'TNF' takeaways: Change inevitable for Chargers after embarrassing blowout vs. Raiders

Just when you thought things couldn't get worse for the Los Angeles Chargers (5-9), they somehow outdid themselves in an embarrassing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders (6-8) on "Thursday Night Football," falling 63-21. Here are three takeaways from the Raiders' one-sided victory: 

Chargers HC Brandon Staley is as good as gone: If it wasn't already a foregone conclusion, the Chargers' performance in Week 15 all but assured Staley's fate. 

The Chargers looked lifeless from the jump and showed little, if any, fight once the game got out of hand. In the blink of an eye, the Raiders had a 21-0 advantage through the first quarter before adding on to lead 42-0 at halftime, the largest deficit faced by the Chargers in the franchise's history. At the break, a visibly distraught Staley admitted to sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung that his team "did not come ready to play," which might be the understatement of the year. 

Credit to Staley for taking his medicine, but if former Seattle Seahawks All-Pro Richard Sherman had his way, he'd have canned the head coach before the start of the third quarter. 

Following Thursday's rock-bottom moment, the writing is on the wall for Staley and the Chargers. Change is on the way. The only question is whether he'll be employed come Monday. 

Raiders offense did what they liked vs. Chargers: A week removed from a 3-0 shutout loss against the Minnesota Vikings, the offense was unstoppable on Thursday. Led by QB Aidan O'Connell, Las Vegas produced its highest-scoring output in franchise history, surpassing the previous mark of 59 (2010).

O'Connell threw for 248 yards (7.3 YPA) while becoming the first Raiders QB since Daryle Lamonica (1969) to throw four first-half TDs. Meanwhile, he joins Tennessee Titans' Will Levis and Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud as the only rookies to have four passing scores in a game this season. Unsurprisingly, O'Connell wasn't the only Raider to join the scoring parade. Eight different Raiders found the end zone, the most by a team since the 1950 Los Angeles Rams. 

While the Raiders made history on the scoreboard, so did the Chargers, only not in the way they would have liked. The 63 points against is the most allowed in a game by the Chargers, topping the previous mark of 57 points set in 2000. 

Raiders defense continues to shine: A bright spot most of the year, the defense has stepped it up a notch since the bye week. They shut out the Chargers in the first half after allowing only three points to the Vikings a week ago in a 3-0 loss. The unit did give up 21 points, but they all came with the game well in hand. 

Against a hapless Chargers offense led by QB Easton Stick, they took full advantage and didn't allow their first score until the team had built up a commanding 49-0 lead. Meanwhile, they finished the night with five takeaways (four fumbles, one interception), including a fumble recovery for a score from defensive tackle John Jenkins and a pick-six by cornerback Jack Jones. 

After the win, the Raiders are 6-8, and believe it or not, they're still alive in the AFC playoff race. If they're to stay in the hunt, they'll need their defense to keep performing at a high level.