1 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: All right, guys, before we get started today, a big 2 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: thank you to our partner, Microsoft Surface celebrating ten years 3 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: of partnership with the NFL. As the official laptop, tablet 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: and sideline technology provider for the LA Chargers. Microsoft Surface 5 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: provides players and coaches with the tools to succeed both 6 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: on and off the field every day. Learn more about 7 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: Surface at surface dot com and welcome into the Final 8 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: Drive where the Chargers beat the Tennessee Titans seventeen to fourteen. 9 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: They improved to eight and six, and they are now 10 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs if they started 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: today as always, joined by team reporter or Haley l 12 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: Wood and senior writer Eric Smith, and guys, we saw 13 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: this Chargers team put together two straight wins against two 14 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: quality opponents. This was the type of game I think 15 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: a lot of people were expecting when you played the Titans. 16 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: You're in for a street fight, and it's exactly what 17 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: it was. Seventeen fourteen. The Chargers offense was stalled most 18 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: of this game, Hailey, but it showed up when it counted. 19 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:18,479 Speaker 1: And Mike Williams and Justin Herbert again, what can you say? 20 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: I mean, a couple of things before we get into 21 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 1: that final drive. As this podcast is so aptly named 22 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: it is, the Titans are Wild, and it's so funny 23 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: because these two teams. I had Amy Wells on, who 24 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: is sort of my counterpart at Tennessee, and had around 25 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 1: my podcast earlier this week, and we sort of say 26 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: they almost play each other like divisional opponents whenever they've met, 27 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: you almost like they're always kind of tight. We think 28 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: back to that London game in twenty eighteen, We think 29 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: back to that game in twenty nineteen, which was I 30 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: believe Ryan Hannahill's first start for the team, and they've 31 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: never looked back essentially since then with him, and they 32 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: got the win the Chargers. Obviously that was a debacle 33 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: in Nashville. We won't revise at that. This was much better. 34 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: But they played tight, even despite the fact I think 35 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: they were missing seven starters on defense or some sort 36 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: of astronomical number. They're just a tight team. This game 37 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: was not pretty for a lot of it. I'll be 38 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: nice in that sense. The offense certainly left something to 39 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: be desired until forty four seconds we're left in the game, 40 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: and as Brandon Staley said after the game, justin Herbert 41 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: had his best when his best was required, and there 42 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: is incredible chemistry between him and Mike Williams, or him 43 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: and Keenan Allen, and we have missed it for a 44 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: lot of this season, and you saw what it meant 45 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 1: when a playmaker like Mike Williams is back fully healthy 46 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: in the fold and on second down can make a 47 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 1: thirty five yard catch to get the team into Titans territory, 48 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: deep into Titans territory, the regardless of what happens, all 49 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: he needs a field goal to win. And that's exactly 50 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: what they did. And I think it was one of 51 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: those games it just kind of felt so tight and 52 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: you necessarily didn't know who was going to pull ahead, 53 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: because especially even that one drive where it was like 54 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: Nasir picks it up. Oh, then the Chargers turned it 55 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: over a couple plays later and you're going, damn, like, 56 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: what is happening here? But all they needed was forty 57 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: four seconds to really sort of turn things around and 58 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: get to eight and six, and you mentioned it, get 59 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: into the sixth spot right now in the playoffs with 60 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: business to take care of in front of them, but 61 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: a really, really solid win. As we have said this 62 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: entire season, this was going to be a daunting two 63 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: game stretch and they came out of it too. And oh, Eric, 64 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: before we came on, I saw another angle of that 65 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: Justin Herbert throw to Mike Williams. It's a ridiculous, ridiculous throw. 66 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: It's an amazing catch. Mike was held down for most 67 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: of this game, which was something I was not expecting. 68 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: I thought this was gonna be a Mike Williams game 69 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: from start to finish. But as Hailey said, as coach said, 70 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: I guess at the podium, Justin Herbert's best was required 71 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: late and he delivered. Yeah, And that's why he's going 72 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: to get paid a lot of money, right because he 73 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: was not at his best yesterday. Um, he was pretty frustrated, 74 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: I think after the game. I mean at the podium, 75 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: he was like he was happy that the team won, 76 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: but you could tell he was not happy with how 77 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: he played. Um, Brandon Daily wasn't really happy with how 78 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: the offense played overall. But that's why these quarterbacks, that's 79 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: how they make their name. Is all all they needed, 80 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 1: It's forty four seconds or three three plays here or 81 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: there to get their team down the field and win 82 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: the game. And that's what Jutin Herbert did. Um. I 83 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: think I looked it up as his fifth game winning 84 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 1: drive of the season, the thirteenth of his career, so 85 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: he is he's a great young quarterback. I think I 86 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: think we can kind of end this debate, you know, 87 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: not not not that we were debating, but like so 88 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 1: many people outside the building just like have so much 89 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: to say about Justin Herbert, and it's like, let's just 90 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: give the man his due. You know, he's just so 91 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 1: good and we are lucky that he's wearing the powder 92 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 1: blue I guess royal blue yesterday. But yeah, just a phenomenal, 93 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: phenomenal final drive, and they were just the belief I think. 