Week 17: Finishing Strong - RAIDERS @ LA Chargers 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Happy New Years Eve Raider Nation! This year didn't go the way we expected, but it's all about finishing the year strong at this point. This is the 1st half open thread and discussion of the Raiders-Chargers Week 17 matchup to close out the 2017 season. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

OAK 10 LAC 20

Wild finish in the 2nd quarter as both offenses started to generate some points. Raiders offense got going with Derek Carr's 87-yard bomb to Amari Cooper for the game-tying TD. My only gripe is they've waited until the end of the season to go deep, especially on 3rd down. Where was that all season? Even though Carr did throw some deep balls to Holton in the Denver game and Miami game. Still what happened to just letting it rip and take shots on the field? On that play, it was 3rd and 23 and we thought it was going to be another check down. But Carr stayed patient in the pocket and saw Coop streaking in the open field to have that TD play happen. I'll admit, the playbook is opening up this game, but we're still seeing predictable screens and run plays and penalties negating some big plays. Seth Roberts has been a relatively good blocking receiver, but he's costed the team twice with some illegal blocking penalties. On the defensive side, Philip Rivers and the Chargers offense were gonna be a pretty daunting test for the defense under Pagano and it has been as advertised as the Chargers dropped 3 TDs this game. They really have to slow that unit down, especially they need to find ways to contain Gordon and Benjamin because that is their lightning rods on offense outside of Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates if they get going. On offense, nothing to lose here, so keep taking shots down field but at the same time, Carr's gotta be smart. That last play that ended up in an INT was not great at all with Coop handling double coverage. The 2nd half will open up shortly.

Q1

OAK 0 LAC 0

We go scoreless in the first quarter. Both offenses struggled to get going. Better execution from the Raiders on the 2nd drive. They got Crabtree and Cook involved in the passing game (where was that the whole season) and Marshawn Lynch exploiting the weak rush defense of the Chargers. But as usual, it was marred by a holding penalty and they had to settle for predictable screens. The biggest thing this defense needs to do is contain Melvin Gordon and watch where Travis Benjamin is lined up. That's where the Chargers offense gets going.