In this post, I took the box score stats from the game and compared how each team did against their season averages from the 2008 season. If it were later in the year, I would compare them against each team’s average so far in the 2009 season. But, since the previous season usually serves as the baseline for predictions going into a new year, I think that analyzing against the previous season’s numbers is perfectly acceptable. Perhaps after week 6 or 7 (maybe 8), I will begin using current season averages as the basis for comparison.
So, anyway, on to the numbers! (Box Scores taken from Yahoo! Sports and 2008 averages from Pro-Football-Reference.com) Below, I have four tables.
Chargers’ Offensive Boxscore vs. Chargers’ 2008 Offensive Averages
The first table is a comparison of San Diego’s offensive numbers from this game with their average numbers from the 2008 season. This gives an indication as to how well the Raiders’ defense performed in this game because it shows whether the Chargers’ offensive numbers were above or below their 2008 averages.
| Team Statistics | Raiders’ Def vs. Chargers’ Off | ||
| SD | SDAvgOff | % Difference | |
| First Downs | 19 | 18.81 | 1.00% |
| Passing | 14 | 11.94 | 17.28% |
| Rushing | 5 | 5.75 | -13.04% |
| TOTAL NET YARDS | 317 | 349 | -9.17% |
| Total Plays | 62 | 57.75 | 7.36% |
| Average Gain Per Play | 5.1 | 6 | -15.00% |
| NET YARDS RUSHING | 77 | 107.88 | -28.62% |
| Rushes | 23 | 26.31 | -12.59% |
| Average Per Rush | 3.3 | 4.1 | -19.51% |
| NET YARDS PASSING | 240 | 241.13 | -0.47% |
| Yards Per Pass Play | 6.2 | 7.7 | -19.48% |
| Times Sacked | 3 | 1.56 | 92.00% |
| Had Intercepted | 1 | 0.69 | 45.45% |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 | 0.56 | 77.78% |
The main thing that sticks out to me is the job that the Raiders’ defense was able to do on the Chargers’ rushing game. They held it to nearly 29% below the 2008 average. Richard Seymour, at least in this game, appeared to be worth the first round pick the Raiders gave up to get him. The injuries to the Chargers offensive line probably contributed to this as well.
Raiders’ Offensive Boxscore vs. Chargers’ 2008 Defensive Averages
The second table is a comparison of the Raiders’ offensive numbers from the game to the Chargers’ defensive averages from 2008. This tells us how the Raiders’ offense performed compared to Chargers’ defensive averages from last year.
| Team Statistics | Raiders’ Off vs. Chargers’ Def | ||
| OAK | SDAvgDef | % Difference | |
| First Downs | 19 | 21.19 | -10.32% |
| Passing | 9 | 13.31 | -32.39% |
| Rushing | 8 | 6.13 | 30.61% |
| TOTAL NET YARDS | 366 | 349.94 | 4.59% |
| Total Plays | 65 | 65.06 | -0.10% |
| Average Gain Per Play | 5.6 | 5.4 | 3.70% |
| NET YARDS RUSHING | 148 | 102.56 | 44.30% |
| Rushes | 32 | 25.5 | 25.49% |
| Average Per Rush | 4.6 | 4 | 15.00% |
| NET YARDS PASSING | 218 | 247.38 | -11.87% |
| Yards Per Pass Play | 6.6 | 6.3 | 4.76% |
| Times Sacked | 1 | 1.75 | -42.86% |
| Had Intercepted | 2 | 0.94 | 113.33% |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 | 0.56 | 77.78% |
The Raiders’ offense performed well against the Chargers’ defense, particularly in the running game, with 44% more yards than the San Diego’s defense average allowing in 2008. The passing yards were below the 2008 defensive average, but that’s not entirely surprising, since JaMarcus Russell is still developing into a starter. His main problem was the two interceptions, which was above the Chargers’ average from a year ago.
Raiders’ Offensive Boxscore vs. Raiders’ 2008 Offensive Averages
The third table compares the Raiders’ offensive output in this game against their average offensive output from 2008. So, it gives an indication as to how the Chargers’ defense performed against the Raiders’ 2008 offensive averages.
| Team Statistics | Chargers’ Def vs. Raiders’ Off | ||
| OAK | OAK AvgOff | % Difference | |
| First Downs | 19 | 14.06 | 35.11% |
| Passing | 9 | 7.69 | 17.07% |
| Rushing | 8 | 5.44 | 47.13% |
| TOTAL NET YARDS | 366 | 272.25 | 34.44% |
| Total Plays | 65 | 57.44 | 13.17% |
| Average Gain Per Play | 5.6 | 4.7 | 19.15% |
| NET YARDS RUSHING | 148 | 124.19 | 19.17% |
| Rushes | 32 | 28.69 | 11.55% |
| Average Per Rush | 4.6 | 4.3 | 6.98% |
| NET YARDS PASSING | 218 | 148.06 | 47.24% |
| Yards Per Pass Play | 6.6 | 5.2 | 26.92% |
| Times Sacked | 1 | 2.44 | -58.97% |
| Had Intercepted | 2 | 0.69 | 190.91% |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 | 0.75 | 33.33% |
This table reflects even more dramatically what the second table above showed. The Raiders’ offense exceeded their average production from a year ago in every category, except in turnovers. The Chargers defense did force them into more turnovers than they averaged last year. But, overall, the Raiders’ offense performed quite well. I guess the real question here is whether the it was their improvement or more concerns for the Chargers’ defense?
Chargers’ Offensive Boxscore vs. Raiders’ 2008 Defensive Averages
The fourth table compares the Chargers’ offensive output with the Raiders’ average defensive numbers from 2008. So, this gives an indication as to how the Chargers’ offense performed against the Raiders’ defense.
| Team Statistics | Chargers’ Off vs. Raiders’ Def | ||
| SD | OAK AvgDef | % Difference | |
| First Downs | 19 | 20.31 | -6.46% |
| Passing | 14 | 10.38 | 34.94% |
| Rushing | 5 | 8.06 | -37.98% |
| TOTAL NET YARDS | 317 | 360.94 | -12.17% |
| Total Plays | 62 | 65.31 | -5.07% |
| Average Gain Per Play | 5.1 | 5.5 | -7.27% |
| NET YARDS RUSHING | 77 | 159.69 | -51.78% |
| Rushes | 23 | 33.88 | -32.10% |
| Average Per Rush | 3.3 | 4.7 | -29.79% |
| NET YARDS PASSING | 240 | 201.25 | 19.25% |
| Yards Per Pass Play | 6.2 | 6.4 | -3.13% |
| Times Sacked | 3 | 2 | 50.00% |
| Had Intercepted | 1 | 1 | 0.00% |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 | 0.5 | 100.00% |
Looking at these numbers, the Chargers’ offense really struggled in this game, particularly running the ball. They gained nearly 52% fewer yards on the ground than the Raiders averaged allowing last year. That was somewhat offset by gaining about 19% more in the passing game. But, again, this raises the question as to whether the Raiders have improved or there should be concern for the Chargers.
Overall, this was a tight game with the Raiders having the edge in yards gained but losing the turnover battle and, ultimately, the game. I think that this game reflected a combination of the Raiders committing to better fundamentals and the Chargers’ tendency to start out slow under Norv Turner.
Let me know your thoughts.
Tags: Darren Sproles, Oakland Raiders, Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