94 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I felt it like forty four seconds left, 95 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: it's like, Okay, we're gonna get fifty sixty yards here 96 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: and then we're gonna get a field goal and we're 97 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 1: gonna win the game. I truly felt like that was 98 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: the case. The players felt that. I mean, Corey Lindsay 99 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: was like, yeah, we've jogged on the field known that 100 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: we were going to win the game because we have Justin, 101 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: we have Mike. Um. You know, it wasn't a great 102 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: game for the offense, overall, but when it was crunt time, 103 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: when the players needed to step up, they did and 104 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: it was the two big name guys who got it done. 105 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 1: We'll dig into the offense a little bit more in 106 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: a bit, but you know, Hailey, this is the second 107 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: straight game that's what the defense really showed up and 108 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: did a nice job. Obviously, the Titans get down the 109 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 1: field at the end of the game to tie the game, 110 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: but you know, they got some performances from from guys 111 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: that you typically don't hear. Their number called latent games 112 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: and close situations, a sack by Chris Rump. They sacked 113 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: Tannehill I think four times, and you held the Titans 114 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: to three of eleven on third down two hundred eighty 115 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: four total yards. And this is all without Derwin Jane. 116 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: So I think the defense has found something a little bit. 117 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: And then when you get Derwin back, and hopefully you 118 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: get Joey back at some point, you're just adding big 119 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: name guys to a defense that I think has figured 120 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: something out. I want to say, maybe the last couple 121 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: of weeks. Yeah, Brandon Staley was asked about that yesterday 122 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: and he just said, you know, they've got guys who 123 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: are playing in the right roles, and a lot of 124 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: guys have had to kind of shift and figure some 125 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 1: different things out. But it's working. The third down defense 126 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: over the last three weeks three of eleven against Tennessee, 127 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: three of eleven against Miami, three of ten, holding Vegas 128 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: to three of ten. I mean that just fantastic numbers. Absolutely, 129 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: And when you mentioned the guys who are stepping up 130 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: so much of this season after losing Joey Bosa has 131 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: been who is going to step up opposite Khalil Mack 132 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,239 Speaker 1: because we know he's being double team, triple team, quadruple teamed, 133 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: whatever it is like, who can get the pressure, who 134 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: can create the pressure, And you saw it yesterday Drew Trank, 135 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: Will Joe Gaziano, Chris Rumf, Kyle van Noy not exactly guys. 136 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: Kyle obviously has been in the league a very long time. 137 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: But the other guys, they made plays when it mattered most. 138 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: And that is what you want, and that is what 139 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: you want to see. If you talk, you know, to 140 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: use a brand and Saley phrase of trending positive. This 141 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: defense is trending positive now here in week fifteen going 142 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: into week sixteen, and this is what you want. There 143 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: are still some elements that you know, could be cleaned 144 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: up rushing defense. I mean, Derrick Henry still went over 145 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: one hundred, but hey, it wasn't two hundreds. So that's 146 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: a good thing because that guy's capable of a lot. 147 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: More So, that's a win in this in itself. But 148 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: just the fact that I think they're seeing different they're 149 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: playing different guys, you know, due to attrition and things 150 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: like that, and maybe because they've had to kind of 151 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: figure things out throughout the way and on the fly. 152 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: It's sort of now paying off because they've seen a lot, 153 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: they've done a lot, and now it's kind of what 154 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: Ronaldo Hill said at last week after last week, like 155 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: go out, play loose, have fun, just go do it. 156 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: And that is absolutely what they did yesterday. I think 157 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: we always tend to overreact to a winner of loss 158 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: in the NFL. That's just the name of the game. 159 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: It's natural. It's what happens. The Chargers, though, for as 160 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: many ups and downs as they've had, Eric, they're eight 161 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: and six right now and they don't care about the 162 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: help that they're getting. They're focused on what's going on 163 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: in the building. That's how it should be but we 164 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: could talk about it. The Dolphins lost Saturday night, the 165 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: Jets lost the Lions, the Patriots lost in one of 166 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: thost ridiculous endings in NFL history. That all helped the 167 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: Chargers to kind of vault into the sixth seed. And 168 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: with the schedule that they have on tap, again, there's 169 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: no gimmes in the NFL. I think this weekend was 170 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 1: quite the indicator of that. But you go to Indianapolis. 