Excitement is in the air as the 2024 NFL season is officially underway. Week 1 sees all 32 teams in action as fans get ready for 18 weeks of regular season gameplay. And the Las Vegas Raiders, with a new quarterback, are heading down I-15 for a season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers at their shared SoFi Stadium.
The Chargers are one of the most intriguing teams in the NFL this season. They lost significant talent on both sides of the ball, including star wide receiver Keenan Allen. However, they are still led by Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback Justin Herbert, who made a splash by landing head coach Jim Harbaugh in the offseason.
The former Michigan Wolverines leader was one of the most sought-after coaching figures in the league this offseason, and he now hopes to usher in a new era of Chargers football with Herbert at the helm.
Offensively, the Chargers are led by Herbert and a pair of new running backs in Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. Austin Ekeler left for the Washington Commanders in the offseason. They have a young and inexperienced wide receiver core, but there is some intrigue with Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer and rookie Ladd McConkey.
Defensively, the Chargers still have some star power with Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa and Derwin James. While the team is not expected to contend for the Super Bowl, they could still be a problem for teams around the league.
The Raiders, meanwhile, welcome Gardner Minshew to the mix as the starting quarterback for the 2024 season. He outdueled Aidan O’Connell in camp to earn the starting job, a decision that earned some anonymous criticism. But the locker room has bought in behind Antonio Pierce.
Pierce is in his first season as the full-time head coach after losing the interim tag in the offseason. Pierce is widely respected within the Raiders organization and hopes to give the team some fight in 2024.
The Raiders lost star running back Josh Jacobs to the Green Bay Packers in the offseason, but Zamir White figures to be a solid replacement. Their pass-catching core consists of superstar Davante Adams and tight ends Michael Mayer and rookie Brock Bowers.
The Chargers are a minus-3 favorite to win the season-opening game, but the Raiders are a wild card capable of making any team fight harder than they expected to.
Las Vegas Raiders (0-0) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (0-0)
Sunday, September 8, 1:05 p.m. PT
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California
TV: CBS
