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OPEN THREAD: Chargers vs. Raiders

By Matt Pagels

Oct 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) meets with San Diego Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (99) after the game at Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) meets with San Diego Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (99) after the game at Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers (5-8) host Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders (10-3). Here is the open thread.

The Chargers 2016 season is over. They will miss the playoffs for the third straight year. It’s tough because they are better than what their record says. Then again, maybe they aren’t. Because if you can’t close out games, you don’t deserve to be a winner–especially when you play not to lose (we’re talking to you, Mike McCoy).

Up until last Sunday’s ugly 28-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Chargers were in every game (all losses came by less than one score). The Bolts even led in the second half of every game excluding last week’s game.

But that’s the past, and now we have to look towards the future–and the future is bright for this team. They have loads of talent on both sides of the ball, and if they continue to lose they will land a solid draft position. McCoy will surely be fired at the end of the year, so that’s a plus, too. The only negative is where the Chargers will be playing next season, because it’s a real possibility they will relocate to Los Angeles.

That said, let’s move on to today’s game. The Chargers lost to the Raiders back in Week 5. They had a chance to tie the game, but a botched snap on a field-goal attempt in the final minutes secured the team’s fate. The image of Josh Lambo smiling after the game did not make fans happy.

Let’s see who the inactives are for today:

Inactive for Chargers vs. Oak: RB Gordon (knee/hip), CB Mager (shoulder), WR Butler (ankle), TE Cleveland, C Tuerk, OT Burwell, DL Eulls.

— Michael Gehlken (@sdutGehlken) December 18, 2016

We knew Melvin Gordon was out, so undrafted free agent Kenneth Farrow is going to start. Cornerback Craig Mager is out, so Trevor Williams, another undrafted rookie, is going to get more snaps.

Let’s see who’s out for the Raiders:

Today's Inactives: Connor Cook, Antonio Hamilton, Karl Joseph, Vadal Alexander, Denver Kirkland, Shilique Calhoun, Stacy McGee.

— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) December 18, 2016

The Chargers are in spoiler mode right now. A win against the Raiders would be great, but if they lose don’t be too upset because it’s good for the team’s 2017 draft selections.

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