171 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: I just saw a report Jonathan Taylor may not see 172 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: the field for the rest of the year. You come 173 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: back New Year's Day against the Rams, and then you 174 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: have the Denver Broncos playing out the string in Week eighteen. 175 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 1: There's a very good chance you can get to ten 176 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: or eleven wins. You can get into that fifth seed. 177 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: There's a very good chance we could see a rematch 178 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: of what we just saw yesterday, unless the Jacksonville Jaguars 179 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: somehow win the AFC South. Right now, I put I'd 180 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: put Jacklanville to win the South. That's just me, But 181 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: I think I think Jacklansville red hot. But I think 182 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: your your point are true. And I thought that Brandon 183 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: Daily had a great quote. If you watched his pregames 184 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 1: beat in the locker room, you know, the team isn't 185 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: concerned with kind of everything going on outside the building. 186 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: And I wrote down the quote that he said. He said, 187 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: the only thing that matters it was happening in Powder Blue, 188 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: And I thought that was just such a great quote 189 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 1: because all year long, you know, it's it's been a 190 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: fight for the team, you know, we know, I feel 191 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: I feel like every Monday we've come in and just 192 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: been like, man, it's it's been a grind for this 193 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,719 Speaker 1: team all year long. Injuries and close games and it's 194 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: just it's it's been a long season. But here we 195 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,079 Speaker 1: are with three games left. The Chargers are are not 196 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: only in the mix, they are in a playoff spot. 197 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: And I think that just like the belief in each 198 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: other and within the building and within the coaching staff 199 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: and your teammates, that is kind of what has carried 200 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: you through the tough times and gotten you to this point. 201 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 1: And then it's it's what's going to carry you down 202 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: the streat too, because now right like here's gonna come 203 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 1: to praise, right, oh man, the Chargers eight and six. 204 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: You know, watch out for the Chargers in the playoffs 205 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 1: and all this stuff. But it's like, no, the people 206 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: who have been in the building, players and coaches who 207 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: have stuck it out all year, they know the mindset 208 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,559 Speaker 1: that it takes to be successful. We've seen that in 209 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:55,320 Speaker 1: the last two weeks. We've seen that most of the year, 210 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: and I think they're gonna take that mindset going forward 211 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 1: because now not the time to wreck, right, there's still 212 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: three games lap. The job is not done. You know, 213 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 1: the bolt are set up in a good spot. I 214 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: mean I just looked it up. There at an eighty 215 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: three percent chance to make the playoffs. We're in a 216 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: good spot for sure, but you got to keep going. 217 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: And you know, I wasn't here last year, but you 218 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: guys could probably attach to this. Like you guys know 219 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: the final few games, you got to keep going even 220 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,439 Speaker 1: if you're if you if you're in a good spot 221 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: right now. Yeah, I think Haley Brandon Silli reference. I 222 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: think last year versus this year and the need to 223 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: close strong. And I'll give an example that I think 224 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: Chargers fans will relate to, and Haley, I know you will. 225 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: Twenty seventeen, it was a team that didn't make the playoffs, right, 226 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: but they started owing four It wasn't a great start. 227 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:51,199 Speaker 1: Excuse me, I'm losing my voice from from the weekend. 228 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 1: It wasn't a great start. It was Anthony Lynn's first year. 229 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: But something happened towards the middle of the year were 230 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: which flipped and they were crushing teams and they should 231 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: have made the playoffs, but some ridiculous tiebreaker that got 232 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:10,719 Speaker 1: Buffalo way and even though they beat Buffalo fifty four 233 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: twenty four, that to me is like the perfect example 234 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: of how long an NFL season is, and if you're 235 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: playing good football at the right time, nobody wants to 236 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 1: play you. I think with this Chargers team, though, Haley, 237 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 1: I want to see them actually blow some teams out here, like, yeah, 238 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: get more confidence by putting teams away like the Colts, 239 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: the Rams and the Broncos, beating those teams by two 240 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: scores and not making it a contest in the fourth quarter. 