LA Chargers: 3 matchups that will determine Week 4 outcome vs. Las Vegas Raiders
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers host the Las Vegas Raiders in the team's first primetime game of the season on Monday Night Football. The Raiders sit atop the AFC West with a 3-0 record while the Bolts are coming off of a huge win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3.
The Chargers can get a share of first place in the division (assuming the Denver Broncos lose) with a win over the Raiders while the Raiders can prove to NFL pundits that they are the real deal with a win over the hot Chargers.
It is as important as a Week 4 game can be, especially with the Chargers having two tough games against Baltimore and Cleveland in the next two weeks. If the Bolts are going to win, they are going to have to win very specific matchups.
The 3 matchups that will decide the Week 4 outcome between the LA Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders:
1. Casey Hayward vs. Mike Williams/Keenan Allen
Casey Hayward is having a bounce-back season thus far and we already explained why we think the LA Chargers will expose him on Monday night. Hayward can't really play in the slot so he is going to have to go up against either Mike Williams or Keenan Allen all night.
As alluded to, we are confident that the Charger receivers can have a great game in this matchup but it is still important that they do so. The Raiders' defense isn't that great on paper and after seeing what the Chargers did to Kansas City, there is a good chance that the Chargers can make sure that this game is not even close.
If Hayward shocks us and has yet another strong game against the Bolts then the Chargers are going to be scrambling a bit more. Justin Herbert is going to have to target the likes of Jalen Guyton and the tight ends more, which is fine, but not as dynamic as targeting Mike Williams and Keenan Allen.