Post-Game Inspection: Week 1

Final Score: Chargers 24 - Raiders 19.

Is there anything more Charger-esque than winning the turnover battle 3-0, sacking the quarterback six times (while giving up none), and still being in a one score game without possession of the ball with three minutes to go?

As Yogi Berra once said, "It's deja vu all over again."

Tell that to Khalil Mack. The freshly minted Charger broke the seal on the 2022 season with a throwback game reminiscent of his 2017 Defensive Player of the Year campaign by harassing former teammate Derek Carr for three sacks and a forced fumble.

In his first game action wearing the powder blues, Mack—oblivious to the franchise's skeletons in the closet—decided to rewrite the ending to the Hollywood affair at steamy Sofi Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Carr was sacked on back-to-back plays on third and fourth down dousing the flames of the comeback attempt before it could reach midfield.

On the day, Carr fumbled twice, and threw three interceptions. Brandon Staley's defensive makeover is already evident from the team that surrendered 174 rushing yards in the season finale to these Raiders. The Chargers new front allowed only 64 rushing yards on Sunday.

This was a game decided in the trenches, as most are. The Chargers front five played the entire game in their designated positions. Whether you want to call that continuity, stability, or just plain luck, the stat is determinative of how an offense operates holistically.

The Raiders, on the other hand, used four different offensive line combinations and six substitutions in all. Center Andre James was unable to finish the game after sustaining a concussion.

You can't say that coach Josh McDaniel wasn't at least trying to find a solution to the Joey Bosa / Khalil Mack equation. Fortunately for the Chargers: he is still punching numbers wildly into his phone--and will continue to--as if the preseason had stretched into September.

As for the offense, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and Justin Herbert protected rookie right guard Zion Johnson and new starting right tackle Trey Pipkins by moving the pocket and running mostly short to intermediate routes.

Who is Herbert's favorite receiver? The open one.

Herbert dissected the Raiders secondary, completing 25 of 32 passes (a 78.1 completion percentage) for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns. If you factor in the two drive-killing drops from tight end Tre' McKitty and receiver Mike Williams those numbers may have spiked even further.

The young quarterback did all of this in spite of losing star receiver Keenan Allen in the second quarter to a hamstring injury. It made little difference.

 Herbert threw the ball to eleven different receivers and made zero turnover-worthy plays while making the correct read over and over again. Allen, who was tied for the team lead with four other Chargers, was targeted four times, catching 4 passes for 66 yards.

- Dominic M.

Week 2 Injury Report courtesy Pro Football Reference.

BOLT DAD

Score prediction: Chargers 35 - Raiders 17

Prediction Record: 1-0

Delta Score: Chargers 11, Opponents 2; Game Score Delta: 13

Season Score Delta:

What a great win, huh? it was definitely great to see our Chargers live up to the hype. I'm not sure what I'm more impressed with, [our] 6 sacks, or [their] ZERO SACKS? Give me more of the same please!

Nick Buck

Score prediction: Chargers 24 - Raiders 17

Prediction Record: 1-0

Delta Score: Chargers 0, Opponents 2; Total Score Delta: 2

The Chargers needed at least one win in these first two divisional round games, and they secured just that. The upgraded pass rush proved far too problematic for a depleted Raiders O-line leading to a flamboyant Chargers debut for Khalil Mack.

The impressive performance was not possible without certain players stepping up when they needed to: in his first regular season game, first-round pick Zion Johnson proved the rock we hoped he'd be. New tight end Gerald Everett showed he was up to the task considering Donald Parham Jr's absence, and right tackle Trey Pipkins III did what was asked of him and more in keeping edge rusher Maxx Crosby to 0 sacks.

On the defense, Asante Samuel Jr held his own against arguably the best wide receiver in the league in Davante Adams while noticeable and remarkable improvements were on full display from linebacker Kenneth Murray.

All of this combined into a lethal potion to pour down Raider throats early and quickly.

The one factor that made this game a little too close for comfort was conservative offensive play calling in the second half. Can Joe Lombardi be blamed for not keeping his foot on the pedal and hammering the final nail into the coffin early in the 3rd? Or is there ground to commend him in possibly not revealing too much of the offensive playbook to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid prior to their short-week matchup on Thursday?

