Kickoff: 1:05 p.m. Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium
Series: This is the 100th meeting between the teams. Oakland owns a 54-43-2 advantage in the series, which has been dominated by the Chargers in recent times. The Chargers have won 12 straight and the last six at Qualcomm Stadium.
Player to watch: Richard Seymour, DE
The veteran pass rusher brought an infusion of talent and energy to the Oakland defense after being traded from New England before the season for a first-round draft pick in 2011. The five-time Pro Bowler has four sacks this season, including two against the Chargers in the season opener. He recorded the other two in an upset over Philadelphia two weeks ago. He also has 25 tackles and a forced fumble. Seymour guaranteed the Raiders would make the postseason in an interview a few weeks back, and while that may be a bit far-fetched, he has made the defense more difficult to deal with.
Offense
The Raiders have struggled mightily in this department, largely due to poor quarterback play. Former No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell has been awful this season, and was benched last Sunday against the New York Jets after a three-turnover performance in less than two quarters. Russell has been given the start against the Chargers, which could elevate his play or simply make matters worse for this moribund attack. The Chargers struggled covering TE Zach Miller in the first matchup, and he leads the team with 369 yards and a touchdown. WR Louis Muprhy has also been productive, with 232 yards and a TD. RBs Michael Bush and Justin Fargas has become the feature back with Darren McFadden out with injury.
Defense
The Raiders rank No. 28 in the NFL in total defense. They're allowing 377 yards and 25.3 points per game, which helps explain their 2-5 record. They're especially bad against the run, allowing 169 rushing yards per contest. Seymour and DE Greg Ellis are standout pass rushers, but a soft interior makes Oakland easy to rush against. MLB Kirk Morrison is a sound tackler, but there isn't much around him to help stop offenses.
Noteworthy
Morrison and WR Chaz Schilens ---- who has missed the season with injury ---- are both San Diego State grads. Head coach Norv Turner was Raiders head coach from 2004-05. Oakland owner Al Davis was a coach for the Chargers from 1960-62. ... The Chargers made a pair of transactions on Tuesday. They cut defensive back Simeon Castille, who played special teams against Kansas City after being signed off of the practice squad the day before. They re-signed Dante Hughes, who was signed last week before being cut for Castille. They also added offensive tackle and La Costa Canyon High grad Joe Toledo to the practice squad.
---- Scott Bair
