The Chargers are set to face the Raiders in a divisional showdown this upcoming Monday night at 7:00 p.m.
When Justin Herbert and company hit the field, they are going to be facing a Las Vegas defensive unit that held the Patriots to 13 points, with just three of them coming in the second half.
With that said, here is one thing to watch for at each position on offense.
Quarterback
Will Justin Herbert continue to dominate the Raiders?
Herbert had one of his best performances in recent memory against the Chiefs last Friday. Greg Roman put all the trust in his quarterback, and the results showed. Now, Herbert is facing a Raiders team that he’s historically performed well against, as he’s thrown for over 300 yards and three touchdowns five times while winning six of nine games. Herbert has done a good job protecting the football, throwing just two interceptions in that span. How effective he can be against Las Vegas will all depend on mitigating the Raiders’ pass rush.
Running back
Will Omarion Hampton’s rushing efficiency improve?
Hampton wasn’t productive in his regular-season debut, as he was held to 3.2 yards per carry on 15 rushes. The former North Carolina product faced a stout Chiefs defense, and now he is set to go up against a Raiders unit that shut down the Patriots’ rushing offense to 13 carries for 45 yards and no touchdowns. With Najee Harris still working his way back, Hampton should see plenty of volume once again. Now it’s just a matter of what he does with the touches.
Wide receiver
Will any of the rookie wideouts emerge?
In Week 1, it was Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen who saw most of the work among the wide receivers. Meanwhile, second-round pick Tre Harris was on the field for only five offensive snaps, while fifth-rounder KeAndre Lambert-Smith saw 14 snaps. Harris caught one pass for 11 yards and Lambert-Smith was targeted just once, which resulted in an incompletion down the sideline due to a miscommunication between him and Herbert. They were drafted to be vertical threats, so we will see if they’re involved more in Week 2.
Tight end
Will Tyler Conklin see more targets?
Tyler Conklin flashes in his Chargers debut, catching both of his targets for 50 yards. Will Dissly was the only other tight end to be thrown the ball, as he logged a reception for 18 yards. It’s clear that the Chargers have a plan for Conklin in the passing game, and he will have the opportunity to capitalize on last week’s performance facing a Raiders defense that allowed four catches for 66 yards to Hunter Henry.
Offensive line
Will Maxx Crosby be neutralized?
As I said in the quarterback section, Herbert should have another strong performance if he’s kept upright and that means keeping Crosby at bay. Crosby, one of the league’s top edge defenders, posted seven pressures and a sack last Sunday. He knows that second-year Joe Alt is capable of stymying him, so he will look to have more of a favorable matchup against right tackle Trey Pipkins. The Chargers won’t likely leave Pipkins on an island and will get him the help needed with double teams and chips. Nonetheless, Crosby mustn’t become a factor.