Chargers will try to return to action in the Week 13 match against Raiders on Sunday.
Here are some reasons to be pessimistic about Los Angeles' victory.
How to limit Max Crosby
Crosby only had one pressure on the Chargers in Week 2 while mostly facing right tackle Trey Pipkins III, but that was in a game where Los Angeles had Joe Alt at left tackle and thus could send more help with tight ends and running backs to Pipkins' side. Now that Alt is out for the season and Jamari Salyer will be the Chargers' fourth left tackle of the year, help will likely be headed that way. This leaves it up to Pipkins to contain Crosby.
Advertising
Bat falling
Crosby's ability to catch the passer is his own concern, but the Raiders' defensive line also leads the league with 17 passes defended by a wide margin (Philadelphia is second with 12). Crosby and edge rusher Charles Snowden also have interceptions this season. Justin Herbert tends to let his passes get picked off at the line, which could rear its head on Sunday against such an aggressive pass-rushing team, especially since the game plan likely has faster concepts that won't allow Herbert to take an inordinate amount of hits.
Initial return efficiency
Raiders kick returner Raheem Mostert is averaging 30.5 yards per kick return, which ranks second only to Buffalo's Ray Davis in the league. Meanwhile, the Chargers still have the worst kickoff coverage in the NFL, allowing an average of 29.2 yards per return, a half-yard worse than the 31st-ranked team. Against weaker opponents, the best way to get them into the game is to let special teams make big plays, as the Chargers saw against Titans earlier this season.
Advertising
Shuffling the offensive line
Salyer, again, will be the Chargers' fourth starting left tackle this season. The preseason trade for Austin Deculus had mixed results but produced some big plays. A trade deadline delay for Trevor Penning resulted in him being benched in his only (to date) start as a Charger in the Jaguars game. Salyer filled in well enough when Alt was injured a few weeks ago against Tennessee, but Los Angeles struggled a bit to run the ball when he was in the lineup. Los Angeles will hope that Omarion Hampton's potential return from an ankle injury will alleviate some of those issues, while Salyer will add a higher ceiling in pass protection.
Refusal of the new coordinator
Earlier this week, the Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and replaced him with defensive backs coach Greg Olson, who is calling plays for Las Vegas for the third time in his long coaching career. One of Kelly's main shortcomings was his inability to maximize the talent of tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, but Olson will likely be tasked with or come to the conclusion on his own that the offense must run through these two young stars in the making. The Chargers have an average defense and Bowers will have to battle it out at heavyweight with Derwin James Jr. in zone coverage where both will likely win some reps.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Reasons the Chargers could lose to the Raiders: Week 13 concerns
