Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Sunday September 20 2026

Sunday's Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers picks feature an AFC West favorite whose price has already come down. Los Angeles opened around -8.5 and is now laying 6.5, while the total has risen to 43.5. Las Vegas beat Miami 27-13 in Week 1, and the Chargers were upset 26-14 by Arizona.

Justin Herbert gives the Chargers a quarterback advantage over Kirk Cousins, but Los Angeles left the opener with questions on offense and an injury to top receiver Ladd McConkey. The Raiders' defense was much sharper in Week 1, and the current number gives Las Vegas nearly a touchdown of protection.

Best Available Odds for Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers

• Moneyline: Las Vegas +245, Los Angeles -305
• Spread: Las Vegas +6.5 (-110), Los Angeles -6.5 (-110)
• Total: Over 43.5 (-110), Under 43.5 (-110)

Game Info

• Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
• Kickoff: 4:05 PM ET
• Venue: SoFi Stadium
• Location: Inglewood, California
• Current spread: Los Angeles Chargers -6.5
• Current total: 43.5
• Conditions: Covered stadium environment; weather should not affect the game

Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers Preview

The Raiders' offense was productive enough to win comfortably despite mistakes. Cousins threw two interceptions and the offense lost two fumbles, yet Las Vegas still scored 27. Ashton Jeanty helped stabilize the attack with two touchdowns and gives the Raiders a way to reduce the number of obvious passing downs Cousins faces.

Los Angeles opened Mike McDaniel's tenure as offensive coordinator with an efficient first drive but scored only one more touchdown the rest of the game. Herbert threw for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The offense moved in stretches, but Arizona repeatedly forced the Chargers to settle into longer drives and eventually capitalized on mistakes.

McConkey is the injury that can change the matchup. He led the Chargers with 82 receiving yards and a touchdown before leaving Week 1 with a rib injury, and he opened this week without practicing. If he is limited, Herbert loses his most reliable separator against a Raiders secondary that played well in the opener.

Las Vegas can also attack Los Angeles up front with Maxx Crosby and a defense that allowed only 13 points in Week 1. The Chargers surrendered 393 yards to Arizona, which raises questions about whether they should be laying close to a touchdown simply because they are at home.

The spread has moved from -8.5 to -6.5, crossing through seven. That is a major adjustment and means Raiders bettors missed the best opener but still get the key hook below a touchdown. The total has moved up from roughly 42.5 to 43.5 despite injury uncertainty in the Chargers receiving corps.

Crosby is the defender most capable of changing the Chargers' plan. Herbert handles pressure well, but consistent edge disruption can force Los Angeles to keep a tight end or back in protection. That reduces the number of routes downfield and becomes even more important if McConkey cannot play his usual role. Las Vegas can stay inside the spread by making the Chargers drive the field one short completion at a time.

Matchup Breakdown

Las Vegas should build the game around Jeanty and play action. Cousins does not need to challenge Herbert in a pure passing contest if the Raiders can create manageable third downs. Every long possession also reduces the number of opportunities the Chargers have to exploit their quarterback advantage.

The Chargers' best matchup is Herbert against the Raiders secondary when he has time. McDaniel can create space with motion and condensed formations, but those concepts are less dangerous if McConkey is unavailable or limited. Los Angeles may need to rely more heavily on the run game and tight ends.

SoFi removes weather from the equation, so the total comes down to efficiency. Both defenses have reasons to believe they can create negative plays, and both offenses have incentives to use the run game rather than increase pace. That makes 43.5 a useful Under number.

Turnovers are the primary risk to both bets. Las Vegas got away with four giveaways and potential giveaways in Week 1, and a repeat against Herbert could create short fields that turn the game into a comfortable Chargers win. The Raiders have to be much cleaner with the ball.

The divisional history also supports expecting a physical game. Los Angeles has had the recent series edge, but familiarity means the Raiders know the Chargers' protection calls and defensive tendencies. Las Vegas does not need to invent a new game plan; it needs to execute the same run-first, defense-first approach that worked against Miami without the turnovers.

The Raiders also need to improve their third-down offense after the second-half slowdown against Miami. A run-first plan only works if Cousins can convert manageable third downs and keep the defense rested. Three-and-outs would give Herbert too many possessions and undermine both the underdog spread and the Under.

Los Angeles also has to improve its own run efficiency after gaining only 81 rushing yards in Week 1. Herbert is capable of carrying the offense, but asking him to throw on obvious downs makes Crosby more dangerous and increases the chance of sacks or hurried throws. A more balanced Chargers plan helps the favorite win, but it also keeps the clock moving and supports the Under.

Game Thesis: Los Angeles should win because Herbert is the best quarterback in the matchup, but the Chargers have not shown enough offensive continuity to justify a wide margin. Las Vegas can keep the game close with Jeanty, pass rush and a slower possession count, which also supports a total below 44.

Raiders vs Chargers Best Bet - Total: Under 43.5 (-110)

Under 43.5 is the best bet because the Chargers are still adjusting offensively and may not have McConkey at full strength, while Las Vegas can lean on a run-heavy approach to protect Cousins. Both teams have defensive fronts capable of ending drives with sacks or negative runs.

The risk is short-field scoring from turnovers. Cousins cannot repeat Week 1's ball-security mistakes. If the Raiders play cleaner, a 23-20 type of game becomes the most natural outcome.

Raiders vs Chargers Spread Pick: Las Vegas +6.5 (-110)

Las Vegas +6.5 is the secondary play because the Raiders can lose by a field goal or six and still cash. The line has already crossed down through seven, but +6.5 still gives meaningful protection in a divisional game where familiarity tends to reduce the favorite's schematic surprises.

The number would be stronger at +7. If the market returns there, the added key-number protection would improve the wager materially.

Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers 23, Las Vegas Raiders 20