The last time the Los Angeles Chargers met the rival Las Vegas Raiders on the gridiron, it was an embarrassment for L.A.
The Chargers lost 63-21 in Week 15 at Vegas on Thursday Night Football. It was the most points allowed in Chargers history and commenced the club's offseason overhaul with coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco getting fired following the loss.
Players remaining on the Chargers' roster from that night don't need to be reminded of the nightmare ahead of Week 1's rematch.
"Come on, man," safety Derwin James said, via the L.A. Daily News. "Come on, man, you can't embarrass me like that."
Easton Stick started for the injured Justin Herbert in the game, and receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were also out. Even with backups in, the loss was brutal by NFL standards, particularly the defense getting torched.
Heading into Sunday's rematch, James noted that so much has changed in L.A. since that embarrassing defeat, including the hiring of Jim Harbaugh and a roster overhaul.
"I remember it, personally, for myself," James said. "But a lot of these guys (in the Chargers' locker room) weren't around here then. But I remember it. This is Raiders week. It's a division opponent. It means that much more."
Hiring Harbaugh and new GM Joe Hortiz has sparked optimism in L.A. that the Chargers can swiftly turn things around. The defense in particular, under new DC Jesse Minter, is expected to be much better than the crew that allowed the Raiders to dismantle them last season.
"I feel like we're in a good spot, but we've got to go out there Sunday and show it to the world," James said. "It doesn't matter where we feel like we're at, we've got to go out there Sunday and put it on film for the world to see."
A new era commences against a familiar foe.
"It definitely feels different because it's new, everything is new for us," James said. "But all that don't mean nothing. We've got to go out there and play Sunday. We've got a game against the Raiders. It's a division game and we've just got to go out there and play."
The Chiefs' season-opening victory on Thursday makes Sunday's division game between the Chargers and Raiders that much more important.
