A glance at the Raiders and Chargers by advanced metrics

The last time we previewed the Raiders and Chargers using advanced metrics, the Raiders ranked No. 15 overall, while the Chargers sat at No. 19 overall. While the Chargers have held firm, upping their overall DVOA rank ever-so-slightly to No. 18, the Raiders have tumbled down to No. 25 overall during their four game losing streak.

To get back on track, the Raiders will have to rely on their ground game as usual, pounding the rock against the Chargers No. 23 rush defense while not allowing gameplan wreckers like Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, and Derwin James to create game-changing turnovers.

The Raiders pulled out a spirited 26-24 victory over Los Angeles (calling them that still doesn’t sit right) by forcing a trio of interceptions. They could replicate that again given how sporadic the Chargers have been lately. After decimating the Jaguars 45-10, they ran into a brick wall at home in a 39-10 loss to the Vikings.

Somehow, the Raiders passing offense is still proving to be efficient, and thus sits at No. 10 overall by DVOA. If that efficiency holds up and the ground game is working, the Raiders could snap their losing streak.

If you’d like to know more about DVOA, click here.

DVOA Breakdown:

Raiders

Overall DVOA: 13.5 percent below average, No. 25 overall

Team Offense: 4.8 percent above average, No. 10 overall

(No. 10 overall in pass offense, No. 18 overall in rush offense)

Team Defense: 16.3 percent below average, No. 31 overall

(No. 31 overall in pass defense, No. 29 overall in rush defense)

Chargers

Overall DVOA: 6.0 percent below average, No. 18 overall

Team Offense: 2.2 percent above average, No. 13 overall

(No. 12 overall in pass offense, No. 23 overall in rush offense)

Team Defense: 4.6 percent below average, No. 21 overall

(No. 19 overall in pass defense, No. 23 overall in rush defense)

DYAR Breakdown:

Despite a no-show in the second half against Jacksonville, Derek Carr’s DYAR rank went up one spot for the second consecutive week. He now sits at No. 7 overall and is No. 9 overall by DVOA. Despite all his flaws, there’s no question that Carr has been efficient at the helm of this offense.

Philip Rivers has been a bit more inconsistent this season and sits at No. 14 in DYAR, a stat that measures cumulative value.

Josh Jacobs places at No. 9 in rushing DYAR, dropping two spots after being bottled up by a rabid Jaguars defensive line. Melvin Gordon is No. 30 across his limited time after missing a few games due to holding out, while Austin Ekeler sits at No. 32, showing that he’s clearly more of a thread out of the backfield than between the tackles.

Tyrell Williams bumped up his rank one spot to No. 28 in receiving DYAR this week, and surprisingly Mike Williams sits ahead of Keenan Allen by said metric. The Chargers presumed WR2 places at No. 16, while their top option sits at No. 24.

DYAR paints Darren Waller as a massive Pro Bowl snub. He’s now far and away the No. 1 tight end by DYAR with Travis Kelce placing at No. 2. Tight end DYAR shows just how dominant the AFC West is when it comes to tight ends, especially considering that Hunter Henry (who missed multiple games this year) still places No. 6 overall in the cumulative stat.