Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY
TV Schedule: Sunday, Oct. 6, 11:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network
Stadium: O.Co Coliseum
Weather: Low 53, High 72
Line: San Diego (-4.5)
The San Diego Chargers are one of the NFL‘s early-season surprises. Philip Rivers has been as good as almost any quarterback through four weeks for the 2-2 Chargers, but it’s not just him who has stepped up. Sure, Rivers has 1,199 yards and 11 touchdowns, but Antonio Gates has had a big hand in the veteran quarterback’s success. Gates, a tight end, leads all receivers with 25 catches for 364 yards and two touchdowns, seeing somewhat of a career resurgence in 2013. Ryan Matthews leads all running backs with 64 carries for 226 yards and no scores this season.
On the other side of the field, the Oakland Raiders are not what people would consider a surprise. Terrelle Pryor might just be categorized as such, however, at the quarterback position. No one is that surprised that the Raiders are a measly 1-3. In fact, people might be more surprised at the fact that they’ve actually won a game this season. Pryor, who got injured in week three, has 624 passing yards and just two touchdowns, but he is a dual-threat, giving him another 198 yards on the ground. The Raiders will hope Darren McFadden and Pryor can manage their way back into the starting lineup before week five.
Defensively, the Chargers have not given Rivers any help on this side of the ball. In fact, the Chargers are the third-worst team in terms of yards allowed per game this season with 432 per contest. The Raiders continue to have an average defense that ranks in the middle of the league in nearly every major category.
PREDICTION: Chargers 34, Raiders 17
Related: Oakland Raiders’ Backfield Plagued with Injuries
Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates Historically Good in San Diego Chargers’ No-Huddle Attack
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at .
