TNF Search Party: Cold, Injured NFL Offenses Hunt for Sizzle in Vegas
Message to Vegas pit bosses: If you want to cool off a craps player on a hot streak, just hire either of the offenses playing Thursday night to walk the casino floor.
The Chargers and Raiders renew a division rivalry from the old AFL days, when offensive fireworks and a ton of points occurred almost by default. The 2023 versions of these two offenses now put up points that could be tallied on a single pair of dice.
On Sunday, the Chargers managed just one offensive touchdown in their 24-7 loss to Denver. The usually potent Los Angeles offense scored just 13 points in its last two games.
Meanwhile, if the Raiders get a safety on Thursday, they will surpass their point total in Sunday’s 3-0 shutout by the Vikings. Though quarterback Aidan O’Connell completed a respectable 21-of-32 passes, he and the Vegas offense converted just 3-of-14 on third downs. That ineffectiveness has interim head coach Antonio Pierce contemplating a switch to veteran Brian Hoyer. (As of Thursday morning, who will start is still up in the air.)
And now injuries to key players are mounting for both teams. For Los Angeles, Justin Herbert left the Broncos game with a finger issue late in the first half. Two days ago, the Chargers announced that the star quarterback is to have surgery and miss the rest of the season. Four-year veteran Easton Stick will make his first career start for Los Angeles
Even more bad news for the Chargers heading into Thursday’s tilt: WR Keenan Allen, enjoying the best year of his terrific career, will miss his first game of 2023 with a heel injury.
Gimpy players are not helping matters for the Vegas offense either: Both Josh Jacobs and receiver Davante Adams are questionable for this game. For Jacobs, it is a quad injury, which forced him from the Minnesota game in the fourth quarter. Adams was laid low earlier this week by illness.
Still, there are enough bodies on both sides to field 22 players, and at least a few of them will decide Thursday’s outcome.
The Raiders’ pass protection, which was better in the three games leading into the Vikings matchup, allowed four sacks Sunday. A problem for Vegas Thursday, no matter who starts behind center, will be the Chargers' pass rush, led by the tandem of former Raider and NFL sack leader (15) Khalil Mack, and Joey Bosa, who is expected to return from a foot sprain suffered in Week 11.
For the Raiders, joining Jacobs and Adams on the injury report is Maxx Crosby, who has been battling a knee issue for a couple of weeks — though you would never know it from Sunday’s performance against the Vikes, when the indomitable defensive end recorded two sacks, three tackles for loss and 10 tackles overall. On the season, Crosby is second in the league with 13.5 sacks and is tied for the lead in TFLs with 18.
The presence of Crosby and the lack of any from the Los Angeles running game seems to spell doom for Stick. It is by now a given that Austin Ekeler and the LA running game will do little to support the offense's dynamic aerial attack as the 29 rushing yards against New England and 76 yards against Denver attest. Even with Herbert in the lineup, that lack of run support seemed to be infecting the passing game, which put up only 419 yards combined in those two contests.
And you think the Raiders were bad on third down in Week 14 — try a mortifying 0-of-12 for the Chargers against Denver. Los Angeles’ offensive line also allowed six sacks against the Broncos. Vegas fields one of the league’s better secondaries, and it could supplement a healthier Crosby, providing him enough time to give Stick fits Thursday night.
The Raiders continue to play with fire and passion under Pierce. In a must-needed game at home, the Chargers looked uninspired and unprepared against Denver, and Brandon Staley’s head-coaching days appear numbered. Look for the Raiders offense to put up at least some points on the board and for Crosby and the Vegas defense to frustrate Herbert. Las Vegas 22, Los Angeles Chargers 13.