The Chargers take on the Oakland Raiders this Thursday.  The Raiders are bringing with them a 3rd down conversion rate of 38% (17 in NFL) and a red zone efficiency rate of 60% (7th in NFL).

In this weekly article, Pro Football Spotlight will bring you the upcoming opponent’s rushing and passing tendencies, as well as some additional data and observations. For example: Did you know that the Oakland Raiders have the 3rd best sack, per pass attempt ratio, in the NFL?

Every team in the NFL has strengths and weaknesses, tendencies, and go-to guys. They have plays they like to call during tight situations or directions they like to run when in the middle of the football field.

Let’s take a look at the rest of those tendencies…

Rushing Offense

Rushing Notes:

• Above, is a new slider graph we are trying at PFS. First, you will see the Raiders run tendencies. If you click the ribbon (grey column) on the right you will see how opponents are doing against the Chargers’ defense. Hope you like it.
• Oakland has run the ball 81 times directly at the center of the formation, 4th most in the NFL.
• The Raiders also rank 9th in attempts when running toward the left tackle, 8th in attempts when running at the left guard, and 7th in attempts when running at the right tackle.
• Obviously, the Raiders like to run the ball.  But without the services of Darren McFadden, they have lacked some of that home run threat they used to have.
• The Raiders are getting the most production when they run around the left end.  Currently, they average 8.0 yards, per attempt , around that area, which is 4th best in the NFL.
• The Chargers have given up 7.0 yards, per attempt, off the left guard (defensive right) and 6.6 yards, per attempt, off the right tackle (defensive left).  Since the Raiders like to run off the left guard…look for them to attack the Chargers in their soft spots.
• The Raiders changed what they had been doing in the game against the Broncos.  Yea, they still ran the ball.  But the formations changed…especially when in passing situations.  Previously, the Raiders kept a lot of pass blockers in to help.  But with the injury to their quarterback and the acquisition of Palmer…they have changed that trend.

Passing Offense

Passing Notes:

• The Raiders have a lot of speed.  So, it is no surprise that they are ranked 3rd in the NFL in balls thrown to the deep left side of the field, 10th in NFL to the deep middle, and 11th in the NFL to the deep right zone.
• The Chargers are only giving up an 18% completion rate to the deep left side of the field.  It will be an interesting match-up between the two teams.
• The Raiders have thrown the ball 71 times to the short left side of the field.
• The Chargers are giving up over a 70% completion rate to every short zone.  That ranks them no higher than 28th in the NFL in any of those zones.  Look for Palmer to try and take advantage of that stat and work the short right and short left sides of the field.