241 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: I think those are the types of wins that I 242 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: think maybe this Chargers team is missing in terms of 243 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: confidence and knowing that you can put teams away early 244 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: and not have to wait till the final drive. Yeah, 245 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I think that's exactly what we want to 246 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: see at this point. Right now. You look at what 247 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: happened with Cincinnati and Tampa Bay yesterday, and Tampa Bay 248 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: goes upside eventeen nothing and you think, oh, here to 249 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: come the Bucks just cruising and Cincinnati in the second 250 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,079 Speaker 1: half is just a completely different team and just puts 251 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: the thing on them and ends up just crushing the Bucks. 252 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: The score towards the end was even closer than it 253 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: was and should have been at one point. That's what 254 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: you want, that's what you want to see. Chargers fans know. 255 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: I think at this point last year they had an 256 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: eighty four percent chance to make the playoffs, and it 257 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: didn't happen. And that was because you didn't take care 258 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: of business against the Texans, and some weird things happened, 259 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 1: and you you know, Week eighteen rolls around and that 260 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: game was just ridiculous and wild, and unfortunately a win 261 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:39,680 Speaker 1: and get in situation didn't end up going in their favor. 262 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,079 Speaker 1: I would like to see them blow some teams out. 263 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: I would like to see them take this opportunity of 264 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: three extremely beatable teams, extremely winnable games, to just go 265 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: and do your thing. This offense, I think the disappointing 266 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 1: part to me, if you want to talk about you know, 267 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: positives from the win, but maybe something's to work on. 268 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: This offense is at full strength, Like everyone was back yesterday, right, 269 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: Trey Pipkins was back, Mike and Keenan are healthy, Donald 270 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: Parham was back. To me, this should have been the 271 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 1: game that was like okay, with Tennessee missing so much 272 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: and being ranked as low as they are defensively, I 273 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,319 Speaker 1: would have liked to see this offense just really come 274 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 1: out and crush it. But Mike Rabel does different things, 275 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: and the Titans, as we mentioned, are just tough, but 276 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: you have a good opportunity. Colts are kind of interesting though. 277 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: Obviously we saw what happened against Minnesota, but you got 278 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: Gus Bradley and some coaches on that staff who tend 279 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: to know Justin very well, and some of these offensive 280 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: players really well. So as winnable as that Colts game is, 281 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: it could be dicey, but I would I totally agree 282 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: with you. I would like to just see them sort 283 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: of find their stride and hit their stride because I 284 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: think as great as winning close games is right now, 285 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: you want to see them really sort of take on 286 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: the challenge of being able to go, Hey, we can 287 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: go into wherever as a wild card and win and 288 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: crush and really just sort of have that momentum. And 289 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: I think that is something if you want to maybe 290 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: find something to build on or work on in those 291 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: last these last three weeks, that is definitely what I 292 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: would like to see. Comfortable wins, right Eric, Yeah, there 293 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 1: hasn't been any of them this year. I'm just going 294 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 1: through the wins right now. The week one against the Raiders. Um, 295 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: you go to the Texans thirty four to twenty four. 296 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: That was not comfortable. That the Texas came storming back, Chargers, Browns, Broncos, Chargers, Falcons. 297 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm just looking at all the Cardinals. Do 298 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: you consider that one? Uh? It was a two point 299 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 1: conversion with no time left. I don't know about you guys, Dolphins, 300 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: Uh Nick Neeman shout out to Nick Neeman on the 301 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: outside kick, not making that one uh as interesting as 302 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: that could have been. M So again, it's wins or 303 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: wins in the NFL. But I do think that there's 304 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: something to be said about putting teams away and maybe 305 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: this is something towards the stre run here that the 306 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: Chargers can really make a point to do. The third 307 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: quarters are still an issue. Oh god, no touchdown since 308 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: five in the third quarter era. Yeah, I'll take the 309 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: l on that. I tweeted. I don't know if you 310 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: get saw I tweeted yesterday the third quarters started, I said, 311 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: this is it, this is you know, this is the quarter. 312 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: This is the week where we're gonna get a third 313 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: quarter touchdown. And I thought for sure we had it. 314 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: I mean, we crossed midfield and then we punted, and 315 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: then I think, now it's had to pick. And then 316 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: we gave it away in the red zone. Then we 317 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: crossed midfield again and then we punt it. I'm like, 318 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: you know, one day it's gonna happen. It has to 319 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: at some point. But yeah, I just think, like kind 320 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: of like what I said earlier, it's been a it's 321 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: been a fight for this team, and the teams has 322 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: earned kind of the position they're in, and they've clawed 323 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: to get to the position they're in. But you know, 324 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: if you look at if you imagine in the season, 325 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: like like a ladder, right like we kind of climbed 326 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: up the ladder, I would agree, like the next rung 327 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: