San Diego Chargers vs Oakland PointSpread Preview

San Diego at Oakland (+10, 43) – 10:15 PM ET

Like the Bills, the Raiders meet a division rival against which they’ve had little success in recent years when they take on the Chargers on Monday night.

Oakland hasn’t defeated San Diego since going to the Super Bowl back in January of 2003, making it 12 losses (1-11 ATS) in a row against the Bolts. True to form, the Raiders had an offseason filled with controversy, starting with the selection of wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh overall pick in the NFL draft. Heyward-Bey was well down the board according to most analysts, but that didn’t stop Oakland from nabbing the speedster ahead of the likes of Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin.

Just when all seemed settled in the Bay Area, new head coach Tom Cable allegedly assaulted defensive assistant Randy Hanson in training camp, fracturing his jaw. Cable denies the allegation, but the reality is the spotlight is on the Black & Silver once again – for all the wrong reasons.

San Diego is the favorite in the AFC West, but that says as much about the division as it does about the Chargers. The Bolts have a lot to prove after going 8-8 (7-8-1 ATS) last season, even if they finished strong by capturing the division before upsetting Indianapolis in the playoffs. San Diego needs to make strides on the defensive side of the ball after ranking 25th overall last season, and the hope is Shawne Merriman’s return from knee surgery will make the difference.

Look for the Bolts to establish the running game in the early going, even if Philip Rivers is now the key to their offense. LaDainian Tomlinson had a mediocre season by his lofty standards in ’08, forcing many to wonder aloud if the 30-year old is past his prime. San Diego needs a healthy rushing attack if it’s going to get past the AFC’s elite teams – and LT is a big part of that equation.