1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: Late fifteen to ten touched up. Well. 2 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 2: Merry Christmas, everybody, and welcome into a brand new episode 3 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,319 Speaker 2: of Chargers Weekly that's always joined by the voice of 4 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 2: the team, Matt Mundy Smith. As we get you set 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 2: for Saturday in New England, Chargers with an opportunity to 6 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 2: punch their ticket to the postseason and money. You and 7 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: Julio did an awesome job breaking down that game against 8 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 2: the Broncos last week full Speed Ahead with the Patriots, 9 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 2: and I think yesterday's games really painted a much clear 10 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 2: picture of what the Chargers have in front. 11 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 3: Of them right now. 12 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 4: Well, yeah, look, you know it's the best thing is 13 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 4: you don't have to rely on anyone. I think back 14 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 4: to twenty seventeen, you know, after that zero and four 15 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 4: start and then the team catches fire and they're playing 16 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 4: their best football at the end of the year, And 17 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 4: of course it had some carryover to twenty eighteen when 18 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 4: they went twelve and four. But you know, you're sitting 19 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 4: there and you just you hang your head at that 20 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 4: ridiculous end of that Buffalo game where you thought you 21 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:08,919 Speaker 4: were in and then you weren't, and. 22 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: It was a bummer. 23 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 4: And now it's nothing to worry about man. Just win 24 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,839 Speaker 4: this game and you punch your ticket. It's that simple. 25 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 4: You beat the Patriots in New England, which is never 26 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 4: an easy task. Remember last year was a six to 27 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 4: nothing shutout, two field goals, and it's just no matter 28 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 4: what their team looks like, they're always going to play 29 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 4: it tough. It's always a hard place to play. The 30 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 4: weather is not being very cooperative, so by no means 31 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 4: because you look at their record at three and twelve 32 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 4: and you think it's going to be easy, it's not. 33 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 4: But you get a victory and you're in the tournament, 34 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 4: and it's that simple. Get in the tournament, get as 35 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 4: healthy as you possibly can, and see if you can 36 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 4: make a run. 37 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 3: In New England. 38 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 2: Is it one of those teams too that's looking for 39 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: a quarterback in the draft. They're going to play hard 40 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 2: each and every week. They gave the Bills a run 41 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 2: for their money last Sunday, but just going back to 42 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 2: the games yesterday money. The Steelers are in a bit 43 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: of a free fall to close the season, and it 44 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 2: looks like the Baltimore Ravens are going to wrap up 45 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: that AFC North next week if they beat the Browns, 46 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 2: which looks pretty likely. 47 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 3: The Steelers. 48 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 2: If they lose to the Bengals and the Chargers went out, 49 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 2: the Chargers, who we thought would be going to the 50 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,959 Speaker 2: East Coast no matter what, to play Buffalo, Pittsburgh or Baltimore. 51 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 2: They would have a day with the Houston Texans and 52 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 2: be the five seed, which would maybe set them up 53 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: for a divisional matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. So, 54 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 2: you know, it's a lot of looking ahead, but that's 55 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 2: what we do on the podcast. You got to punch 56 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: your ticket on Saturday, but a lot to play for 57 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: over the next couple of weeks. 58 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 3: In terms of seating. 59 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: Now. 60 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, so the Steelers are playing their worst football at 61 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 4: the worst time, and they had been incompletely with ten 62 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 4: and three and they were in complete control of that 63 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 4: division and now it's slipping away from them. They're not 64 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 4: playing good football, and they've got to play a Bengals team, 65 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 4: you know, after getting routed by the Chiefs, and the Chiefs, 66 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 4: you know, they're starting to turn it on and you're 67 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 4: seeing as they get more and more healthy, they're going 68 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 4: to be more and more fum They very well could 69 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 4: get out of the season. It's sixteen and one. They 70 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 4: already got the one seed, so it'll be interesting to 71 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 4: see how they play their week. I would assume they're 72 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 4: not going to play this, especially Patrick Mahomes with the ankle, 73 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 4: he is not going to play Week eighteen. That said, 74 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 4: I could still totally see Carson Wentz beating the Broncos. 