Monday Night Football Betting Preview: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders

The final game of the NFL Week 4 schedule will take place in Los Angeles when the Los Angeles Chargers host the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium. The Raiders enter this game with a 3-0 record, while the Chargers are off to an impressive 2-1 start of their own.

To win this game, though, both teams may have to play the best game they have through the first month of the season.

Las Vegas Raiders

Last week, the Las Vegas Raiders survived a slow start and a comeback from the Miami Dolphins, beating the Dolphins in overtime. That game, the second overtime win of the season for the Raiders, pushed Las Vegas to 3-0 on the year. On Monday night, the Raiders will need to slow down the best passing attack they have seen so far this season, as Justin Herbert and the Chargers have plenty of firepower through the air.

The most impressive thing about Las Vegas’ 3-0 start is that they have done it without getting much out of Josh Jacobs. Jacobs has been injured for much of the season thus far, rushing for just 34 yards on ten carries for the season to this point. He is questionable again this week, in which the Raiders are three-point underdogs, but the Raiders have proven that they can have success without him.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers moved to 2-1 on the season with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs last week. Justin Herbert led a game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes of the game to put the Chargers over the top in that key division game. And the Chargers will hope for similar success against a division opponent at home on Monday Night Football in this matchup with the Raiders.

If the Chargers are going to pick up a third win in four weeks, they will need to see red-zone production similar to what they got last week against the Chiefs. After struggling to score from inside the 20 over the first two games, the Chargers scored four touchdowns in the red zone against Kansas City. Similar production within enemy territory could help the Chargers leapfrog the Raiders in the AFC West standings.

Keys to the Game

The biggest key to this game for both teams is going to be focus and execution. With this being a division game, and with the AFC West being so competitive this season, there is always the possibility of emotions derailing the focus of those on the field. The team that does a better job of reigning those emotions in and taking care of the task at hand will have a massive edge in this important game.

Furthermore, quarterback play will be key to this contest, as Derek Carr and Justin Herbert have both been excellent so far this season. Both defenses have effective pass rushers that could take the quarterbacks out of their comfort zone.

Being able to overcome that pressure and deliver the ball accurately while avoiding mistakes could be what decides this contest when all is said and done.