A couple of old AFL rivals meet again when the Raiders and Chargers provide this week’s NFL Thursday night betting action.

Both these teams are 5-8 on the season, operating with back-up quarterbacks and scrambling to stay alive in the AFC playoff race.

NFL Betting Odds

The Week 15 NFL betting market opened Las Vegas as a three-point favorite for Thursday night, with an over/under of right around 34.5. Early betting action dipped that total to 33.5.

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Chargers Betting Preview

Los Angeles is 1-4 for both SU and ATS its last five times out after falling at home to Denver last Sunday 24-7. The Chargers lost QB Herbert to that thumb injury in the second quarter, trailed 17-0 before they hit the board in the fourth and just generally got out-played.

Los Angeles got beat by short margins all over the stat sheet but what really mattered was this; the Chargers converted just 1/18 on 3rd and 4th downs while allowing Denver to convert 8/17.

Los Angeles has now been out-gained by each of its last six opponents.

Two weeks ago, the Chargers won a bad-weather game at New England 6-0. Prior to that, they lost three straight.

At 5-8 overall Los Angeles trails 7-6 Indianapolis by two games and four other teams in the battle for the No. 7 spot in the AFC playoff standings. So, while they’re not dead yet, it’s close.

Raiders Betting Preview

Meanwhile Las Vegas lugs a three-game losing skid into Thursday after falling at home to Minnesota last Sunday 3-0. Yeah, they played a game indoors, and it ended 3-0. The Raiders punted on their first four possessions of the game, then fumbled. They then punted four more times before throwing an interception on their final drive and that was it.

Vegas managed just over 200 yards of total offense, eight first downs and three turnovers.

So Las Vegas has now been out-gained by each of its last four opponents.

Two weeks ago the Raiders blew an early 14-0 lead on Kansas City and lost 31-17. Three weeks ago they managed just a single offensive touchdown and lost to Miami 20-13.

At 5-8 overall Las Vegas floats in the same boat as the Chargers; just about dead in that AFC wild-card race.

On the personnel front 5-year vet Easton Stick, who didn’t look terrible in relief of Herbert last week, will make his first career NFL start for the Chargers Thursday night. San Diego also lists WR Keenan Allen and three defensive starters as questionable. On the other sidelines, the Raiders are listing RB Josh Jacobs and two starters along the O line as questionable.

Common Opponents

These teams have played nine common opponents this season, members of the AFC East, AFC West, and the NFC North. Los Angeles played those foes to 4-5 both SU and ATS and -47 yards per game, Las Vegas to 4-5 SU, 5-3-1 ATS and -65 YPG.

Chargers-Raiders Recent History

Los Angeles owns the edge recently on Las Vegas, winning four of the last six meetings SU, going 3-2-1 ATS. Back in October the Chargers took the first meeting between these teams this season 24-17, covering at -6.5.

That game was rookie Aiden O’Connell’s first NFL start for the Raiders, which had us wondering why the spread wasn’t higher.

Los Angeles ran the ball 37 times that day for 155 yards.

NFL Betting Trends

The Raiders are 2-4 SU, 3-2-1 ATS with O’Connell as the starter at QB, averaging 16 PPG.

Totals Report

The Unders are 10-3 in Chargers games this season, which are averaging 43 total points.

The Unders are also 10-3 in Raiders games, which are averaging just 35 points.

With the lower numbers as of late the Overs are 26-18 over the last three weeks in the NFL.