Raiders at Chargers
THE STORY: The San Diego Chargers have made a habit of starting slowly and digging themselves into early-season holes in the past few years. San Diego bucked that trend this season, opening with four wins in its first five games. Now, the Chargers are mired in a three-game losing streak as they prepare to host the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night with first place in the AFC West on the line. It will mark the third game in 11 days for San Diego, which is tied with the Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs for the division lead. Oakland has lost its last two games to division rivals Kansas City and Denver.
TV: NFL Network, 8:20 p.m. ET. LINE: Chargers -7, O/U 47.5
ABOUT THE RAIDERS (4-4): After dropping back-to-back home games, Oakland plays four of its next five on the road. The Raiders are 0-2 since losing QB Jason Campbell to injury and blew a pair of 10-point leads in Sunday’s 38-24 loss to the Broncos. QB Carson Palmer threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns, but he was also intercepted three times, giving him six picks in 1 ½ games. Michael Bush rushed for 96 yards in place of Darren McFadden, who is expected to sit out again with a sprained foot suffered in a loss to Kansas City on Oct. 23.
ABOUT THE CHARGERS (4-4): Philip Rivers has become a turnover machine for San Diego, tossing a career-high three interceptions in Sunday’s 45-38 home loss to Green Bay. He now has a league-leading 14 picks – one more than he had all of last season. Rivers, who had two interceptions returned for scores, did rebound to throw for 385 yards and four TDs – three to stud WR Vincent Jackson. RB Ryan Mathews could return Thursday after sitting out Sunday. Backup Mike Tolbert rushed for 83 yards and a TD and had four catches for 59 yards. TE Antonio Gates tied a season high with eight catches.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Oakland swept both meetings with the Chargers last season, winning in San Diego 28-13 while amassing 251 yards on the ground.
2. Rivers’ passing rating stands at 81.4. He finished the past three seasons with a rating above 100.
3. Palmer had his best game of the season against San Diego a year ago, throwing for four TDs and just missing a perfect passer rating (157.2).