on that ladder to have like a ten point win, 328 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:07,959 Speaker 1: fourteen point win, you know, a comfortable win, um, just 329 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:09,919 Speaker 1: to kind of give yourself a little bit bit of 330 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: like a mental or physical break where it's not such 331 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:17,439 Speaker 1: a grind like every week. And we all know, you know, 332 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: all of us have been around the league long enough, 333 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 1: we all know that, like a thirty point win probably 334 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: not gonna happen, right, let's not. Let's not try for that. 335 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 1: But you know, a double digit win, I think it's 336 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 1: something that is should be like an attainable goal for 337 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: this team, especially down this drect given given who they're playing. UM. 338 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: But I mean, hey, like like we said, as the 339 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 1: Colson Vikings showed on on Saturday, I don't I can't expect. 340 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: I don't I don't know what to expect in the 341 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,679 Speaker 1: NFL that right now. It's um, I don't know that 342 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: was It was a wild, a wild week in a 343 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 1: football Hilly. I'll say this. I think the caveats all 344 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: this is that I think the Chargers offense is still 345 00:17:55,840 --> 00:18:00,239 Speaker 1: trying to find their their true identity with Keenan him 346 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: Mic on the field at the same time. For the 347 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: second Strade game, that first drive, which was a touchdown drive, 348 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 1: you could tell they were making an effort to get 349 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 1: Joshua Kelly the ball and give him touches. Six of 350 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: his ten carries came on that first drive, and it 351 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: was capped by a Joshua Kelly touchdown. He wasn't necessarily 352 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 1: getting huge yards per carry, but you know, I think 353 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 1: trying to establish some sort of running game was definitely 354 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,959 Speaker 1: an emphasis in that first drive. And then you know, 355 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: I don't know. I don't want to say they went 356 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:37,400 Speaker 1: away from him, but I don't know what the identity 357 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: necessarily is of the offense right now, and I think 358 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: there's just they're still trying to kind of workshop some 359 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 1: things and get things rolling for the stretch run. It 360 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: reminds me of when I asked Brandon Staley at the 361 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: by like, what is the identity of this team? And 362 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 1: he had mentioned the phrase work in progress. And I 363 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: think you are still seeing that in certain areas, And 364 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:55,640 Speaker 1: a lot of that is because they've just dealt with 365 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:58,120 Speaker 1: so much and so many injuries and so much attrition 366 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: that you almost kind of figure, how do you play 367 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: together again? Oh, we are at full strength, Okay, how 368 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: can we use that to our advantage? Yeah? I mean 369 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:12,199 Speaker 1: the offensive identity is extremely interesting. You know, they have 370 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: been throwing a lot, you know, only seventy four rushing yards. 371 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: And I think here's the thing. I would like to 372 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 1: see the ground game get going a bit, especially because 373 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: knowing if you do make the playoffs, you're going to 374 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 1: be going on the road and you're probably going someplace cold. 375 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,679 Speaker 1: That's just kind of where this is all trending. If 376 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: we look at it in that direction and like to 377 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: be able to wear teams down on the ground, I 378 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: think would be huge, so that you're not just relying 379 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: on the passing game, You're not just relying on Justin 380 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: Herbert and you can take some pressure off of him. 381 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 1: But I do agree with you. I think that there 382 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: is they are still kind of figuring things out. But 383 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 1: it is week sixteen and the team is getting healthier, 384 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,159 Speaker 1: which is great. Like I said, offense is essentially at 385 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: full strength right now. Okay, go like use it. You know, 386 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,479 Speaker 1: let's let's see something here. And I think, you know, 387 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: maybe with just the way the schedule lays out over 388 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: these next few weeks, that gives them the opportunity to 389 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: do it. Because you want to be hot, you want 390 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:09,680 Speaker 1: to get hot, you know. I do a radio hit 391 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: with Shannon Farrin and I was listening to DJ and 392 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: Money right before and and they said, you know, wouldn't 393 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 1: it be great if you knew by week eighteen if 394 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 1: you were even in the playoffs, like if stuff was 395 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 1: just set and you had essentially accrued which you needed 396 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:25,400 Speaker 1: to accrue. And that's business that needs to be taken 397 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: care of over these next couple of weeks. But find 398 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: your groove, find things that work. And I would like 399 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: to see that just kind of get you know, now 400 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: that everyone's back and everyone is healthy on that side 401 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,120 Speaker 1: of the ball, get it going a little bit more, 402 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 1: you know, Eric, I want you to comment on the 403 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: running game too, but let me amend that I think 404 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: the identity is obviously Justin's arm. I mean, he's still 405 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 1: he all fifty one times. Last week he threw it 406 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: forty two times. You want the ball in your best 407 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 1: player's hands, and that's Justin Herbert. But I do