Raiders at Chargers: Highlights, score and recap
By Brad Weiss
In a huge AFC West matchup, the Oakland Raiders will look to clinch a playoff berth when they head to San Diego to take on the Chargers.
The Oakland Raiders have not made the playoffs since 2002, but that can all change on Sunday when they travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers. With a win, the Raiders will clinch at least a Wild Card spot in the 2017 NFL Playoffs, marking an incredible achievement for the once-proud franchise. The organization has been on the upswing since drafting Derek Carr and Khalil Mack in the same draft, and are now on the doorstep of the playoffs.
Carr and the Raiders are coming off a bad loss against Kansas City in Week 14, as they were beaten pretty soundly on the road. With the loss, the Raiders lost their grasp on the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs, while falling out of first place in the AFC West. They should be able to rebound against a San Diego Chargers team that will be shorthanded for this one on Sunday.
The Bolts will be without their star running back on Sunday, as Melvin Gordon will miss the game due to a hip injury. Gordon is having a terrific sophomore season for the Chargers, after nearly earning a bust label during a rough rookie season in 2015. Still, even without Gordon, the Chargers are going to move the ball, as quarterback Philip Rivers is still one of the best in the conference.
This one is going to be a good one, as both teams will be playing with a lot of pride. These two teams just do not like each other, and San Diego would like nothing more than to keep the Raiders from clinching on their home turf. There may not be many more games played in San Diego, so this one will have special meaning for the team, and its fans.
Highlights
Highlights will be posted throughout the game.
Three Stars Prediction
1. Derek Carr
Carr struggled to a 17-for-41 performance against the Chiefs in Week 14, so expect him to bounce back in a big way on Sunday. Carr is in the midst of a possible MVP season, and the Raiders will likely clinch a playoff spot in Week 15. He always plays well against the Chargers, and coming off a bad game, he will be even more fired up to perform this weekend.
2. Amari Cooper
Cooper is battling a shoulder injury, and he was limited in practice this week. Still, he is in for a big day against a San Diego secondary that has proven to be beatable as of late. Cooper has yet to have that huge game this season, and with the Raiders on the doorstep of a playoff berth, this could be the game he goes off.
3. Kenneth Farrow
Farrow will be stepping in for the injured Gordon on Sunday, going up against a Raiders run defense that is definitely weak. Oakland does not do a good job stopping the run, and Farrow showed some good skills this past weekend. He was active in the run, and passing game, and should find some daylight against the Raiders in Week 15.
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Odds
The Raiders are road favorites on Sunday, as the odds makers expect them to clinch their playoff berth against the Chargers. Oakland is giving the Chargers 2.5 points, and the over/under is set at 49. This is going to be a high-scoring game, so grab players from each team on your daily fantasy rosters this week.
Next Week
Oakland will head home to play host to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16. San Diego hits the road next weekend, though they should find easy sledding against a Cleveland Browns team that will likely be 0-14.