Week 1: Los Angeles Chargers vs Las Vegas Raiders 9/11/22 NFL Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders clash Sunday in week 1 NFL action from SoFi Stadium. The Raiders are fresh off a 10-7 overall campaign last year, finishing in second place in the AFC West and snagging a Wild Card berth. As for the Chargers, they went 9-8 overall last year, landing in third place in the division and failing to make the playoffs. Check back all season long for free NFL picks at Sports Chat Place.

Las Vegas had a pretty turbulent year in 2021, seeing head coach Jon Gruden’s dismissal along the way. The good news is that the Raiders finished 10-7 and bagged a Wild Card spot. Las Vegas’ season would come to an end in that Wild Card game versus the Bengals 26-19. 

The Raiders started things out well in 2022 and managed a perfect preseason campaign. Las Vegas kicked things off with a 27-11 win over the Jaguars, then took out the Vikings 26-20 in week two. In the final game versus the Dolphins, Las Vegas took a 15-13 victory. 

Over on the Chargers’ side, they had quite the choppy season themselves but were on the cusp of a playoff berth until the Week 18 loss to the Raiders. Los Angeles would improve on their 7-9 2020 campaign with a 9-8 mark, but also miss the postseason for the third straight year. 

The Chargers’ preseason was a bit choppy to say the least. Los Angeles kicked things off with a 29-22 loss to the Rams. Game two was a 32-18 defeat at the hands of the Cowboys. On August 26 in game three versus the Saints, the Chargers fell again 27-10 in a rough outcome. 

The Raiders are 5-1 ATS in their last six in Week 1 and 5-2 ATS in their last seven in September. The under is 4-1 in Las Vegas’ last five overall. 

Meanwhile, the Chargers are 7-1-2 ATS in their last 10 in Week 1 and 5-2 ATS in their last seven in September. Los Angeles is 20-41-1 ATS in the last 62 at home. 

PICK: I’m probably staying Raiders here but not touching it. This should be a great matchup though, and depending on how things shake out in the division it could also have playoff implications as well. This series has been even head-to-head over the past four seasons, with each team bagging four victories. It’ll also be a chance for each team to showcase their new toys: LA has Khalil Mack and Mike Williams in the mix, and the Raiders are hoping Davante Adams will provide a boost to their passing attack. I’m thinking this will be Adams’ coming-out party and he’ll post some solid numbers in a pretty tight game. Should be fun.