75 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 4: I have no problem envisioning that if Steve Spagnolo and 76 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 4: Andy Reid are going to play their defensive starters, because 77 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 4: they're going to have a bye anyway, I think anyone 78 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 4: that's dealing with something will probably sit that game out. 79 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 4: But as you know, we're just going through the scenarios 80 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 4: for people that maybe aren't paying close attention. Chances are, 81 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 4: if you're listening to Chargers weekly, you're pretty up the 82 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 4: speed in all the different paths that the team could take. 83 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 4: But if you're not, as it sits right now, the 84 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 4: wild card is Steelers five Chargers, six, Broncos seven Broncos 85 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 4: and Bengals are going to play ahead to head. Bengals 86 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 4: win that they got the tiebreaker, and then it'll come 87 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 4: down to Week eighteen. If the Bengals can knock off 88 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 4: the Steelers a they become an incredibly potent force that 89 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 4: I would imagine nobody wants to see because of how 90 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 4: good they are on offense, and if they get hot, 91 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 4: it's just you might have to trade punches touchdown for 92 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 4: touchdown to keep up with them, no matter how bad 93 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 4: their defense is. And they're also could help out the 94 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 4: Chargers by knocking off the Steelers if they lose out 95 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 4: here for the season. Like you said, Chris, you jump 96 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 4: up if the Chargers can knock off the Patriots and 97 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 4: the Raiders in Week eighteen, you jump up to the 98 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 4: five and now instead of, like you said, playing in 99 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 4: Buffalo in January, playing in Baltimore in January, playing in 100 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 4: Pittsburgh in January, all outdoor venues, East coast, Eastern Seaboard, 101 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 4: even in the case of Baltimore, and just the snow effect, 102 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 4: the lake effect that you get up there in Buffalo, 103 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 4: and what you might be faced with talking about climate 104 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 4: controlled indoors Houston against a Texans team that very much 105 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 4: like the Steelers, is reeling and offensively has not been 106 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 4: able to protect their quarterback. 107 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: C J. 108 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 4: Stroud has been in a funk for a while. And 109 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 4: you know, let's just say the Chargers closed with three 110 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 4: straight wins with Herbert playing his best football of the year. 111 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 4: With Lad McConkey, you know, making a runt as the 112 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 4: best rookie wide receiver from an exceptional class of receivers. Like, 113 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 4: there's a lot of positives that they have a chance 114 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,239 Speaker 4: to carry into the tournament, you know, if everything works 115 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 4: their way and they continue to play really good football 116 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 4: after that second half against Denver. 117 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, the scenario is really I feel like it really 118 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: down money comes down to maybe Baltimore or Houston. And 119 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 2: on the surface, you see thirty one to two, the 120 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 2: Ravens are playing their best football and they may be 121 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: the team that nobody wants. 122 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 3: To play in the NFL period. 123 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: But I say, if you have to go to Baltimore, 124 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 2: you're gonna have to beat them eventually, right, So why 125 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: not take your first crack in the wildcard round. But 126 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,359 Speaker 2: it would be nice to get the five seed to 127 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: get to Houston against a Texas team you mentioned depleted offensively. 128 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 2: They just lost Tank Dell, they lost Stefan Diggs earlier 129 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 2: this year. But all that said, the Chargers have to 130 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 2: take care of business against two teams that they're supposed 131 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: to be. They're supposed to be the Raiders and they're 132 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 2: supposed to be the Patriots. And I think in maybe 133 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 2: some scenarios, depending on the team and the coach, maybe 134 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: you overlooked these opponents. This Chargers team, it strikes me 135 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 2: as a team led by a coach Harball that is 136 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 2: not going to overlook the New England Patriots or the 137 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 2: Las Vegas Raiders going into the postseason. Every game money 138 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 2: and it seemed like this has been the theme of 139 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 2: the year. It doesn't matter if it's the Chiefs or 140 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 2: the Steelers, or the Panthers or the Saints. 141 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 3: This team seems to. 142 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 2: Get up for every game. Maybe save for that Bucks 143 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: game that was just kind of an anomaly. 144 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think look this again, they figured something out 145 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 4: in the second half. You know, it had been what 146 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 4: was it six I think it was eight, was it 147 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 4: eight straight quarters that they had not forced a punt, 148 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 4: or maybe it's nine. It's possible that it was nine 149 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 4: quarters that they had not forced a punt. It was 150 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 4: nine consecutive offensive drives that resulted in a score. And 151 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 4: then you know, it finally clicked and it worked in 152 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 4: Jesse Minner and his staff and the players figured something out, 153 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 4: and really a lot of it was putt in derwent 154 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 4: back at the big nickel or at that dimebacker instead 155 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 4: of playing them high with all the injuries to the safeties. 156 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 4: But he kind of saw what we're here. I'll pull 157 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 4: up my notes, is it? 158 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: You know? I just got them here ready to go for. 159 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 4: The game against against New England. So they've allowed twenty 160 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 4: or fewer points in each of their seven road games. 