5 Final Thoughts Ahead of Chargers-Raiders in Week 18

Jan 03, 2025 at 05:00 PM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

The Chargers are 10-6 and in the playoffs as they head to Las Vegas for the regular-season finale.

Kickoff from Allegiant Stadium is at 1:25 p.m. (PT).

The Bolts are 4.5-point favorites over the Raiders, with the over/under at 40 points.

Here are five final thoughts ahead of Week 18:

1. The finale is here

Welcome to the regular-season finale.

The Chargers wrap up their 2024 season on the road but will also have their eyes on playoff seeding, too.

Here are the scenarios for the Bolts, who are currently in the No. 6 spot ahead of Week 18.

If the Steelers lose Saturday night, the Chargers could then claim the No. 5 seed with a win against the Raiders. If that happens, the Bolts would play the Texans in the Wild Card Round.

However, a Pittsburgh win Saturday night against Cincinnati would lock the Bolts into the No. 6 spot, which means a date with the third seed and AFC North winner.

You can bet the Bolts will be paying close attention to what happens in the Steel City.

Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said this week that it's beneficial the Chargers will know where they stand roughly 17 hours before kickoff Sunday.

"It's unbelievable. It's unreal," Roman said. "Once we're done with our meetings, it will probably be halftime or thereabouts [in the Steelers game]. It's just an unbelievable set up, in my mind at least, that we can have that indication ahead of time."

Roman later added: "We're going to add to the viewership."

However, with so much unknown heading into Saturday night, Chargers players and coaches have been full steam ahead getting ready for Week 18.

"We're doing everything we can to win this game," Justin Herbert said. "I think that's the main focus and we can't let anything pull away from our level of preparation and our focus.

"We'll do a great job of watching the Raiders film and do everything we can to be prepared for them," Herbert added. "They're a good football team, much better than the record indicates."

Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter added: "We want to play well in this game and carry momentum into the next game."

No matter what happens this weekend, we know Jim Harbaugh's squad will be playing next weekend, too.

But there is still much to be determined over the next 48 hours or so.

"Our coaches said it best: don't allow anyone else to determine our destiny," Cam Hart said. "What that meant for me is use this game as a game to propel, as a game to catch speed, catch camaraderie, catch this togetherness and chemistry.

"Obviously, this is my first playoffs [coming up], and I think momentum is a big thing in sports and in general," Hart added. "I think you use this game to do what we have to do, similar to last week, catch that momentum and catch that chemistry and catch that camaraderie. I think that will propel us into this week and into the playoffs."

2. The No. 1 defense?

Entering Week 18, the Chargers defense leads the NFL in scoring defense (17.6 points per game allowed).

The Bolts have also allowed 20 or fewer pts in all eight road games this season, the sixth team do to so in the Super Bowl Era.

"It validates your hard work, validates your philosophy and how you operate," Minter said. "But mostly it's a credit to the players and the job that Joe [Hortiz] did putting a group of guys together with different skillsets that could do different things for us."

If the Bolts hold that top spot, it would be the first time they finished first in the Super Bowl Era. (The Chargers also did so in 1961 and 1963).

Does claiming that record mean anything to the Bolts?

"As a competitor, it's certainly good," Minter said. "By playing winning football as a team to get the results we want are most important.

"Somebody brought it up one time all year — about numbers or stats — so we just want to try to keep getting a little bit better each game and try to be playing at our best at the end of the year," Minter added.

Hart concurred.

"That's special, but I think that's not something to celebrate now, that's something to celebrate when it's all said and done," Hart said. "But it's pretty cool being a part of that. That's some of the things you'll always remember, it'll go down in the history books. Those are things to celebrate."

The Raiders offense enters Week 18 averaging 18.1 points per game, good for 28th in the league.

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3. Another record for McConkey?

Ladd McConkey has already inked himself in the record books this season.

The Chargers wide receiver has set rookie records for catches (77) and yards (1,054) so far this season, besting Keenan Allen's marks from 2013.

The 2024 second-round pick can also make NFL history in Week 18 with at least 50 receiving yards.

According to the NFL, McConkey is currently tied with Odell Beckham, Jr. and Malik Nabers with nine straight games of at least 50 receiving yards. Beckham set the record in 2014 while Nabers, of course, is a rookie this season.

McConkey began his streak with 111 yards back in Week 8 against the Saints.

Overall, he has averaged 70.3 receiving yards per game this season.