After overcoming their first major AFC West test last week, the Los Angeles Chargers conquered another by defeating the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football.

The kickoff of the showdown between the Chargers and Las Vegas was postponed 35 minutes due to thunder, lightning, and rainfall. SoFi Stadium is still considered an open-air venue despite it being exposed only on the sides.

Can't Catch Up

Though Las Vegas cut the Chargers' lead to a touchdown in the second half, it was too little too late. The Chargers put another score on the board in the fourth to run away with a 28-14 victory.

The game provided evidence that this may be a wild, back-and-forth tussle within the division.

"If anything, this hopefully wakes us up a little bit," said Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr, whose team fell behind in the first half, 21-0, and is still without a touchdown in any opening quarter. "I think we need to start a lot faster if I'm honest. We started the season great, but we don't start games nearly good enough yet."

This seemed uncharacteristic of the Las Vegas team who was 3-0 for the first time since their Super Bowl season of 2002. It was especially odd after they scored 33 and 31 points and rolled up 988 yards of offense in their two home games.

Raiders' First Quarter Woes

In the first half, Las Vegas reached just one first down and saw their 51 yards of offense canceled by 53 yards of penalties. Incredibly enough, they generated zero yards of offense in the first quarter. They averaged 2.1 yards per play in the first half, compared to six yards per play by the Chargers.

"It was a ridiculous way to start a football game," Las Vegas coach Jon Gruden said.

They finished with 213 yards of offense – 162 coming after halftime.

"Offensively, we didn't like how we set the defense up," receiver Hunter Renfrow said. "Made it hard for them. Three and out, three and out, three and out is tough on a defense."

Regardless of the hype about the smothering Las Vegas defense coming into the game, the home team dominated that side of the ball. Following a Week 3 victory at Kansas City, the Chargers seem more comfortable with defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill and first-year coach Brandon Staley's schemes. Staley was the architect of last year's outstanding Rams defense.

AFC West Race

The Arizona Cardinals, who beat the Rams on the same SoFi field a day earlier, are now the league's lone undefeated team four weeks into the season. According to ESPN Stats & Info, entering the season at Caesars Sportsbook, Arizona was 50-1 to be the last undefeated team, and Las Vegas was 100-1.

Suddenly, the bandwidth in the AFC West is extremely tight. The Chargers, Raiders, and Broncos are all 3-1, and the Chiefs are 2-2.

The Chargers not only knocked off a bitter rival but took a signature victory on their home field. Despite the crowd being nearly 70% Las Vegas fans, those in attendance for the home team made a respectable amount of noise. However, neither quarterback had it easy.

"It's always great to have the support of the Raider fans," Gruden said. "We're sorry we let them down. But we cannot come out and take that many punches in the first round."

Up Next

The Chargers will next face off Sunday at home against the Cleveland Browns at 1:05 P.M. PST.

Las Vegas will host the Chicago Bears on the same day, and at the same time.