The air in the AFC West usually feels like a pressure cooker. When the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders meet, that pressure doesn't just rise—it explodes. If you're looking for the quick answer on who won Chargers or Raiders in their most recent clash, the scoreboard tells one story, but the tape tells a much uglier one. In their last regular-season meeting on January 5, 2026, the Los Angeles Chargers ground out a 24-20 victory over the Raiders, clinching a playoff berth while effectively ending Las Vegas's season in a game that felt more like a street fight than a professional football match.
It wasn't pretty. Not even a little bit.
You had Justin Herbert playing through a nagging rib injury that clearly limited his mobility. You had a Raiders defense that looked like world-beaters for three quarters before falling apart when it actually mattered. Rivalries like this aren't about "stats" or "schemes" in the traditional sense; they’re about who blinks first. In the 2025-2026 season finale, the Raiders blinked. Hard.
Why the Chargers Won the Most Recent Battle
The game turned on a single sequence in the fourth quarter. It’s funny how sixty minutes of football can be boiled down to about forty-five seconds of actual play. The Raiders held a 20-17 lead with six minutes left on the clock. They had the ball. They had the momentum. Then, a botched snap—something that shouldn't happen in high school, let alone the NFL—gifted the Chargers a short field.
Jim Harbaugh’s fingerprints were all over the response. Instead of getting cute with the passing game, the Chargers ran the ball four straight times. It was "boring" football. It was "old school" football. It was exactly what the Chargers needed to win. J.K. Dobbins punched it in from the two-yard line, and just like that, the Raiders were reeling.
Honestly, the Chargers didn't "win" this game as much as they survived it. Herbert finished with a modest 210 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Those aren't MVP numbers. But in the context of who won Chargers or Raiders, the only number that matters is the 24 on the scoreboard.
The Raiders' Missed Opportunities
Maxx Crosby was a literal nightmare for the Chargers' offensive line. Let’s be real: he might be the most undervalued superstar in the league today. He recorded two sacks and four tackles for loss. But the Raiders' offense? It was a different story.
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The quarterback situation in Las Vegas has been a revolving door, and it showed. Every time they seemed to find a rhythm, a penalty or a dropped pass killed the drive. You can't beat a well-coached Jim Harbaugh team if you're beating yourself. The Raiders turned the ball over three times. You don't win NFL games with a -3 turnover margin. It just doesn't happen.
The History of Who Won Chargers or Raiders (And Why it’s So Close)
If you look at the all-time series, it’s remarkably tight. We’re talking about two teams that have been punching each other in the mouth since 1960. As of the start of 2026, the Raiders still hold a slight lead in the overall head-to-head series, but the gap is closing.
- The 1970s Dominance: The Raiders basically owned the Chargers back then. It was the era of Madden and Stabler.
- The 2000s Shift: LaDainian Tomlinson used to treat the Raiders like a personal highlight reel. He had games where he looked like he was playing against a JV squad.
- The Modern Era: Since the Chargers moved to LA and the Raiders moved to Vegas, the home-field advantage has felt... weird. SoFi Stadium often gets taken over by Raiders fans, making "home" games for the Chargers feel like neutral site battles.
People forget that these two teams have some of the weirdest finishes in NFL history. Remember the "Holy Roller" in 1978? That’s a play that still gets brought up in Chargers bars with a level of saltiness that is truly impressive. Or the 2021 season finale? That was the game where a tie would have sent both teams to the playoffs, but the Raiders kicked a field goal as time expired to knock the Chargers out.
That 2021 game changed the trajectory of both franchises. It’s arguably why the Chargers eventually went out and spent the money on Harbaugh. They were tired of being the "talented" team that always found a way to lose.
Breaking Down the 2025 Season Series
To understand who won Chargers or Raiders recently, you have to look at both games from the 2025 calendar year.
- September 2025: The Raiders took the first game in a low-scoring 13-10 affair. It was a defensive slog where neither team could find the end zone until the fourth quarter.
- January 2026: The Chargers took the rematch 24-20.
So, for the season, they split the series 1-1. It’s the perfect microcosm of this rivalry. Neither team is significantly better than the other right now. They are two mid-tier heavyweights swinging wildly in a dark room.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
There’s this narrative that the Chargers are "soft" and the Raiders are "tough." It’s a lazy take. In the modern NFL, everyone is tough. The difference usually comes down to depth and specific positional matchups.
For example, when people ask who won Chargers or Raiders, they often focus on the quarterbacks. But look at the interior defensive lines. In their last meeting, the Chargers' ability to stop the run—something they’ve struggled with for a decade—was the actual reason they won. They held the Raiders to under 80 yards rushing. When you take away the run game, you make the Raiders one-dimensional. And when the Raiders are one-dimensional, they are vulnerable.
The Harbaugh Factor
You can't talk about the Chargers right now without talking about Jim Harbaugh. He’s changed the culture. There’s a certain level of discipline that wasn't there under Brandon Staley. They aren't going for it on every single fourth down anymore just because a spreadsheet told them to. They’re playing field position. They’re punting when they need to. It’s fundamentally changed how they approach the Raiders.
The Raiders, meanwhile, are still searching for that permanent identity. Under Antonio Pierce, they have the "Raider Way" attitude back, but they lack the consistent execution. They play with a lot of "want to," but sometimes the "how to" gets lost in the shuffle.
Key Stats from the Last Five Meetings
To give you an idea of how evenly matched these teams are, look at the scoring over their last five games:
- Total Points Scored: Chargers 118, Raiders 124.
- Average Margin of Victory: 5.2 points.
- Turnovers Forced: Chargers 8, Raiders 9.
It’s a coin flip. Every single time. If you’re betting on this game, you’re basically throwing darts at a board.
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The Chargers’ win in January 2026 was significant because it showed they could win "ugly." For years, the Chargers only won when Justin Herbert threw for 400 yards and four touchdowns. Now, they’re winning games where he barely clears 200. That’s a sign of a maturing team.
How to Track Future Results
If you want to stay on top of who won Chargers or Raiders moving forward, don't just look at the final score. Look at the injury report three days before the game. This rivalry is often decided in the trainer's room.
The next time these two meet will likely be in the 2026 season opener or a mid-October slot. Expect more of the same: high stakes, massive hits, and a game that isn't decided until the final two minutes.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to analyze who has the edge in the next matchup, focus on these three specific areas:
- Red Zone Efficiency: The Raiders struggled significantly in the red zone during their last loss, settling for field goals instead of touchdowns. Monitor their tight end usage in these situations.
- The Turnover Margin: As mentioned, the Raiders are prone to mistakes when pressured. Watch the Chargers' pass rush—specifically how they use stunts to confuse the Raiders' young offensive guards.
- Special Teams: In the 24-20 win, the Chargers' punter pinned the Raiders inside their own five-yard line twice. In a close game, that 40-yard difference in field position is the game.
The Chargers may have won the most recent battle, but in the AFC West, the war never actually ends. It just takes a breather until the next kickoff.