Open Thread: Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers, 1st Half

The shortened "Raider Week:" has come and gone, and now it's time for one of the Chargers most important games of the season. The Bolts split their season series against the Chiefs for the second year in a row, and doing so against the Raiders would be a step up from 2010.

Winning this home game against the most likely contender for the AFC West championship would not just be huge for breaking the losing streak, but it could be a vital part of a tiebreaker if these teams finish the 2011 season with the same record.

The two things that Charger fans are still searching for in this team will be easy to identify, should they decide to show up, in the first half. Defensive turnovers, the ability to avoid mental mistakes on offense, toughness against tough teams, and offensive consistency. I'll be back at halftime to let you know if I think San Diego is accomplishing any of those things.

GO CHARGERS