One litmus test is in the books. Another awaits Klint Kubiak and his Las Vegas Raiders. On September 18, 2026, the Silver and Black sit atop the AFC West at 1-0 after a workmanlike 27-13 takedown of the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. But a far more dangerous division foe lurks in Inglewood: the 0-1 Los Angeles Chargers, who were stunned 26-14 by the Arizona Cardinals and now face an early-season pivot point at SoFi Stadium.
According to insights gathered by the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk, the Chargers' Week 1 loss was a sobering reality check for a team widely billed as a playoff dark horse. Head coach Jim Harbaugh didn't mince words afterward: “We made some preseason type of mistakes. Now I wish we played our starters more in the preseason to give them some game reps.” That admission puts added pressure on a Bolts squad desperate to avoid an 0-2 start in a division where the Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs already have a leg up.
Edge-ucational Opportunity: Tuipulotu and Mack
The Chargers' pass-rush tandem of Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack was rendered ineffective by Arizona — Tuipulotu managed five tackles and two quarterback hits, while Mack logged just two stops. That's well below the standard for a duo that blends veteran savvy (Mack is 35) with youthful explosiveness (Tuipulotu is 24). Expect defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to unleash them early and often against Raiders tackles Kolton Miller and DJ Glaze.
Los Angeles will force one-on-one matchups on the edges and deploy Tuipulotu and Mack from the same side to create lethal stunts and twists. Tuipulotu's 6-foot-3, 266-pound frame can cave in gaps and draw double teams, freeing Mack to use his speed-to-power transition for a direct path to the quarterback. That stress won't just fall on the offensive line — tight ends and running backs will be tested in protection, too.
“Execution fuels emotion, so if you execute at a high level everybody's getting excited. When everybody's getting excited, good things happen.” — Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard
Mack, drafted fifth overall by the Raiders in 2014, has historically saved his best for his former team: 13 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, two recoveries, and 42 total tackles in 10 career meetings. New offensive line boss Rick Dennison spent the offseason rebuilding a unit that was disastrous in 2025, and this game will reveal how far Las Vegas has come.
Herb-al Remedy: Justin Herbert's Rebound
The sixth overall pick in 2020, Justin Herbert remains a thorn in the Raiders' side. At 6-foot-6 and 236 pounds, he started well against Arizona before unraveling, finishing 17 of 27 for 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while taking three sacks. Harbaugh has repeatedly called Herbert the engine that drives the Chargers, and a rebound is mandatory.
Herbert owns an 8-3 record against the Silver and Black, completing 255 of 390 passes for 2,909 yards with 22 touchdowns and just three interceptions — but he's also been sacked 22 times by the Raiders. Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard knows Herbert well and will lean on Maxx Crosby and Kwity Paye off the edge, plus disciplined linebacker play from Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, to rattle the franchise quarterback.
Head-to-Head: Series History and SoFi Struggles
Sunday marks the 133rd meeting between these AFC West rivals. The Raiders lead the all-time series 69-62-2 (68-62-2 in the regular season, 1-0 in the playoffs), but the Chargers have won four straight dating back to September 2024. The last Raiders win was a 63-21 shellacking in 2023. Worse, Las Vegas has never won at SoFi Stadium with fans present — its only victory there came in an empty stadium in 2020, and the team is 1-7 overall in the venue.
As highlighted on Vulius, this matchup is a prove-it game for both sides. If Tuipulotu and Mack dominate, the Raiders' offense could grind to a halt. If Herbert rebounds and Crosby leads a disruptive pass rush, Las Vegas could steal a critical road win. Either way, the AFC West pecking order will come into sharper focus on Sunday afternoon.
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