Simply once you thought issues could not worsen for the Los Angeles Chargers (5-9), they by some means outdid themselves in an embarrassing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders (6-8) on “Thursday Night time Soccer,” falling 63-21. Listed here are three takeaways from the Raiders’ one-sided victory:
Chargers HC Brandon Staley is nearly as good as gone: If it wasn’t already a foregone conclusion, the Chargers’ efficiency in Week 15 all however assured Staley’s destiny.
The Chargers appeared lifeless from the bounce and confirmed little, if any, battle as soon as the sport obtained out of hand. Within the blink of an eye fixed, the Raiders had a 21-0 benefit via the primary quarter earlier than including on to steer 42-0 at halftime, the biggest deficit confronted by the Chargers within the franchise’s historical past. On the break, a visibly distraught Staley admitted to sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung that his workforce “didn’t come able to play,” which is perhaps the understatement of the 12 months.
Credit score to Staley for taking his medication, but when former Seattle Seahawks All-Professional Richard Sherman had his approach, he’d have canned the top coach earlier than the beginning of the third quarter.
Following Thursday’s rock-bottom second, the writing is on the wall for Staley and the Chargers. Change is on the way in which. The one query is whether or not he’ll be employed come Monday.
Raiders offense did what they favored vs. Chargers: Every week faraway from a 3-0 shutout loss towards the Minnesota Vikings, the offense was unstoppable on Thursday. Led by QB Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas produced its highest-scoring output in franchise historical past, surpassing the earlier mark of 59 (2010).
O’Connell threw for 248 yards (7.3 YPA) whereas changing into the primary Raiders QB since Daryle Lamonica (1969) to throw 4 first-half TDs. In the meantime, he joins Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis and Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud as the one rookies to have 4 passing scores in a sport this season. Unsurprisingly, O’Connell wasn’t the one Raider to hitch the scoring parade. Eight completely different Raiders discovered the top zone, probably the most by a workforce because the 1950 Los Angeles Rams.
Whereas the Raiders made historical past on the scoreboard, so did the Chargers, solely not in the way in which they might have favored. The 63 factors towards is probably the most allowed in a sport by the Chargers, topping the earlier mark of 57 factors set in 2000.
Raiders protection continues to shine: A brilliant spot many of the 12 months, the protection has stepped it up a notch because the bye week. They shut out the Chargers within the first half after permitting solely three factors to the Vikings per week in the past in a 3-0 loss. The unit did hand over 21 factors, however all of them got here with the sport properly in hand.
Towards a hapless Chargers offense led by QB Easton Stick, they took full benefit and did not permit their first rating till the workforce had constructed up a commanding 49-0 lead. In the meantime, they completed the night time with 5 takeaways (4 fumbles, one interception), together with a fumble restoration for a rating from defensive deal with John Jenkins and a pick-six by cornerback Jack Jones.
After the win, the Raiders are 6-8, and imagine it or not, they’re nonetheless alive within the AFC playoff race. In the event that they’re to remain within the hunt, they will want their protection to maintain acting at a excessive stage.