NFL Week 5: Chargers @ Raiders

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders Sun. Oct. 10th 4:15pm EST

There are very few division rivalries in the NFL that have been able to stand the test of time, but there are still some heated rivalries that rage on every single season no matter what their records are or what is at stake.

The AFC West division may not be what it once was with all four teams competing for a playoff spot every single season, but the rivalries between all four of the teams in the divisions is still as heated as it was 20 years ago with the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders being the two teams within the division that absolutely hated each other with an undying passion.

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This Sunday in Oakland these two AFC West heavyweights will go head to head for the first time this season in Week 5 and both of these teams will be in a must win situation as they have struggled in the first four weeks of the season while the Kansas City Chiefs have become the last undefeated team in the NFL.

With the Kansas City Chiefs taking the early lead in the AFC West division, the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders will need every win from here on out in order to contend for the division title at season’s end.

Obviously, the Chargers are expected to make the turnaround within the next few weeks, but if the Raiders want to prove they are now a force to be reckoned with in the division they better get it together and give Philip Rivers and company a run for their money in Week 5.

The one problem the Oakland Raiders have been dealing with this season is a very familiar one as they continue to debate about which quarterback should be their long term starter. Coming into this NFL regular season, the consensus was that the newly acquired Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins was the undisputed starter, but after struggling in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans, Raiders head coach Tom Cable chose to go with backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski.

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In his short time under center last season, Gradkowski proved to be very successful as the Raiders starting quarterback, but an injured knee sent him back to the sidelines.

In three starts this season, Gradkowski has come away with one win and hasn’t really been all that convincing, but Cable will go with him for at least one more week as Gradkowski is set to start against the Chargers this Sunday in Oakland.

As of right now, the San Diego Chargers are favored to come out on top in this AFC West showdown with a -6.5 point spread. Even though I believe this could a very close game as most divisional rivalries are, the Chargers are by far the better team of the two and should cover this spread with relative ease.