NFL Thursday night: Chargers, Raiders both struggling, but will no Herbert mean Vegas wins? Our pick
NFL WEEK 15
GREG COTE’S THURSDAY NIGHT PICK
CHARGERS (5-8) at RAIDERS (5-8)
Line: LV by 3.
Cote’s pick: LV, 20-16.
TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.
Not the stuff of dreams, the quarterback matchup launching Week 15 Thursday. Justin Herbert’s season ended by a fractured finger means Easton Stick makes his first start of a mostly invisible four-year NFL career. (Easton Stick sounds like the name of a baseball bat.) He’ll be opposing Aidan O’Connell, a fourth-round rookie coming off a shutout loss to Minnesota. Vegas has lost three straight and L.A. four of past five to detonate the playoff hopes of each. Worth watching, though: Charger Khalil Mack and Raider Maxx Crosby, both among league sack leaders. The Bolts sacked O’Connell seven times in a 24-17 L.A. win in Week 4, and they’ll need that same defensive fire again to compensate for no Herberrt. But Vegas has won the past two meetings at home and should do it again, turning Stick into a twig. (Sorry.) Beware, though, Raiders RB Josh Jacobs is questionable with a thigh injury, and our pick leans on him playing.
Betting line via ESPN Bet sportsbook as of mid-afternoon Wednesday.
