Chargers vs. Raiders: First-half takeaways from Week 2 game

The Chargers have hit the half with their biggest rival in Las Vegas, holding a 17-6 lead in the latest entry in the Jim Harbaugh-Pete Carroll rivalry.

Here are a few things of note from the first half.

Zone answers

The Raiders are mostly playing single-high coverages that have kept the middle of the field closed on Monday, which Justin Herbert is normally able to exploit. But the Chargers have struggled to generate answers this time around, thanks in part to tight coverage on the boundary from the Raiders. LA will need an adjustment to generate some traction on the boundary without sending routes vertically.

Catchpoint success

The Chargers have broken up six Geno Smith passes at the catch point in the first half. Alohi Gilman drove on the first play of the game, breaking up a seam pass to Tre Tucker and deflecting the ball into the arms of Daiyan Henley. Gilman and Tony Jefferson also swatted passes away in the end zone. Cam Hart had a diving PBU in the second quarter on a play negated by illegal contact on Henley, then Tarheeb Still knocked a Smith deep ball away in physical coverage. Jefferson then won a jump ball inside the two-minute warning to come away with another interception of Smith. LA has been sticky in coverage all night, which has been a huge factor in keeping the Raiders' offense from moving the chains.

Khalil Mack's injury

Mack left the game at the end of the first quarter with a wrist injury and had to be carted to the opposite tunnel to do imaging in Allegiant Stadium. He re-emerged in street clothes with his left arm in a sling just before halftime. The star pass rusher had a sack of Smith in the first quarter, and his absence leaves the Chargers pretty thin on the edge with Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, and Caleb Murphy available for the rest of the game. Dupree and Murphy both appeared to pressure Smith a couple of times in the second quarter, but LA primarily got to Smith via stunts and loops on the interior. If the Raiders can adjust to those and force the Chargers to win on the outside, Smith may see some cleaner pockets.

Daiyan Henley battles through illness

Henley certainly doesn't seem limited after being downgraded to questionable with an illness earlier on Monday. He hauled in that interception on the first play of the game, has two passes defensed, and has rocketed through gaps in the run game all evening thus far. His lone tackle for loss of the half planted Raiders running back Zamir White five yards behind the line of scrimmage and forced a Las Vegas punt late in the second quarter. With Denzel Perryman and Junior Colson on injured reserve, Henley's ability to push through the discomfort and perform at a high level has been crucial for the Chargers.

Cameron Dicker makes history

Dicker would've become the most accurate kicker in NFL history whether he made or missed his 100th field goal attempt in the first quarter, but Chargers fans know better by this point than to expect a miss from the former Texas kicker. It's a welcome sight after years of instability at the position in Los Angeles and could end up playing a major factor in the second half if the Raiders can start making headway and inch their way back into the game.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers vs. Raiders: First-half takeaways from Week 2 game