Why did the Raiders, Chargers, and their fans brawl before and during their Week 1 game?

The Week 1 clash between the Los Angeles Charges and Las Vegas Raiders did not give fans a lot to cheer about from a football perspective as both teams were generally abysmal on offense. They did, however, provide their faithful with a whole lot in the closing stages of the game when they decided to have an all-out brawl.

The Chargers and Raiders don’t like each other

If there were any doubts about that idea before Sunday’s game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, the teams most definitely put them to rest as they entered into a brawl that involved multiple players. The incident occurred late in the fourth quarter just after the Raiders denied a two-point conversion attempt by the Chargers.

Shortly after the failed attempt, players from both teams were involved in a lengthy altercation in the back of the end zone that lasted for quite some time. Naturally, players and coaches from both teams came running out in an apparent attempt to bring the situation to an end after it appeared to have been started by Chargers receiver Joshua Palmer and Raiders cornerback Jack Jones. Both players were later penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and subsequently ejected from the game.

For context, it should be said that both teams had been struggling all day on offense. Indeed, the above-mentioned two-point conversion failure and the brawl that ensued actually came on the back of a Chargers drive that saw the team take a 22-10 lead with 3:40 on the clock. As we can safely assume, the two-point failure was the final straw. As a point to note, other reports indicate that a massive brawl took place between fans of both teams before a ball was even kicked on Sunday. With videos on social media appearing to show men and women - wearing Chargers and Raiders jerseys - engaged in shockingly violent behavior, one could say that things were already heated before the teams got down to business.

As things stand, the league has yet to give any comment on whether the teams will face any sanctions for the actions of their respective fan bases outside of the stadium, but perhaps that should be the case when considering the severe nature of what took place. As for the football side of things, the Raiders will have to dust themselves off quickly as they prepare for a Week 2 clash with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. The Chargers on the other hand, will be liking their chances of improving to 2-0 when they face the Carolina Panthers.