NFL Oakland RaidersSan Diego Chargers

Predicting the Final Score of Chargers vs. Raiders In Week 6

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In the wake of both teams having rumors this week to move to Los Angeles next season, the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders have two very different storylines for the season. The Chargers are enjoying a hot start with quarterback Philip Rivers being in MVP talks, while the Raiders just fired coach Dennis Allen and are 0-4 searching for their first win of the season.

The Raiders will be led this week by former Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, as he was named the interim head coach last week. Rookie Derek Carr will start the game for the black and silver. Carr has shown great potential and looks to be a long-term project for the Raiders, who are not solely 0-4 because of the QB.

Rivers, on the other hand, has looked like he is at the top of his game thus far in 2014. Rivers is first in the NFL in passer rating (116.3) and total QBR (84.8). He also is first in completion percentage (70.3) and yards per attempt (8.75) and is tied for second in touchdown passes (9). The Chargers have had many injuries on the offensive line and a weak running game due to injury to Ryan Mathews and Donald Brown, but Rivers has picked up the slack and has looked like a true leader this season.

Also during this week, the Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie showed interest in former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren. McKenzie worked for Holmgren in Green Bay, but they haven’t ruled out Sparano for the job. If Sparano finishes the season with a strong winning record he will be in the talks for the position, but Holmgren is by the far the favorite if he is interested.

Rivers stated this week that anything can happen in a division game, and he’s certainly correct. Don’t expect the Raiders to lay down and get whipped by a surging Chargers team. Oakland was able to knock off San Diego at home last season, 27-17, by forcing four turnovers, three of them from Rivers. With the team being in the headlines about moving and who will be their coach, the Raiders should be playing hard with a chip on their shoulder to prove to everybody they can win games. This one will be closer then expected, but the Chargers have too many weapons and key veterans on offense against an extremely bad and struggling Raiders defense.

Prediction: Chargers 23, Raiders 13

James Carnes is a NFL and College Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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