Oakland Raiders (0-9) at San Diego Chargers (5-4)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego – TV: CBS

*TV announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots, Scott Kaplan

*Keys to the game: Saddled with the league’s worst ground game, averaging just 62.1 yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry, Raiders rookie QB Derek Carr is having a difficult time pushing the ball downfield. His 5.68-yard average per attempt is the lowest among NFL starters, and against Denver only four of his 26 completions traveled further than 10 yards. The reasons are plenty – poor run support, shaky protection and a lack of yards after the catch among them. Carr did average 15.6 yards per completion in the first meeting, when the Chargers didn’t touch him and RB Darren McFadden contributed 80 yards on the ground.

San Diego has 35 completions of 20-plus yards compared to the Raiders’ 17, but QB Philip Rivers has thrown six interceptions during the team’s three-game losing streak. He would receive a significant boost if RB Ryan Mathews is able to play for the first time since Sept. 14 and improve the league’s 30th-ranked rushing attack. Rivers has been under siege, and making mistakes downfield, minus at least the threat of a ground game.

*Matchup to watch – Raiders DTs Antonio Smith and Justin Ellis vs. Chargers C Rich Ohrnberger: Ohrnberger returns from a back injury and could play a key role in opening more holes inside, where Matthews likes to do much of his work.

*Player spotlight – Raiders S Larry Asante: A training camp cut, Asante has been thrust into a starting job and played 79 of 80 snaps in the last game. He could draw some assignments against Chargers TE Antonio Gates.

*Fast facts: Of the Raiders’ seven remaining games, only St. Louis (3-6) currently has a record below .500. … Oakland leads the league with an 80.0 touchdown rate inside the red zone. Problem is, they don’t get there often, with only 15 red zone trips through nine games. … In 22 games against the Raiders, Gates had 90 catches for 1,214 yards and 11 touchdowns.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

The Chargers slid into their bye week on a three-game losing streak but should be physically and mentally recharged with a Raiders-Rams homestand that could vault them back into the AFC playoff picture.

*Our pick: Chargers 24-19