The Carroll vs. Harbaugh rivalry enters the next round!

The second day of NFL action concludes in Sin City! The franchise based there is undoubtedly one of the most popular teams in the entire league. And for “The Silver and Black,” a new chapter has begun this season, which got off to a successful start last week.

Traveling to Nevada is a team that made a big statement on the first matchday: the Los Angeles Chargers. The California franchise won against their division rivals from Kansas City in week one. Now that the Las Vegas Raiders are hosting the Los Angeles Chargers, the betting odds clearly show that the bookmakers are giving the visitors a clear favorite status. But that’s not all, because the clash between the two franchises offers another storyline.

The Nevada franchise was once again completely turned upside down in the offseason and is now on the road with a new head coach. Unlike other teams that rely on young head coaching talent, the Raiders brought an experienced man onto their staff. Pete Carroll, probably best known for his time with the Seahawks, took over the reins despite his impressive 73 years of age. He also brought an old acquaintance, quarterback Geno Smith, whom he had previously brought to Seattle, to the Mojave Desert.

The offense got off to a good start in the 20-13 win over the Patriots in Week 1. In addition to tight end Brock Bowers, it was mainly wide receivers Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker who Smith repeatedly sought out as targets. However, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, who was drafted with high expectations, failed to impress with only two yards per carry.

Even better than the Raiders offense was the LA offense, which racked up a total of 394 offensive yards. Over 300 of those came via pass, and it was striking how many playmakers quarterback Justin Herbert consistently found in the passing game. A total of four receivers caught balls for at least 50 yards, and that’s exactly what made the team so unpredictable.

Just how necessary this was is also underlined by the statistics for the running game. Rookie Omarion Hampton had 15 carries, but only managed a modest 3.2 yards per attempt.

Las Vegas Raiders – Los Angeles Chargers Head-to-head comparison / H2H record

However, Carroll’s team’s passing defense allowed 276 passing yards for New England, and now – on paper – an even better passing offense awaits. Against the Chiefs, everyone, even the opposing defensive coordinator, expected a game plan built around the running game. However, head coach Jim Harbaugh proved that he is quite willing to neglect this and put the game in the hands of quarterback Justin Herbert.

The best storyline of the game, however, is that this matchup represents another chapter in the Carroll-Harbaugh rivalry. The rivalry between the two head coaches dates back to college level. Carroll’s “What’s your deal?” words to Harbaugh after USC’s 21-55 loss to Stanford in 2009 are unforgettable. The rivalry reached its peak in 2013 when the two coaches faced each other in the NFC Championship Game – with a happier ending for Carroll and Seattle at the time. Now, as between 2011 and 2014, they are once again coaching teams in the same division. This means there will be two direct matchups this season, with plenty of room for new headlines.

Speaking of the division, due to their affiliation, there have already been 131 duels between the two franchises. Of the last ten meetings, “The Silver and Black” have won only four. Overall, however, the Raiders are narrowly ahead with 69 wins.

Las Vegas Raiders – Los Angeles Chargers Tip

However, we’re going to venture a prediction between the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers that LA will come away with the win. Not only did the California team impress in their season opener, but they are also at least one step ahead of their hosts in terms of development. However, as the value for a straight win prediction is manageable, we are predicting a victory by at least three points.

In our opinion, the over/under of 46.5 points is set too high by the bookmakers. Despite the aggressive offense around Geno Smith, we don’t believe the hosts will be able to break the 20-point mark. This is also due to the fact that Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is still questionable. However, the signs point to him playing.

If Bowers plays, he is of course a hot candidate for a touchdown. Nevertheless, we are sticking to our guns and betting on the Chargers in this scenario as well. After two successful visits to the end zone in week one, we are tempted by the betting odds offered on Quentin Johnston. There may even be a betting boost available for this.