think 408 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: they were trying to establish Joshua, get him going a 409 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: little bit it And maybe that was game plan specific, right, 410 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 1: Maybe it's because it's the Tennessee Titans and you want 411 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 1: to try to control clock a little bit early and 412 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: established some sort of running game. So the Chargers offense 413 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: isn't so one dimensional. But I would say I would 414 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: say it's it's justin Herbert's the identity of your football team, 415 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: and then hopefully you can do some things off of that. Yeah. Yeah, 416 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 1: I think we can all agree on that the identity 417 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 1: is the right arm of number ten. I wasn't like 418 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:34,879 Speaker 1: overly surprised that we ran the ball so much. I 419 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: think players and coaches sort of hinted or sort of 420 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: just said it last week. They said they wanted to 421 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 1: run the ball more or better in the red zone, 422 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 1: and I think they just kind of took that mindset 423 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: and just applied it to the game, because yeah, when 424 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: you came out and it was like the JK Show 425 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:54,880 Speaker 1: right off the bat, like he was getting the ball 426 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 1: like every play, you know, I think they just trying 427 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: to establish a little bit of balance, you know, and 428 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,640 Speaker 1: not have justin throw it fifty five sixty times a game. 429 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: And we know that formula can work. But I think 430 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: against the Titans, you know, the Titans want to play 431 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,880 Speaker 1: where they run the ball a lot, and they had 432 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: the ball for forty minutes and Derrick Henry had twenty 433 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:18,439 Speaker 1: five carried for one hundred and seventy five yards and 434 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: two tuckdowns. I think they charted were trying to play 435 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:25,720 Speaker 1: a little bit of that game theirselves, if only to 436 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 1: maybe help their defense a little bit. Even though the 437 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: defense is playing fantastic, I think they're trying to sway 438 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 1: it the other way where they don't throw the ball 439 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 1: and then maybe it doesn't work and then the time 440 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: of possession it is just skewed so much in favor 441 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: of Tennessee. That's just my own kind of personal theory 442 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,359 Speaker 1: of why they're why they're running. Attempt were a little 443 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: bit higher than we maybe expected. But yeah, I think 444 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 1: we can all agree, like when it when it crunch 445 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 1: time and we saw it right like games on the line, Okay, 446 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 1: what's the plan it have Number ten to go out 447 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: there and sling it around the field. Yeah. It makes 448 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: me think about Jalen Guyton Haley and just how different 449 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 1: I think this office could look with just that speed 450 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 1: threat going down the field. I think you'd see a 451 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 1: lot more deep shots right now. Jalen was such a 452 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 1: such a vertical threat and kind of opened up the 453 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 1: passing game. But when you get a guy like param 454 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 1: back and you're starting, like you said, the offense is 455 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,679 Speaker 1: a full strength now, I think that this is a 456 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 1: perfect opportunity to really kind of fine tune what you 457 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: do offensively headed into the postseason. I totally agree, and 458 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 1: I think, as we had mentioned, this is a really 459 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: good three game stretch, three game opportunity for them to 460 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: be able to do that. You don't have to worry 461 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: about whether in Indianapolis, you're in a dome, you come home, 462 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: you have the Rams who are an extremely you know, 463 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: they play on Monday night. Who knows what Baker is 464 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: going to do tonight, if you will after whatever the 465 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: heck happened a couple of thursdays ago or whatnot. But 466 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: but I do just think that that this is a 467 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: really good opportunity and maybe it's almost like kind of 468 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 1: a schedule reset, a team reset in a way of hey, 469 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,639 Speaker 1: everyone's healthy again, like let's kind of start, you know, 470 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: start the season now, like the postseason starts now. And 471 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: guys have been talking about that they've been playing postseason 472 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:11,920 Speaker 1: football for the last couple of weeks because they know 473 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 1: that they have to take care of business and that 474 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: truly is the only thing that matters, because sometimes you 475 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: don't get the help that you need, and unfortunately, being 476 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 1: on the other side of that, for many years it's happened, 477 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: it hasn't, I should say, hasn't happened necessarily in the 478 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: Chargers favor. But if you can control what you can control, 479 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: and that is getting wins and not having any moments 480 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:35,159 Speaker 1: like what happened in Houston, happened last that happened last year, 481 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 1: happened this year, then you're setting yourself up for a 482 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: really good position. But I agree, I think that maybe 483 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,680 Speaker 1: this is an opportunity where you sort of, like I said, 484 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:47,920 Speaker 1: reset and sort of look at everyone being healthy again, 485 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:52,360 Speaker 1: like it's almost a new start of the season. Brad Fajoko, 486 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 1: first of all, he'll be in broadcasting whenever he wants to, 487 