This year's Raiders-Chargers matchup felt eerily like the Raiders-Chargers matchup in Week 18 of last year: offense-heavy, chaotic, and with a good dose of sloppiness.
Las Vegas set the tone early when Jerry Tillery rammed into Justin Herbert when Herbert was already out of bounds; Tillery would be ejected from the game. This game promised more than just late hits -- it had Herbert's dazzling brilliance, Josh Jacobs' powerful runs, and a certain pass-rusher wreaking havoc on anything standing in his way.
The game was close, as the Raiders' latest performances have felt, and having lost their third straight game, the team may start looking for people to blame.
Some Raiders didn't belong for a negative reason -- either they made too many mistakes or couldn't muster enough production. Other Raiders didn't belong because they're in a tier above the rest.
Here are four players from the Raiders' loss to the Chargers who stood out.
Raiders who don't belong No. 4: Aidan O'Connell
The rookie fourth-rounder got his first NFL start of his career with Jimmy Garoppolo sitting out due to not passing concussion protocol. Aidan O'Connell didn't look completely awful out there, but he didn't play a clean game either.
He finished with 238 yards and no touchdowns against one interception; he also fumbled three times, two of which were recovered by the Chargers at critical moments in the game.
O'Connell was able to use Josh Jacobs as a weapon again for the first time this season, relying on Jacobs' explosive rushes as well as his pass-catching ability out of the backfield. The young quarterback also connected with Davante Adams to give Adams eight catches for 75 yards.
Heading into Week 4, it came as a slight surprise when the Raiders announced they would start O'Connell in lieu of veteran Brian Hoyer. Sunday's loss proved O'Connell, despite his best intentions, wasn't quite ready to command this offense. Few expected him to do so this early into his NFL career, and in no way is O'Connell a lost cause (it's only one game!). He simply needs more time and more experience.
Raiders who don't belong No. 3: Whoever was guarding Khalil Mack
One does not just get six sacks in a single game. One gets six sacks in a single game because the offensive line is slacking.
The Raiders to blame for Khalil Mack's sack total include left tackle Kolton Miller, left guard Dylan Parham, the rest of the starting O-line, and also the coaches for not doubling Mack throughout the game.
Mack was just one sack shy of tying the single-game sack record, and he was able to feast on his former team with 10 total tackles, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, and one pass defended.
Mack is a talented pass-rusher in his own right, but.... seriously, why didn't Las Vegas double up on him? It's not uncommon for defenses to assign two players to shadow an opposing elite pass-rusher. Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett, and others have also gotten special treatment. After Mack's initial success rushing the quarterback, the Raiders needed to adjust. They didn't, and they paid the price.
Raiders who don't belong No. 2: Maxx Crosby
Here we have one Raider who clearly doesn't belong on the team because he's just too good. The Chargers may have Mack, but the Raiders have two-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby.
Crosby finished Sunday's game with a team-leading eight tackles along with two tackles for loss and two sacks. The 2022 DPOY candidate looked dejected after the loss and can probably relate to what Broncos vet Garett Bolles said earlier this season: "I'm tired of losing."
In Crosby's last four years in Las Vegas, he hasn't won that much, save for a 10-7 season in 2021.
Despite being the best Raiders defender in Week 5 and truthfully in the last half-decade, Crosby still has to swallow a bitter loss to a divisional rival. He belongs on a legitimate playoff contender, not a lowly AFC West team. C'est la vie.
Raiders who don't belong No. 1: Davante Adams
Crosby may never request a trade, but one certain disgruntled wideout could. The last Raider who doesn't belong on this team is one who, like Crosby, deserves better.
Davante Adams went from playing backyard ball with Aaron Rodgers to catching passes from Jimmy Garoppolo and Aidan O'Connell -- talk about a downgrade. Adams caught eight catches on 13 targets for 75 yards and hit a career milestone on Sunday, hitting the 10,000 receiving-yard mark. He suffered a shoulder injury that saw him leave briefly but returned at halftime.
Adams honestly has no one to blame but himself for his move to the Raiders, as the six-time Pro Bowler ended up chasing the money to Vegas two years ago. After racking up 1,500-plus yards and 14 touchdowns in his debut season, he's experienced a slight drop-off largely due to the unstable quarterback situation.
Adams hasn't requested a trade.... yet. If he does, the Raiders have until October 31 to potentially move him in return for valuable draft capital. The happy marriage of Derek Carr and Davante Adams ended abruptly, and Adams is now facing what could be a long and tedious rebuild for the Raiders. Divorce will loom over his and the Raiders' head for the coming weeks.
