Raiders Keys to Beating the Chargers on MNF

From Crosby vs Pipkins to Geno’s deep ball, here’s what will decide Raiders vs Chargers on Monday Night Football.

Author

Jesse Merrick
September 10, 2025

In partnership with

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Coming out of the offseason, I didn't see it coming. I didn't see it because he was kind of bouncing around different spots a little bit, played a little bit of nickel, and all that. But it was about now, probably three weeks ago, that there was some clarity here, that something's happening. And there's rumblings coming on where 36 was playing, and so we just gave him more chances…And he's just done a really, really good job. He's using his overall sense and experience that he has in just ball sense. And I say that because it's an aspect of us as a growing defense that we really kind of outleverage the offense. And you make good decisions when the ball is breaking and when the ball goes away from you, how you pursue, and all of that. And that containment aspect is what gives you a chance to minimize big plays, and he has a really good sense for that. And so that kind of jumped up in my observations…”

— Pete Carroll, Raiders Head Coach, on Kyu Blu Kelly’s rise up the depth chart to opening day starter

In today’s newsletter, we’re turning the page to Week 2 and breaking down what the Raiders will need to do against the Chargers on Monday Night Football. From Maxx Crosby’s matchup with Trey Pipkins to how Geno Smith and the offense can unlock the deep ball, we’ve got the key storylines and adjustments to watch heading into primetime.

KIRK MORRISON ON RAIDERS WEEK 1 WIN

GENO SMITH, PATRICK GRAHAM’S DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS, AND THE MATCHUPS TO KEEP AN EYE ON HEADING INTO WEEK 2’S MATCHUP WITH THE CHARGERS

We'll turn the page on week one in a second, but before we do, check out our latest podcast, where I catch up with former Raiders linebacker and current team radio analyst Kirk Morrison to break down the biggest takeaways from the season-opening win in New England. From Geno Smith’s record-setting debut to the defensive adjustments Patrick Graham dialed up at halftime, Kirk gives his unique perspective on what stood out and what it means going forward. We also dive into the state of the linebacking corps with Elandon Roberts banged up, and finish with a look at the matchups to watch when the Raiders take on the Chargers on Monday Night Football. Hit play above for the full breakdown.

MISS ANYTHING?

Catch up on some of our recent stories:

Raiders vs Patriots Recap | Geno’s Big Debut, Standout Performances & What’s Next


— Raiders beat the Patriots — here’s what Geno’s debut and key performances tell us about the road ahead.

Amari Cooper’s Sudden Retirement & Raiders vs. Patriots Deep Dive


— Cooper’s shock retirement shakes up the Raiders — plus JT The Brick helps us break down the opener vs. the Pats

LOOKING AT LA

With week one in the books, let’s dive into what’s ahead for the Raiders in week two against the Chargers.

LA made the most of their trip down south to Sao Paulo to open the 2025 season, coming away with a 27-21 win over the Chiefs on Friday night. Justin Herbert lit it up in that game, going 25-for-34, for 318 yards, and three touchdowns. Let’s dive into what stuck out in that game and how it pertains to the Raiders’ week two matchup against the Chargers.

CHARGERS O-LINE VS. RAIDERS D-LINE

In the opener against the Chiefs, Joe Alt and Mekhi Becton were stellar. They didn’t allow pressure in 110 pass blocking snaps. The majority of the pressures came from the middle of the offensive line and out at right tackle. Center Bradley Bozeman allowed three pressures, while right tackle Trey Pipkins III gave up four pressures on the day, that’s according to TruMedia.

The Patriots’ offensive line is still a work in progress, but the Raiders’ defensive front tore it up against them, racking up 18 pressures and four sacks on the day.

We always have to keep an eye on Maxx Crosby, but especially this week against the Chargers. Patrick Graham moved him around a bit against the Patriots, and it worked, but against the Chargers, when he’s lined up in his normal spot on the left side, he matches up very well with LA’s right tackle Pipkins. If they can take advantage of that, it can go a long way in getting Herbert off his spot.

He didn’t have to worry much against the Chiefs because they were so good against the blitz. He completed 11 of 14 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown when the Chiefs sent pressure, according to TruMedia. Patrick Graham doesn’t blitz a ton, but he’s going to mix them in more this season. So, when they do against the Chargers, it’s imperative they get home; otherwise, Herbert will make them pay.

GOTTA BE ABLE TO HIT ‘EM DEEP

In New England, Geno Smith put the long ball on display. He completed nine passes of 20-plus yards, which is tied for the most in a single game in his career. Obviously, you’d love to see that every game, but hitting at that clip every week isn’t realistic. However, they’ll need to find a way to get behind the Chargers’ defense if they want to have any success on Monday night.

Against the Chiefs, they only allowed 20.6% of Patrick Mahomes’ passes to go more than 10 yards downfield, according to PFF. Xavier Worthy’s injury definitely contributed to that, but it’s still impressive what LA managed in that game against one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Mahomes did run for 57 yards in that game, but Kansas City’s running backs didn’t fare well; they only picked up 41 combined yards on 11 carries.

The Raiders didn’t have much success on the ground in their game against the Patriots either, only running for 56 yards on 24 carries. The play action passing game was still effective for them, but if they want to be able to push the ball down the field versus the Chargers, they’re going to have to be better on the ground and force them to add some extra bodies to defend the run. If they can do that, Geno and company will be able to hit on more deep shots, and it could flip the game in their favor.

Looking for unbiased, fact-based news? Join 1440 today.

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Raiders are off today since they play on Monday Night Football this week, so we’ll be back out at HQ on Thursday around noon to catch up with Pete Carroll and Geno Smith.

With that in mind, keep an eye out for the next edition of the Silver and Black Sports Network Podcast. We’re bringing former Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman on the podcast to preview the Monday Night matchup. I know he’s a certified Raider hater, but he knows ball, and I think he’ll provide some good insight into what the Chargers are bringing into Allegiant Stadium this week.

Catch ya next time,

Silver & Black Sports Network is an independent media outlet. We are not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by the Las Vegas Raiders or the NFL.

Reply

or to participate.