I believe we have not yet all the answers. Patience is a virtue, Bolt Fam.

Kyle “The Coach” Duggin

Score prediction: Chargers 38 - Raiders 20

Prediction Record: 1-0

Delta Score: Chargers 14, Opponents 1; Total Score Delta: 15

John Kegley

Score prediction: Chargers 35 - Raiders 31

Prediction Record: 1-0

Delta Score: Chargers 11, Opponents 12; Total Score Delta: 23

Chargers came put strong and on all cylinders the 1st half, but got conservative in the 2nd keeping the game close.

The Chargers got away with some Raiders mistakes such as wide open receivers never getting looked at, or Darren Waller having the ball thrown behind him on a wide-open missed TD.

Typical Derek Carr plays that are caused by getting hit a lot, like what Kahlil Mack and Joey Bosa consistently did. I loved seeing drawn up blitzes as well Derwin James' sack.

Herbert shows he has not missed a beat and DeAndre Carter shows he can be a good fill in for Keenan Allen.

Chargers improve to 4-0 vs the Raiders on opening games since 2006 with the Win and get off to a good start with a 1-0 division record.

Señor Snappy

Score prediction: Chargers 21 - Raiders 24

Prediction Record: 0-1

Delta Score: Chargers 3, Opponents 5; Total Score Delta: 8

I was wrong about the pressure affecting the Chargers: Justin Herbert was absolutely on point, particularly when he--very briefly--got mad.

I loved the YAC by new TE Everett and the "gotta have it" yards by Sony Michel.

The Raiders defense was excellent all day, but Herbert willed the Chargers offense to win when he was allowed.

The Chargers offensive playcalling was way too vanilla at the end of the game, but perhaps they were trying to train the team for playoffs football. This is a team that believes it will be in the postseason and wants to prepare for it all year.

The Raider's offensive playcalling seemed very creative, especially in the first half: I saw Chargers LB's covering Raiders WR's on numerous occasions, which is not ideal. Van Noy, Tranquil and others managed to keep close in coverage which was great to see--even though they were beat on occasion.

The Chargers defense carried the day, of course--as Mack did will the Chargers to victory in the end.

What I did expect was a better turnout by the Bolt Fam, with all the pressure--at least, on Twitter--to stop selling tickets to opposing fans. I've heard some say that this game was better attended (by Chargers fans) than last year--this didn't seem true to me, but my own section was more infested than last year which may skew my view. What I discovered afterwards was that there is a very different mix of fans depending on which side of the field you are on. I was aware that one side was called the "Visitor Side" and the other the "Home Side" but didn't think it was true in practice. It may have been.

Dominic M.

Score prediction: Chargers 29 - Raiders 19

Prediction Record: 1-0

Delta Score: Chargers 5, Opponents 0; Total Score Delta: 5

Most Raider fans will have to adjust their record predictions to 16-1 with the loss. Funny that the outcome of the game pivots how the home field advantage is categorized inside the warped repositories of thought that they choose to call brains.

When the schedule came out we heard for months how the two Raider visits to Sofi Stadium were extra home games, but when they lose somehow they lost a "road game." How does that work exactly?

Señora Snappy

Score prediction: Chargers 34 - Raiders 17

Prediction Record: 1-0

Delta Score: Chargers 10, Opponents 2; Total Score Delta: 12

Aaron Vrabel

Score prediction: Chargers 31 - Raiders 17

Prediction Record: 1-0

Delta Score: Chargers 7, Opponents 2; Total Score Delta: 9

As predicted, Raiders fans were dorks. Derek Carr was inefficient without the help of Pass Interference calls.

Mack and Bosa were exactly as advertised. I was wrong on my prediction of a blowout, but this game never felt in danger. Can't wait to see the cosplayers in December again. Family. Trust. Respect.

After week one, the prediction results are as follows:

Closest Score Predictions (top 3):

W/L Record: everyone except Señor Snappy predicted a Charges win.

Check back in a couple days for our predictions for Week 2 vs. the Chiefs!

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