After months of anticipation and weeks of watching the team practice and play its backups in the preseason, real Chargers football is right around the corner. We are officially less than a week away until the Bolts host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 of the 2022 season.
The AFC West has been the most notable division in football this offseason with each team making moves to win the Super Bowl this season. There is no denying that the AFC West is the most talented division and all four teams would be favorites in at least one other division in the NFL.
But that is not how the league works and the teams have to go through each other. Knowing everything we now know after the preseason and training camp, it is fitting to do one last AFC West prediction.
4. Las Vegas Raiders, 8-9 record
Nothing has made me like the Las Vegas Raiders more from a wins standpoint in the preseason or training camp. Sure, the Raiders may have gone 3-0 in the preseason but that is absolutely nothing for the Chargers to worry about.
Yes, the Raiders have dynamic passing weapons and they have a solid pass-rushing duo of Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, but that is about all there is to get excited for. Derek Carr is fine, he isn't going to lose them games but he certainly is the worst quarterback in the division. The offensive line is absolutely horrible and the secondary is going to be exposed against teams like the Chargers.
There is a reason why an outlet like Pro Football Focus ranks the Raiders as the 21st most talented team in the league. They have some stars, sure, but they are extremely top-heavy with a new head coach whose last stint with the Denver Broncos was a disaster.