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Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers: Coaches already on line

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Oakland pulled the trigger, San Diego didn’t.

As the AFC West rivals open their season at the Oakland Coliseum in the second game of a Monday night opening-week doubleheader, classifying those coaching personnel decisions as prudent or panicked and patient or stagnant requires a closer look.

Baltimore plays host to Cincinnati in the Monday opener.

After losing four of their final five games, the Raiders fired Hue Jackson and replaced him with former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Dennis Allen. The Chargers opted to retain Norv Turner after a second consecutive playoff absence that followed other finishes short of expectations.

Turner’s cause was helped by the Chargers’ season-finale triumph over the Raiders, 38-26, to finish 8-8. It was San Diego’s seventh win in their last eight trips to the Bay Area.

Seeking their first winning season since 2002, Allen and the Raiders are invested in the idea that familiarity with the offense will help veteran quarterback Carson Palmer, acquired from Cincinnati during last season.

Oakland also would like a full season from running back Darren McFadden, who sat out nine games because of a foot injury last season — an absence that coincided with the late fade.

San Diego will be without its leading ballcarrier, Ryan Mathews, whose endurance is also suspect after he broke his clavicle on his first carry of the preseason.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had 20 passes intercepted last season, and at one point San Diego lost six consecutive games.

He was erratic again in the preseason, having four more passes picked off, as veteran wide receivers Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal were summoned to replace lost free agent Vincent Jackson.

The quarterback will also be without left tackle Jared Gaither (back spasms) against the Raiders, leaving undrafted free agent Mike Harris of UCLA to protect the All-Pro’s blind side.

The Ravens take the field against the Bengals four days after the death of former owner Art Modell.

Despite Cincinnati’s playoff run last season, the Bengals were swept by the Ravens, who have won 10 consecutive home games and eight of their last nine AFC North contests. Cincinnati is seeking to have consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1982.

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

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