The Las Vegas Raiders visit SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon with a chance to do something they have not managed since 2024: beat the Los Angeles Chargers. Las Vegas arrives at 1-0 after a 27-13 win over Miami. Los Angeles arrives at 0-1 after an upset home loss to Arizona. The spread still sides with the Chargers, but the number has already ticked down from where it opened. That movement is the first clue to where the value sits, and our headline play leans directly on it.
Last Updated: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers — Time & How to Watch
| Where | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood CA |
| When | Sunday, September 20 – 4:05 PM ET |
| TV | CBS |
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers Betting Preview
The Raiders opened the Klint Kubiak era with a complete performance. Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes against Miami. Ashton Jeanty piled up 147 scrimmage yards. The defense was the real story, though. Las Vegas recorded five sacks, forced two takeaways, and held the Dolphins to 2-of-10 on third down. Through one week the Raiders rank seventh in total defense at 259.0 yards allowed per game and sixth in scoring defense at 13.0 points per game.
Los Angeles had the opposite opener. The Chargers scored on their first possession and then went quiet in a 26-14 loss, with Justin Herbert finishing 17-of-27 for 209 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jim Harbaugh called the performance “sloppy at times” in his week-one review. The offensive line was the central problem. Rookie center Jake Slaughter made his debut in a front five that has been reshuffled repeatedly since Tyler Biadasz was lost in August.
Health matters on both sides. Tight end Brock Bowers is doubtful with a knee injury after returning to practice on a limited basis, and cornerback Darien Porter is out. For the Chargers, guard Trey Pipkins III and safety Elijah Molden are out, while receiver Ladd McConkey is questionable with a rib injury. McConkey led Los Angeles with 82 receiving yards and a score before exiting in Week 1. History leans hard toward the home side. The Chargers have won the last four meetings, and the Raiders have dropped five straight at SoFi Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raiders | +6.5 (-105) | +255 | U 43.5 (-110) |
| Chargers | -6.5 (-115) | -310 | O 43.5 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of September 20, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Raiders | 56% | 44% | Chargers |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Raiders vs. Chargers Prediction — Can the Road Dog Survive a Short Number?
Start with the movement. This game opened with the Chargers laying 7 and the number has since slid to 6.5, while 56 percent of spread tickets sit on Las Vegas. Those two facts point the same direction. A half point does not sound like much. Still, seven is a key number, and buying through it matters in a division where margins stay thin.
The matchup reason is the Chargers’ protection. Los Angeles could not keep Arizona out of the backfield with a patched-together interior, and Pipkins is now out entirely, pushing Kayode Awosika into the lineup. That front now draws Maxx Crosby and a Raiders pass rush that generated five sacks in the opener, with Nakobe Dean and Folorunso Fatukasi both getting home on third down. Vegas also held Miami to 74 rushing yards, which is the other half of the equation. If Los Angeles cannot run, Herbert faces obvious passing downs behind a line that is still sorting itself out under new coordinator Mike McDaniel.
The case against is real, and it is mostly historical. The Chargers have scored at least 20 points in 12 consecutive games against Las Vegas, and the Raiders have not won at SoFi Stadium in five tries. Losing Bowers strips Cousins of his most reliable target and hands Derwin James a simpler assignment. One week of defensive data is also a small sample. Still, at a price this short against a team breaking in a new center, the road side is where the number is doing the work.
The Pick: Raiders +6.5 (-105)
Raiders vs. Chargers Prediction — Will Two Stalled Offenses Reach the Number?
The total opened at 44 and has since been shaded to 43.5, which tells you the market saw the same thing the trends do. Under is 8-2 in the Chargers’ last 10 games and 6-4 in the last 10 meetings between these clubs. Neither offense found rhythm in Week 1. Los Angeles managed two scores, and Las Vegas needed only 160 passing yards to win comfortably.
The counterargument deserves a hearing. The Chargers rated poorly in early-season defensive efficiency metrics after Jesse Minter’s departure, and McDaniel’s system is built to create explosive plays once the protection settles. A McConkey return would change the ceiling considerably. Even so, a doubtful Bowers, a stingy Raiders defense, and a number already drifting down all argue for the quieter script.
The Pick: Under 43.5 (-110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
There is a third angle worth a smaller stake. Las Vegas is +255 on the moneyline, which implies roughly a 28 percent chance of winning outright. In a division game between a 1-0 team with a top-10 defense through one week and a 0-1 team with an unsettled offensive line, that price looks generous. The risk is obvious: the Raiders have not beaten this opponent in four tries, and a Bowers absence narrows their path to points. Treat it as a reduced-size play, not a replacement for the spread. See our Raiders vs Chargers Odds: Spread, Total & How to Watch September 20 breakdown, plus our Colts vs Chiefs Odds: Spread, Public Betting & How to Watch September 20 coverage.
To recap the card: Raiders +6.5 (-105), Under 43.5 (-110), and Raiders +255 on the moneyline as a smaller bonus position.
NFL Raiders vs. Chargers FAQ: Sunday September 20, 2026
What time does the Raiders vs. Chargers game start?
Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 20, 2026, or 1:05 p.m. local time. It is one of two games in the late-afternoon window that day.
What channel is the Raiders vs. Chargers game on?
The game airs on CBS. Andrew Catalon handles play-by-play with Logan Ryan as analyst and AJ Ross reporting from the sideline. The broadcast is also available on Paramount+ and, in local and primetime markets, through NFL+.
Where are the Raiders and Chargers playing?
The game is at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the Chargers’ home venue. This is the Raiders’ first road trip of the 2026 season after opening at home against Miami.
Who won the last meeting between the Raiders and Chargers?
Los Angeles won the most recent meeting 31-14 on November 30, 2025, at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers have taken the last four games in the series, though Las Vegas still leads the all-time rivalry 68-62-2.
Who is starting at quarterback for the Raiders and Chargers?
Kirk Cousins starts for Las Vegas and Justin Herbert starts for Los Angeles. Cousins signed with the Raiders in April and threw three touchdown passes in the opener. Herbert completed 17 of 27 attempts for 209 yards against Arizona in Week 1.