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:58,640 Speaker 1: like as soon as his career has done. I hope 488 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: it's a long career and he doesn't to worry about 489 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:02,199 Speaker 1: it right now. But I talked to him in the 490 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,360 Speaker 1: locker room yesterday. He was awesome, and he mentioned that 491 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: Kyle van Noy has been leading these, uh these meetings, 492 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:11,919 Speaker 1: these player led meetings, talking about that this is the 493 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: playoffs now and kind of getting some of these young 494 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 1: guys in the in the right frame of mind. Eric that, uh, 495 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,960 Speaker 1: you have to treat every game from here on out 496 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: like it's a playoff game. And I think that they've 497 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:27,400 Speaker 1: really attacked at starting with the Dolphins game, and it's 498 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:30,160 Speaker 1: it's a perfect example of what I think we can 499 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: expect these next three weeks. I really do think that 500 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 1: this team is locked in. And uh, you know, we 501 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 1: won't know until we see it. But you know Christmas 502 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 1: is gonna be tricky, right, you fly out Christmas Day, 503 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 1: it's the holidays. You want to be locked in. And 504 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 1: I know Brandon Staley was was miked up in the 505 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: locker room and said like, hey, we have to have 506 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: a really good we could practice because we have to 507 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 1: beat the Indianapolis. Yeah. Going back to Kyle real quick, Um, 508 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:00,239 Speaker 1: I don't think it's a coincidence that he he has 509 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:03,399 Speaker 1: sacks and back to back game because you know, he 510 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 1: had to take on more of a role after Joey 511 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: went out, you know, as the starter, and that really 512 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: wasn't what the team had envisioned for him. But you know, 513 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 1: he had a sack against the Dolphins and sack yesterday. 514 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 1: And I asked Brandon day the last week, I said, 515 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: you know, how about like the impact that Kyle has 516 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 1: made on the field. Sure, but like more so like 517 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:23,120 Speaker 1: his leadership, and he said he has been like invaluable 518 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: and he's a guy he's won two super Bowls, Like 519 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: he knows how to get it done in the playoffs. 520 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: And I think that's just like such a such a 521 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 1: valuable commodity to like have on your team and like 522 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 1: such a resource, you know. And I posted that story 523 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:40,679 Speaker 1: last week on charger dot com about van Noy and 524 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:43,640 Speaker 1: people are like, oh, he's old, Like he hasn't done anything, 525 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,440 Speaker 1: and it's like, sure, maybe, like his box score line 526 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,880 Speaker 1: hasn't been great all year, but like he's providing more 527 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 1: than that. I think you've seen that, you know, in 528 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 1: the last couple of weeks with how the defensive played, 529 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: and they'll need that going forward. But yeah, I think, 530 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: like like we said, and what like what Brandon Delly 531 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: said after the game, like the focus is still gotta 532 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: be on us, you know, we still gotta keep going um, 533 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: you know, and we'll see if they can find a 534 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 1: way to do that. Hailey closing thoughts here, I'd love 535 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 1: to get your reaction on what you saw in Week 536 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:21,880 Speaker 1: eighteen in the AFC. I mean, you know, like I said, 537 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:26,120 Speaker 1: the Chargers are not focused. They probably are listen, everyone's 538 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: gonna have an eye on the scoreboard to see kind 539 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: of where you are in the playoff hunt. Everything kind 540 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 1: of fell their way. It was like an instant classic 541 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 1: in Buffalo on Saturday night, the Jets and lines, the 542 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:41,479 Speaker 1: lines are rolling, Zach Wilson comes in and you know, 543 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:45,880 Speaker 1: nearly beats Detroit. And then what we saw in Vegas 544 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 1: with Chandler Jones basically intercepting a crazy lateral and then 545 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,439 Speaker 1: like steamrolling over mac Jones into the end zone was 546 00:27:56,840 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: the most ridiculous play of of week eighteen or Week fifteen. 547 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 1: It's all right, I will say this. We talked a 548 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 1: lot about how this season is flying by. It feels 549 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:12,760 Speaker 1: very long right now, I'm gonna be yeah, it feels 550 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, guys, it feels a little lengthy 551 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,679 Speaker 1: to think, oh, gosh, there's still three games to go here. Um, 552 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 1: but it's great. Everything's great. This is a weird NFL 553 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:26,320 Speaker 1: season in general. I think this is one of those 554 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,239 Speaker 1: years where, obviously what's going on in the NFC, you 555 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:32,160 Speaker 1: have Philadelphia in a class that's just like cruising kind 556 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 1: of above everyone else. San Francisco is able to use 557 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:37,640 Speaker 1: ninety eight thousand quarterbacks and it doesn't matter because their 558 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: defense is so good and they're on a roll. Vikings 559 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: have this, you know, the largest comeback in NFL history. 