The Sports Xchange

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The question isn’t whether Philip Rivers will pass for 300 yards against the Oakland Raiders, but whether he will get there by halftime.

That’s how hot the San Diego Chargers’ quarterback is as he goes into Sunday’s game against the Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. And he will be attacking a defense that is giving up 299.2 passing yards per game — the second-most bloated stat of its kind in the NFL, behind only the neighboring San Francisco 49ers.

Rivers is coming off a 503-yard passing effort against the Green Bay Packers, completing 43 of 65 passes and is on pace to break Peyton Manning’s single-season mark of 5,477 yards.

But the Raiders have faced Rivers before, twice a year going back a decade. They know what they are up against, but not intimidated.

“Let’s cut that down a little bit,” cornerback DJ Hayden said. “Yeah, he threw for 500 yards last week, but that was last week. It’s a new week. I’m looking forward to the game.”

Hayden’s game-ending interception in the end zone in a 27-17 win over the Chargers in 2013 is his biggest moment as a pro.

Cornerback David Amerson, who will start opposite Hayden, has quietly become one of the most consistent Raiders defenders after being dumped by the Washington Redskins, a former second-round draft pick.

“You want to be in a position to make plays,” Amerson said. “With him throwing the ball so much, it’s going to give us more opportunities. We’ve just got to take advantage of it.”

Rivers has operated a ball-control offense that makes it difficult for pass rushers. Rather than concentrate on sacks, the Raiders will hope to disrupt Rivers’ rhythm.

“He has a great command of the offense and he is very competitive,” Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. “He’s accurate. He’s got a lot of weapons that he uses. He directs things, keeps them in a good play, stays away from bad plays. And he’s operating well right now, one of the top in the league.”

Rather than the Raiders’ rush forcing the issue, safety TJ Carrie sees it as the responsibility of the defense to allow the Khalil Mack-Aldon Smith-led pass rush time to get home.

“We have to buy time for our rush to get there and make him feel uncomfortable,” Carrie said. “His ability to get the ball out quickly is something we’ll definitely have to monitor and put in a game plan to make him hesitate a little bit and give us a little more time on the rush.”

SERIES HISTORY: 111th regular-season meeting. Raiders lead series, 58-50-2 but Chargers have won the last three. In the last game in San Diego on Nov. 16, 2014, the Chargers prevailed 13-6 on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Malcom Floyd and three field goals by Nick Novak. All the Raiders could muster were field goals of 52 and 25 yards by Sebastian Janikowski. Oakland managed just 233 yards of offense, with Derek Carr completing 16 of 34 passes for 172 yards.

GAME PLAN

–Given the Chargers’ ability to control the ball through the air — their 433.0 yards per game in total offense is built mostly on short throws — the Raiders’ mission is clear.

With a week off to rest an injured shoulder, the Raiders will look to get Latavius Murray enough work to break 100 yards rushing, thus setting up Derek Carr for occasional downfield strikes to Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.

That combination of running and passing, and perhaps some scoring, would keep the ball out of the hands of Rivers, the most prolific passer in the NFL this year.

Defensively, the Raiders will look to mix coverages on Rivers, but count mostly on edge rushers Khalil Mack and Aldon Smith to get the quarterback off his preferred spot.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Raiders CBs DJ Hayden and David Amerson vs. Chargers WR Keenan Allen.

Allen is on pace to catch 141 passes, with an 8.3 receptions per game rate that puts him in the ballpark with the all-time record of 143 receptions by Marvin Harrison in 2002.

Hayden has struggled in coverage all season, even in instances where he appears to have his man fairly well covered. That’s not good news for facing Allen, who catches many of his passes through will and determination with defenders all over him. Amerson has been a pleasant surprise after struggling in Washington and would be the optimum corner to cover Allen, although it would be within the Chargers’ ability scheme-wise to target Hayden.

–Chargers DT Corey Liuget vs. Raiders LG Gabe Jackson.

Liuget signed a five-year extension as the prize defensive lineman for the Chargers, a player who routinely needs double teams in San Diego’s 3-4 alignment. He’s been a handful for the Raiders to block even if it hasn’t always shown up in terms of tackles and sacks. Jackson, a second-year player out of Mississippi State, could anchor the Raiders’ left guard spot for the next decade. He’s been adept at both pass blocking and run blocking, the latter that has not necessarily been a Raiders strength for the line as a whole.