The Los Angeles Chargers will usher in a brand new era beginning this Sunday, as Jim Harbaugh will coach his first regular-season game for the team. However, it will feature a familiar opponent.
The Chargers will take on the Las Vegas Raiders in a matchup of teams that have been playing against each other since the 1960s, through the cities of San Diego, Oakland, Los Angeles, and now, Las Vegas. These two teams have faced off in 10 season openers in their histories.
Before discussing the Week 1 in-depth as we get closer to the game, let's first take a look back at history.
Chargers and Raiders have faced each other 10 times in season openers
August 7, 1965: Raiders 10, Chargers 3
This game took place way back in the old AFL. Al Davis' Raiders bested Sid Gillman's Chargers.
September 18, 1977: Raiders 24, Chargers 0
The Raiders started the 1977 season with an emphatic win over the Chargers. Ken Stabler threw touchdown passes to Dave Casper and Cliff Branch.
September 4, 1988: Raiders 24, Chargers 13
The Raiders got a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from rookie Tim Brown and Marcus Allen rushed for two touchdowns as the Raiders beat the Chargers again.
September 10, 1989: Raiders 40, Chargers 14
This was a disastrous start to a season for the Chargers as the Raiders dropped a 40 burger on them. The Chargers starting quarterback for this game was Jim McMahon .
September 3, 1995: Raiders 17, Chargers 7
Another lackluster start to a season for the Chargers, who were fresh off appearing in the Super Bowl the year before. Despite 305 yards passing from Stan Humphries, they managed just seven points.
September 3, 2000: Raiders 9, Chargers 6
The Chargers were terrible in 2000, going 1-15 that season. This game had a score of 6-2 late in the fourth quarter before Rich Gannon hit Andre Rison on a late 10-yard touchdown pass to win it.
September 11, 2006: Chargers 27, Raiders 0
Unlike the 2000 team, the 2006 Chargers were one of the best teams in franchise history and they smoked the Raiders to start that season, on the road.
LaDainian Tomlinson started his magical 2006 season with 131 yards and a touchdown.
September 14, 2009: Chargers 24, Raiders 20
This was a great battle to kick off the 2009 season. Darren Sproles scored on a 5-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left in the game to give the Chargers the win.
September 10, 2012: Chargers 22, Raiders 14
The Chargers had a tough time moving the ball on the ground in this one as it was the post-Tomlinson era, but they got five field goals from Nate Kaeding to pace the team to a 1-0 start.
September 11, 2022: Chargers 24, Raiders 19
This game took place at SoFi Stadium and it started a season for the Chargers that ended in the playoffs. Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes and played a great game while leading his team to a win.
The Raiders won the first six of these games, and the Chargers have won four in a row.
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