After the Kansas City Chiefs dropped to 0-2 and the Denver Broncos fell to 1-1, the stakes for the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers are that much higher. The winner of “Monday Night Football” will claim sole possession of the lead of the AFC West, at least for a week.

A fun fact of this Week 2 tilt between the Raiders and Chargers is the head-coaching battle. Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh currently share a 6-6 tie in their head-to-head coaching record across college football and the NFL. Caroll leads with a 5-4 record as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers, respectively. Harbaugh leads with a 2-1 record while the pair coached Stanford and USC, respectively.

Who will get the win in this NFL Week 2 matchup? A to Z Sports’ staff writers share their predictions below.

Chargers 28, Raiders 21

The Chargers will take the trip to Las Vegas to face their division rival on Monday night. The two teams enter the primetime match-up 1-0, and both are feeling optimistic about their seasons. The Chargers looked terrific offensively in Week 1 against the Chiefs, and quarterback Justin Herbert played one of his best games as a pro. The receiving core looked very deep as Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston all made plays for the Bolts. The key to the Chargers’ win last week was the time Herbert had to throw, and that was primarily due to Joe Alt, who was outstanding at left tackle following the season-ending injury to Rashawn Slater. Alt will have his hands full with Maxx Crosby this week, and if he can handle business, I expect the Chargers offense to move the ball with ease. I expect a high-scoring game as both offenses proved they can move the football, but I trust Herbert more than I do Geno Smith.

– Brentley Weismann, A to Z Sports, Los Angeles Chargers

Raiders 27, Chargers 24

I know what it looks like, but I legitimately think the Raiders are a much different team than the one we are used to seeing. I think that knocking the rust off in Week 1 against the New England Patriots in a game played in wet conditions will only help them get ready for a game in perfect conditions. Their offense appears to be very good, and I’m not sure the Chargers’ defense is as strong, as evidenced by the Kansas City Chiefs’ performance on the offensive side of the ball in Week 1. With Ahston Jeanty being unleashed more against a defensive line that may be weaker at run defense, and the passing game being more accessible, I can see the Raiders having the horses to outscore LAC in this one.

– Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports, Las Vegas Raiders

Chargers 30, Raiders 17

Jim Harbaugh reeled quarterback Justin Herbert in a little too much in 2024 with his ground-and-pound approach, so it was nice to see Herbert go back to slinging the ball around in Week 1 against the Chiefs. While Harbaugh will still want balance with the run game in his offense, I think he’ll continue to let Herbert throw the ball more than last year. I give the Raiders credit for getting a road win in New England last week, but the Patriots were surprisingly flat. That likely won’t be the case for the confident Chargers, who are simply on another level talent-wise than Las Vegas.

– Nick Roesch, A to Z Sports, Kansas City Chiefs

Chargers 28, Raiders 27

The Chargers had double-digit wins over the Raiders last season, but I think this game will be much closer. Coaching is the great equalizer in the NFL, and these teams both have excellent head coaches who have been around the block a few times. In my eyes, this is the type of game that’s going to come down to who blinks first. I think the Las Vegas Raiders have more weaknesses coming into this game on paper, but it’s ultimately going to be up to Chargers QB Justin Herbert to rise to the occasion.

– Charles Goldman, A to Z Sports, Kansas City Chiefs

Chargers 32, Raiders 21

Justin Herbert has been written off more times than I can count. The Los Angeles Chargers put on a clinic on offense, giving Herbert plenty of opportunities to shine in their Week 1 win against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was perhaps Herbert’s best game as a pro as he cut through the Chiefs’ defense to the tune of 318 yards with three touchdowns. The Raiders were no slouch either, as they defeated the New England Patriots in Week 1 with their new-look offense doing enough to secure the victory. However, they have a much taller task on their hands with the Herbert-led offense. While Ashton Jeanty will make life difficult for the Chargers, the Raiders, with Geno Smith, will fall short in the matchup after a monster fourth quarter from the Chargers. Maxx Crosby adds a few sacks to boot, but ultimately it’s going to be the Chargers’ day.

– Adam Zientek, A to Z Sports, Denver Broncos

Final Verdict: Chargers take down the Raiders in prime time to claim the AFC West lead

The Chargers went 4-1 in our predictions, and if that means anything, they could be 2-0 for the second consecutive year. They’ve proven to be a well-coached football team under Jim Harbaugh, that can win through the air with Justin Herbert or pound the rock with a dynamic running game and Greg Roman’s scheme. Chargers DC Jesse Minter has done a lot with an underrated unit and has them playing some really great football to start the 2025 NFL season.

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