560 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 1: The AFC has a lot of parody, but it still 561 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: feels in a weird way like it could almost be 562 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 1: anyone's year. It could almost be anyone's season in a 563 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:57,479 Speaker 1: weird sense. Obviously, you have in the AFC the Bills 564 00:28:57,600 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: and the Chiefs, and I would put the Bengals in 565 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 1: that conversation station right now. I believe they're ten and four. 566 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: You've seen Kansas City and you have seen Buffalo at 567 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 1: times show vulnerabilities, and I think every team kind of 568 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 1: has that. But I think when you're in the conference, 569 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: it has teams that might show a little bit here 570 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: and there. That's kind of what you want. I don't 571 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 1: know what to make sense of this last week in 572 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,360 Speaker 1: the NFL. It is just crazy. I will say this. 573 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: I have worked and Chris, you have two we have 574 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 1: both worked in the NBA. We are fans. I'm a 575 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: huge baseball fan. On the side, there is nothing like 576 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 1: the NFL. I know everyone makes the joke this league, 577 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 1: like on Twitter when something crazy happens in All Caps, 578 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: but it's true. It is just and it's because every 579 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: game means something. I make the joke about the season 580 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 1: feeling really long, a lot shorter than every other league. 581 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 1: But that's why it is so special, because every game 582 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,520 Speaker 1: truly truly means something. It doesn't matter. You saw what 583 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:56,959 Speaker 1: Kansas City. I mean, it was freaking tight with the 584 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: Texans yesterday and they found a way to win. But 585 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: that's kind of two weeks that the Texans have sort 586 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:04,520 Speaker 1: of kind of what they did last year against the 587 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 1: Chargers just kind of been, you know, that team, like 588 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 1: who's going to be that team to sort of maybe 589 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,160 Speaker 1: spoil someone season or maybe knock them down a little bit. 590 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 1: But but the good thing is is you mentioned everything 591 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 1: went the Chargers way and they won, which is the 592 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 1: best part of it to help themselves as they move forward, 593 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 1: because that's what they need to do. They have to 594 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 1: take care of their own business. The NFL is wild. 595 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: It's gonna be a I don't know, there's no way 596 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: that these next three weeks and this league all caps 597 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: ends on a completely normal note. Like it's just not 598 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: going to happen. Something weird's gonna happen. It's gonna be nuts. Yeah, 599 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 1: no doubt, and Eric will give you the final word. 600 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: I'll just say this, like, as an NFL fan, I 601 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: want Mahomes, Herbert, Burrow, and Alan all on the tournament 602 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:55,479 Speaker 1: in January. That's that's my that's my hope. And it 603 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:59,080 Speaker 1: looks like it's trending that way. It's ironic that you 604 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:01,200 Speaker 1: say that because having in this morning, I was talking 605 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 1: to my brother, you know, we talk every every Monday. 606 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 1: We kind of go through all these kind of recap 607 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:08,880 Speaker 1: the NFL weekend. So if somehow, like I said, I 608 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 1: think Jacksonville does get in and win the South, if 609 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 1: that happened, here would be your your seven quarterbacks in 610 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: the AFC. If things day the same as they are now, 611 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: it would be Alan, Mahomes, Burrow, Lawrence Jackson, Herbert and Tua. Like, 612 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 1: sign me up for that because that is just and 613 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 1: it's probably going to be that way for the next 614 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: ten years, right, sign me up for that because that 615 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: is fantastic and that is exactly what fan should want 616 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 1: to see. You know. That's that's probably the seven best 617 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: quarterbacks in the AFC. Right. Um, the NFC, I don't know, 618 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 1: I mean they have the Eagles, Um, I don't know 619 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:52,800 Speaker 1: what to make make of the vikings. I'm very happy 620 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:55,800 Speaker 1: for my former team that they pulled that off and 621 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:58,680 Speaker 1: my old co workers, I know they are thrilled, um 622 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: but that that team of the roller coaster in itself. 623 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: But for the Chargers, yeah, I mean, if we're one 624 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:07,480 Speaker 1: of the seven teams in there and we have Herbert 625 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 1: or quarterback, I'm all for you. I think I think 626 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 1: the AFT is wide open. I really do. Even if 627 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:16,240 Speaker 1: you have really good teams at the top in Buffalo 628 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:21,120 Speaker 1: and Kathy and Cincinnati, Miami went toe to toe with 629 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:24,280 Speaker 1: Buffalo in the snow. You know, the Ravens are a 630 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 1: scrappy team that's gonna get Lamar back, and the Chargers 631 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 1: are the team like we're peaking at the right time. 632 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 1: So who knows, Like Hayley said, who knows what the 633 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: final three weeks are gonna bring. I assure you it's 634 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 1: probably not going to be calm. It will be chaos. 635 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 1: But if the Chargers can keep taking care of their 636 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: own business, then after that three weeks then made late January, 637 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:50,200 Speaker 1: then hopefully it should be a lot more fun too. 638 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 1: There's still a ways to go, but you know, you 639 00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 1: got to savor the wins and I'm no Chargers fans 640 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 1: are happy here on this victory. Monday, Bolts improved it 641 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:04,560 Speaker 1: eight and six. We'll be back next Tuesday after the 642 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:07,600 Speaker 1: Colts game for the final drive. We won't see you guys, 643 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:11,720 Speaker 1: so happy Holidays, Merry Christmas for Haley and Eric. I'm Chris. 644 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 1: This has been the final drive. H