The Chargers have mentioned throughout the offseason that they’ve had a hard time processing last season’s heartbreaking loss to the Las Vegas Raiders that kept them out of the playoffs.
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. said he has a love-hate relationship with the thrilling regular-season finale. Linebacker Drue Tranquill said he let his offensive teammates down in Las Vegas.
The Chargers won’t have to wait long to get closure, as they open the 2022 regular season at home against the Raiders on Sept. 11. The Week 1 game is scheduled for a 1:25 p.m. kickoff at SoFi Stadium and will be broadcast on CBS.
The AFC West foes will pick up where they left off in what many people called the best regular-season game of 2021.
“We fought to the end and saw the potential of our team, but we still didn’t come out victorious in that game,” Samuel said. “But I saw the potential from that game, of what we can do and what we have on this team, so it’s exciting for me.”
The Chargers displayed their high-caliber offense in that memorable Week 18 game with quarterback Justin Herbert and his many weapons. They had a 15-point rally late in the fourth quarter, but the Chargers’ defense struggled to get stops against Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and his talented offense, which now features star wide receiver Davante Adams.
But the Chargers also made upgrades, especially on defense with cornerback J.C. Jackson and edge rusher Khalil Mack, who started his career with the Raiders.
“Coming off the loss to the Raiders, I really felt, personally, and I know a lot of people on the defensive side of the ball felt like we could have played a lot better and given our offense more chances,” Tranquill said.
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“They really, really played well, especially if you look at that Raiders game, what they were able to do coming from behind. They had a really special unit. To be able to add some of these additions and get better personnel-wise and be able to add to our team is really, really super cool.”
The Chargers’ defense has a Week 1 opportunity against the Raiders to make it up to Herbert and the offense.
“They better be ready for us,” Jackson said about the Raiders in March.