The Matchup That Will Decide Raiders' Week 13 Fate

Thomas Valentine is a sports writer for Pro Football Focus, and he wrote an article previewing every matchup in Week 13. For the Raiders game against the Chargers, he believes the matchup that will determine the game will be how Smith will deal with the pressure the Chargers will be sending his way.

"A big issue for the Raiders in 2025 is Smith’s ability to handle pressure. The veteran quarterback has been pressured on 39.4% of his dropbacks and has seen ghosts when under heat. His 35.5 overall PFF grade when pressured is fourth-lowest among quarterbacks, and his six interceptions are second-most", said Valentine.

The last time these two teams played was in Week 2, where the Chargers were able to sack Smith three times for a total of 30 yards lost. Smith is coming off a performance where he was sacked 10 times by the Cleveland Browns' defense, so their offensive line has never been more shaky than it is right now.

"The Chargers’ defensive front has pressured opposing quarterbacks on 36.1% of its dropbacks — the 17th-highest rate in the league. If the unit can get after Smith, it will be able to turn the tide of the game in Los Angeles’ favor".

Smith hasn't done a good job of navigating pressure all season, as there's only been one game where he wasn't sacked at least once. The Raiders can capitalize on their offensive coaching change by running their offense with tempo and getting the ball out of Smith's hands as quickly as possible.

This may lead to some turnovers, but the Raiders don't have anything to lose. They've already lost five consecutive games. Why not go for something different and stick it to a divisional rival, trying to get back some of the respect they've lost in their continuous losses?