Over the past few weeks, there’s been speculation about the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers being potentially forced to change their home and away when the two bitter division rivals go head-to-head this season. Although the schedule has been changed in terms of time, the Raiders and Chargers will face off on on Sun. Oct. 6 at 8:35 p.m. Pacific time according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com via Twitter:
Officially official: “@Raiders to host Chargers under the lights at O.Co on Oct 6, 8:35 p.m. PT on @nflnetwork”
— Scott Bair (@BairCSN) September 30, 2013
With the Oakland A’s getting their postseason underway this week against Detroit Tigers, and have home field advantage, the Raiders have been forced to adapt to their co-tenant’s schedule at O.co Coliseum. The A’s will play on Saturday against the Tigers forcing the Raiders to host the Chargers a day later at 8:35 p.m. rather than 1 p.m. Pacific.
Fortunately for both teams, the game will be nationally televised on NFL Network. This game wasn’t supposed to get much exposure before the A’s forced them into this situation. Although not an ideal time to start a game in the NFL, the Raiders will take it after losing a disappointing game against the Washington Redskins in Week 4.
Along with having a long week to prepare, Oakland will have more time to get some of their most important players back on the field against the Chargers. Terrelle Pryor is still dealing with a concussion while Darren McFadden (hamstring) and Marcel Reece (knee) try to recover from injuries sustained against the Redskins.
Next season things will be much different for the Raiders and A’s with Mark Davis and company likely headed elsewhere. The Raiders lease with O.co Coliseum will expire at season’s end with little chance of Davis signing on for another short-term deal. The team may be headed back to Los Angeles once again with the prospect of a new stadium or could end up remaining near the Bay Area, but chances are that the Raiders will never play another game at O.co Coliseum once this season comes to an end.