2019 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 16

Oakland Raiders (6-8) at Los Angeles Chargers (5-9)

Sunday, December 22, 4:05PM ET

I still can’t figure out the Los Angeles Chargers, and I don’t think the Los Angeles Chargers can figure themselves out for that matter. They’ve been one of the most bipolar teams of the 2019 season, and they continue to be unpredictable week after week.

So while I’m picking them to beat the Oakland Raiders in Week 16, chances are they’ll suffer another blowout loss. That just seems to be what the Chargers have done all year long — go against whatever the expectation is. They were destined to be a playoff team, and instead it’s looking like an early offseason.

So why the Chargers besides going against the expectation? Well for starters, this will be the Raiders’ last home game (get it?), so chances are they’ll lose. Philip Rivers has been turnover happy this season, but the Oakland defense hasn’t exactly excelled at turning mistakes into takeaways. Rivers gets going against the Raiders’ secondary and scores in bunches.

Meanwhile, Derek Carr can’t shake off the shock from last week’s ugly loss to the Jaguars. The Oakland defense flops against a competent Chargers offense, and nothing goes the way Jon Gruden was hoping for. The Raiders’ slim playoff hopes end following another meltdown.

Prediction: Chargers win 24-17