PRO FOOTBALL UPDATE : CHARGERS : Seale Believes the Chargers Are Due for Victory Over Raiders

The Chargers are 0-8 in non-strike games against the Raiders in the Coliseum, but cornerback Sam Seale has a prediction.

“We’re going to make it 1-8 Sunday,” Seale said. “You don’t think we’re going to win? I got the feeling we’re going to be 1-8 in the Coliseum after Sunday and 1-5 for the year. I just got this feeling.

“I haven’t given up. I think we’ve got a team here that can win.”

Seale, a former receiver and defensive back for the Raiders, had his worst day as a Charger against his former team Sept. 10, 1989.

Wide receiver Willie Gault opened the game by catching a 53-yard pass with Seale covering, and went on to catch a total of four passes for 131 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown.

“He’s just another person,” Seale said. “I don’t think about him until Raider week when certain reporters come around and ask about Willie Gault. Other than that, he’s just another receiver.

“He caught a couple of passes on me; it happens.”

Gault has only nine receptions for 206 yards this season, but he hasn’t played against the Chargers yet.

“I hope he thinks I’m easy pickings,” Seale said. “I hope the whole Raider organization thinks they can go deep on me any time they want to. That makes it easier on me; if people don’t throw at you, how are you ever going to make a play?”

Practice, practice, well, that’s enough. After two days of extra work on the ball machine, the Chargers’ not-so-sure-handed receivers raced to the parking lot rather than stay late for additional work.

Odd, too, because Coach Dan Henning could be heard yelling, “Come on Anthony, (expletive deleted),” after yet another drop by Anthony Miller.

Wide receiver Shawn Jefferson, however, had the drop of the day. He went deep, beat the defender and received a picture-perfect pass from Bob Gagliano. And dropped it.

The Chargers have the fifth best kickoff return average (22.9 yards) in the league, and the Raiders are fifth best in the league in kickoff coverage (16.3 yards).

“Eleven intimidators,” said Charger defensive back Donnie Elder in describing the Raiders’ kickoff coverage unit. “Anything they can get away with, they’re going to do: cheap shots, getting poked in the eye, getting hit late, all that stuff. I expect it all.”

Elder has gained a reputation in his own right here for not taking any guff; if there’s pushing and shoving on kickoff, look for No. 28.

“It’s like I heard Howie Long say, ‘This is my livelihood, don’t try to mess with it,’ ” said Elder, who ranks fourth in the NFL in kickoff returns with a 25.7-yard mark. “I’ll be ready for whatever they have.”

The Raiders have relied heavily on kicker Jeff Jaeger this season, and he’s responded by hitting 12 of 13 field-goal attempts, including six of six from beyond 40 yards.

The Chargers have leaned on John Carney, and unlike last year, he’s faltered. Carney missed three of four field-goal attempts in a 13-10 loss to Atlanta, and missed from 36 yards in a 14-13 loss to the Chiefs.

“I think Carney’s a good kicker,” Henning said. “I don’t have any lack of confidence in John.”

Carney, who was 19 for 21 last season, is nine for 14 this season.

“All I can do is give it my best shot every time; I can’t get overconcerned with the situation or our record or what every point means,” Carney said. “It’s frustrating, but you can’t lose faith in yourself and your abilities. I have to concentrate on my next kick; not the kicks of the past.”