yards and were 5-for-14 on third down but won largely because they turned it over only once compared to three for the Raiders, who totaled 264 yards and were 1-for-11 on third down. Justin Herbert was 13-for-24 for 167 yards with a TD and pick. Top running back Austin Ekeler was out then. Khalil Mack set a Chargers single-game record with six sacks. Rookie Aidan O’Connell in his first NFL start was 24-for-39 for 238 yards with a pick for the Silver & Black.
The teams have split the past 10 meetings straight up and against the spread.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers’ season essentially ended Sunday in a 24-7 home loss to the Denver Broncos because at 5-8, Los Angeles is almost surely not making the playoffs and star quarterback Justin Herbert fractured the index finger on his throwing hand and had to leave. He is not expected to play Thursday, which juiced this spread a bit toward the home team. Herbert has started 62 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak by a quarterback behind the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen (84). Easton Stick, a 2019 fifth-round pick out of FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, would make his first start. Stick saw his most career action Sunday in relief of Herbert and was 13-for-24 for 179 yards with no turnovers and two sacks taken. Said star WR Keenan Allen said: “Having Stick in there, we know Stick can make those plays, we know he’s got the knowledge for the game, been around for a long time so the confidence is still high with Stick.” The Chargers went 0-for-12 on third downs in Sunday’s brutal loss and were a combined 1-for-18 on third and fourth downs.
Las Vegas Raiders
The state of NFL quarterbacking right now, which is not good, was never more apparent than Sunday in Las Vegas when the Raiders lost 3-0 at home to Minnesota in a matchup featuring rookie Aidan O’Connell for the Raiders and journeyman Josh Dobbs for the Vikings. It was the lowest-scoring NFL game in 16 years and the third loss in a row for the Silver & Black, who totaled 202 yards and eight first downs. O’Connell should remain the starter this week, however. Running back and 2022 NFL rushing king Josh Jacobs left with a knee injury and is in question. The Las Vegas defence was great Sunday as the D-Line set the tone throughout the game. Four of the five sacks came from Maxx Crosby (two), rookie Tyree Wilson and Janarius Robinson. It was Robinson’s first career sack and first game after being signed to the active roster.
LAC
LV