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Simply once you thought issues could not worsen for the Los Angeles Chargers (5-9), they by some means outdid themselves in an embarrassing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders (6-8) on “Thursday Evening Soccer,” falling 63-21. Listed below are three takeaways from the Raiders’ one-sided victory:
Chargers HC Brandon Staley is pretty much as good as gone: If it wasn’t already a foregone conclusion, the Chargers’ efficiency in Week 15 all however assured Staley’s destiny.
The Chargers appeared lifeless from the soar and confirmed little, if any, battle as soon as the sport obtained out of hand. Within the blink of a watch, the Raiders had a 21-0 benefit by the primary quarter earlier than including on to guide 42-0 at halftime, the most important deficit confronted by the Chargers within the franchise’s historical past. On the break, a visibly distraught Staley admitted to sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung that his crew “didn’t come able to play,” which may be the understatement of the 12 months.
Credit score to Staley for taking his medication, but when former Seattle Seahawks All-Professional Richard Sherman had his means, he’d have canned the top coach earlier than the beginning of the third quarter.
Following Thursday’s rock-bottom second, the writing is on the wall for Staley and the Chargers. Change is on the way in which. The one query is whether or not he’ll be employed come Monday.
Raiders offense did what they appreciated vs. Chargers: Every week faraway from a 3-0 shutout loss in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings, the offense was unstoppable on Thursday. Led by QB Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas produced its highest-scoring output in franchise historical past, surpassing the earlier mark of 59 (2010).
O’Connell threw for 248 yards (7.3 YPA) whereas turning into the primary Raiders QB since Daryle Lamonica (1969) to throw 4 first-half TDs. In the meantime, he joins Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis and Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud as the one rookies to have 4 passing scores in a recreation this season. Unsurprisingly, O’Connell wasn’t the one Raider to affix the scoring parade. Eight totally different Raiders discovered the top zone, probably the most by a crew because the 1950 Los Angeles Rams.
Whereas the Raiders made historical past on the scoreboard, so did the Chargers, solely not in the way in which they might have appreciated. The 63 factors in opposition to is probably the most allowed in a recreation by the Chargers, topping the earlier mark of 57 factors set in 2000.
Raiders protection continues to shine: A vivid spot many of the 12 months, the protection has stepped it up a notch because the bye week. They shut out the Chargers within the first half after permitting solely three factors to the Vikings per week in the past in a 3-0 loss. The unit did quit 21 factors, however all of them got here with the sport effectively in hand.
In opposition to a hapless Chargers offense led by QB Easton Stick, they took full benefit and did not enable their first rating till the crew had constructed up a commanding 49-0 lead. In the meantime, they completed the night time with 5 takeaways (4 fumbles, one interception), together with a fumble restoration for a rating from defensive sort out John Jenkins and a pick-six by cornerback Jack Jones.
After the win, the Raiders are 6-8, and imagine it or not, they’re nonetheless alive within the AFC playoff race. In the event that they’re to remain within the hunt, they’re going to want their protection to maintain acting at a excessive stage.
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