The Las Vegas Raiders are hosting the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The two teams met in the first week of the season at SoFi Stadium, and the Chargers won 24-19.
Los Angeles is still in the playoff hunt as it attempts to grab a wild card spot. The Chargers snapped a two-game losing streak last Sunday when they defeated Arizona on a touchdown and successfully executed a two-point conversion with 15 seconds to play.
The Raiders won for the second straight week in overtime in Week 12. Josh Jacobs had a walk-off 86-yard touchdown run in overtime to clinch the victory.
Can the Raiders continue their win streak, or will the Chargers keep their playoff hopes alive? Find out in our free NFL picks and predictions for Chargers vs. Raiders on December 4.
Chargers vs Raiders best odds
Chargers vs Raiders picks and predictions
In Week 1 of the NFL season, the Raiders relied on wide receiver Davante Adams and running back Josh Jacobs against the Chargers.
Adams did his part, grabbing 10 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown in the 24-19 loss. Jacobs, however, only had 10 carries but still managed to run for 57 yards.
Adams has maintained his excellence, and now Jacobs has contributed greatly to the team. In last week’s win against Seattle, Jacobs rushed for 229 yards on 33 carries and two touchdowns.
Lost in his rushing performance was his 74 yards receiving on six catches. Jacobs' receiving yards have gone up every game since October 30. That is an extremely valuable weapon for quarterback Derek Carr, especially with receiver Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller out.
Los Angeles is 17th in pass defense, allowing an average of 217.4 yards per game. It’s the run defense that is the concern, however. The Chargers rank 28th in the league, averaging 151.4 yards a game. They are just above Seattle, and we saw how well Jacobs performed against them last week.
Although Jacobs was a limited participant in practices during the week, his nagging calf issues didn't seem to bother him against the Seahawks, and I am optimistic that he will play against the Chargers.
The Raiders’ defense will have to step up their play if they're is going to win. In the first game, Las Vegas allowed Justin Herbert to throw for 279 yards and three TDs.
Last week against the Seahawks, Seattle quarterback Geno Smith threw for 328 yards and two TDs, though the Raiders did cause an interception and Seattle only rushed for 65 yards.
The Raiders are 27th in overall defense, allowing an average of 370.6 yards per game. That is obviously a concern, but I still think they win this game outright at home.
My best bet: Raiders moneyline (-135 at PointsBet)
Looking to bet on some NFL action? Here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) Austin Ekeler Over 149.5 rushing and receiving yards BOOSTED to +500 at Caesars! Bet Now
B) New users at DraftKings can bet $5 and get $150 in free bets! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only. Also, check out our full list of NFL promo codes for 2022.
Chargers vs Raiders spread analysis
The line on this game opened at -3 for the Chargers and dropped to -1 early in the week. Los Angeles has four of its six victories on the road, and all have been against teams with a losing record.
In addition to its four victories, Los Angeles is 5-1 against the spread in its last six road games. The Chargers are also 4-1 ATS following an ATS loss.
Unfortunately for Los Angeles, injuries are taking a toll. They have two players that are out indefinitely and another seven on injured reserve. In addition, five players are questionable for Sunday’s game, including star pass rusher Joey Bosa.
One piece of good news is that WR Mike Williams might be activated for this game. If he is indeed in the lineup, that will give QB Justin Herbert a valuable weapon that he's consistently lacked in 2022.
The Raiders are 5-1 ATS in their last six against AFC West opponents and are also 5-1 ATS against a team with a winning record. I think they should still win with or without Jacobs at 100%. Take Las Vegas either on the moneyline or to cover.
Chargers vs Raiders Over/Under analysis
Both of these teams are not shy when it comes to scoring points. The Raiders are 10th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 24.1 a game. The Chargers are 13th, scoring at a clip of 22.9 per contest.
Neither team has a particularly impressive defense. The Chargers are 29th in points allowed, averaging 25.6 a game. The Raiders are 26th, giving up 25.1 per contest.
The Over has hit for the Raiders in four of their last five games against a team with a winning record and is 7-1-1 in their last nine home games.
The Chargers have hit the Over in eight of their last nine games when they face a team with a losing home record. The Over is 4-1 for the Chargers in their last five against AFC opponents.
The total opened at 50.5 points and dropped a point since then. When the two played in September, the total was 52.5 and didn’t come close. The Under cashed comfortably at 43 points.
If Williams comes back for the Chargers and Jacobs both produce, then points should be plentiful this time around. Take the Over on this game.
Chargers vs Raiders betting trend to know
The underdog is 19-8 against the spread in the two teams' last 27 meetings. Find more NFL betting trends for Chargers vs. Raiders.
Chargers vs Raiders game info
| Location: | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV |
| Date: | Sunday, December 4, 2022 |
| Kickoff: | 4:25 p.m. ET |
| TV: | CBS |
| Opening odds: | Raiders +2.5, 50 O/U |
Chargers vs Raiders latest injuries
Chargers vs Raiders weather
Monitor gametime conditions with our live NFL weather info and learn how weather impacts NFL betting.