161 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 4: So to have that second half against Denver after you 162 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 4: know where they kind of were. If you go, I'm 163 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 4: trying to see where the splits are, Weeks one through ten, 164 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 4: they had allowed thirteen point one points per game, best 165 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 4: in the NFL, and then you go weeks eleven through now, 166 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 4: twenty six points per game. That's twenty sixth and three 167 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 4: hundred and ninety two yards per game. That's second to 168 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 4: last first. So to get that second half, to get 169 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 4: seventy yards prior to that prevent d field goal, to 170 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 4: carry over, to get that momentum and to say, hey, look, man, 171 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 4: road has not been an issue for us all year. 172 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 4: And what we did in that second half versus Denver 173 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 4: can carry over to New England, can carry over to 174 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 4: Vegas against a couple offenses that do have some talent, 175 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 4: and you know, you think about Brock Bauers in Vegas. 176 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 4: Drake May is starting to play some pretty darn good 177 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 4: football right now. He's had a touchdown pass in seven 178 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 4: consecutive games. 179 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 1: So there's the. 180 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 4: Ability to at least take a positive away. Even though 181 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 4: you gave up the amount of points you gave up, 182 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 4: it was really just those twenty one on three straight 183 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 4: drives and then you put the clamps on for six 184 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 4: more over the remaining whatever it was five or six 185 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 4: drives that you had a few three and outs in. 186 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 4: So I think it's a very long way or circuitous 187 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 4: path for me to take Chris to get to a 188 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 4: point of I love that the defense had that second 189 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 4: half and they were able to not just not just 190 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 4: kind of make a couple. 191 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: Plays here and there to win the game, but dominate. 192 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 4: They were back to dominant Charger football, third and longs, 193 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 4: pinning their ears, back pressures, quarterback hits, turnover opportunities. It 194 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 4: looked like the Charger team we saw from weeks one 195 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 4: through ten. 196 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 2: Weddy, I like in this trip to almost like a 197 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 2: preseason playoff trip, because if you do have to go 198 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 2: to Baltimore in a few weeks, you. 199 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:23,719 Speaker 3: Got to go west to east. You got to play in. 200 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 2: Cold, you have to prepare a couple of days in advance, 201 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 2: so you can almost kind of go through your playoff 202 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 2: preparation on a weekend like this, knowing that you may 203 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: you may play on a Saturday, you don't know, but 204 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 2: to kind of get into that mode of, hey, we 205 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 2: got to be road warriors in January. 206 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 3: We got to go west to east. We got to 207 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 3: learn how to play in the cold. 208 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: And I think that playing the Patriots, a team that's 209 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 2: a little frisky right now, and still it's not going 210 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 2: to be an easy game going to Foxboro all the 211 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 2: reasons you just mentioned, I do think that it's a 212 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 2: nice kind of a preseason, if you will, to the 213 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 2: playoffs to kind of prepare for what playoff football is 214 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 2: going to be. 215 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 4: So the one thing that's that's if you look at 216 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 4: the defense right and you try to figure, Okay, what's 217 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 4: been that issue since Week eleven, and it's been the 218 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 4: run defense. You know, the run defense has been so dominant, 219 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 4: and by stopping the run, you're getting those third and longs. 220 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 4: And now the real talent. You think about the month 221 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,079 Speaker 4: of November with Tuley and Khalil and all of these 222 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 4: guys that were piling up these sacks. It's because they 223 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 4: could stop the run and then it got away from them. 224 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 4: You know, That's that's essentially what happened on the losing 225 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 4: streak is Chad Brown of the Bengals, you know, even 226 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,079 Speaker 4: though they won that game, and Derrick Henry of the Ravens, 227 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 4: and you know, think about John Connor and James Connor 228 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 4: and the Cardinals and then in this one, in that 229 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 4: first half, the fact that they were gashing them for 230 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 4: almost seven yards per carry on those first few drives, 231 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 4: and like they figured out, Okay, we got to commit 232 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 4: more resources where it's a defense that plays the lightest 233 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 4: box the most often in the NFL. And I think 234 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,319 Speaker 4: coach Minner made that adjustment of Okay, it's not working. 235 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 4: We've got we've got to commit more resources to the 236 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 4: line of scrimmage. And that's what he started doing in 237 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 4: that second half. And I'll be anxious to seek his look. 238 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 4: New England run the ball now. They they can absolutely 239 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 4: Antonio Gibson and Ramandre Stevenson. You go through their last 240 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 4: three games. Last week, they ran for four to two 241 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 4: of carry week before they ran for four to eight 242 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 4: to carry and the leak before that they ran for 243 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 4: six point two per carry, so you can't. You got 244 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 4: to make sure that you you bottle those, you know, 245 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 4: Stevenson and Gibson up, and that way you're putting a 246 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 4: rookie quarterback. I mentioned he had seven consecutive he's got 247 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 4: a touchdown in seven consecutive games. Because it's got an 248 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 4: interception in seven consecutive games too, So you know, there's 249 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:41,439 Speaker 4: there's the good, and it's it's it's a double edged 250 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 4: sword here with with him dropping back, there's some incredible 251 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 4: throws and he's a big horse of a quarterback, very 252 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 4: Herbert esque, and just the way he's built, the amount 253 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 4: of hits he can take while still maintaining a solid 254 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 4: not even a solid base, but just maintain his base 255 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 4: enough to deliver strikes. 256 00:11:58,720 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: He's in here. 257 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 4: Drake May's an impressive player, man. And I know the 258 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 4: stats and the record might not say as much because 259 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 4: of what Jade and Daniels and what bo Nick's are doing, 260 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 4: but Drake May is every bit in the conversation of 261 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 4: being the best quarterback in this class. And you know 262 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 4: there that's why, don't let them have the running game. 263 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 4: Don't let them have Stevenson, don't let them have Gibson 264 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 4: and get after it, because these guys when they're that's 265 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 4: what you're seeing when the play action is working, when 266 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 4: you have that threat of these guys ripping off carries 267 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 4: for four, five eight yards. The other good thing I 268 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 4: know I'm rambling here, but the other thing about the 269 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 4: running game too, is they'll put the ball on the ground. 270 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: They they I think. 271 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,079 Speaker 2: Jeezna mention that Stevenson fumbles quite a bit. 272 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, here you go, So I got it. Pull Uh. 273 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 4: Gibson has got fourteen fumbles in his career. He's got 274 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 4: two this season. Stevenson leads the NFL h with seven fumbles. 275 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 4: So you know how opportunistic this defense is. Just get 276 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 4: that peanut punch going and Peanut Tillman people, for those 277 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 4: of you that maybe aren't old enough to remember. 278 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: That's Charles Tillman. 279 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 4: So get that rolling and see if you can create 280 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 4: some turnovers and get some more takeaways and cash those 281 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 4: in for points. 282 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 2: Monny, I know you you watched the Patriots last week 283 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 2: against the Bills. What did you see Because that game 284 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 2: was a lot closer than I think Bills fans were expecting, 285 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:23,319 Speaker 2: especially with the way Buffalo has been playing down the stretch. 286 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 2: What did you see from the Patriots that made that 287 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 2: look interesting? And I also should preface it's an AFC 288 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 2: East divisional matchup and those games are tend to be 289 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 2: a little bit closer than the meet CI. 290 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I think what what I saw was 291 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 4: just some mistakes from Josh Allen. You know, there's the 292 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 4: interception in there, there's the uh, there's a couple three 293 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 4: and outs, and just Drake May found a rhythm, you know, 294 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 4: he found that rhythm early and they got those early 295 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 4: touchdowns and again that like if you go on that 296 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 4: that opening that opening drive, uh, you know, it's it's 297 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 4: a twenty eight yard touchdown pass, you know, to to 298 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 4: Keayshan Boute and it's it's like there's a connection now 299 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,959 Speaker 4: between May and we thought it was gonna be Kendrick Born, 300 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 4: but it's Booty, you know, And I think when you're 301 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 4: a rookie, it takes a second to figure that out. Remember, Chris, 302 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 4: remember like it was whatever it was week six or 303 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 4: week seven, and we were like, oh man, it'd be 304 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 4: so good to get Hunter Henry back on this team. 305 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: Man. 306 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 4: It's very reminiscent of Justin Herbert's rookie year when you 307 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 4: know Hunter Henry. Let's see what was it in twenty 308 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 4: twenty with Justin Herbert, Hunter Henry had sixty catches for 309 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 4: six hundred and thirteen yards and four touchdowns. This season, 310 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 4: he has got sixty six catches for six hundred and 311 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 4: seventy four yards and two touchdowns. And he's his favorite target. 312 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 4: He's got ninety six targets. And we know how good 313 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 4: Hunter is. He's he is a full service tight end. 314 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 4: He can block his tail off, he's got soft hands, 315 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 4: he's a good route runner, and I think as a 316 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 4: rookie you start to develop that chemistry. So to me, 317 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,479 Speaker 4: that's kind of what we saw is we're seeing this 318 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 4: connect with Booty and we're seeing this you know, old 319 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 4: steady hand with Hunter Henry that are helping Drake May 320 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 4: his rookie season become a really good quarterback. And of 321 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 4: course that's going to start to flash the later in 322 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 4: the year that. 323 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: That we get. 324 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 4: The other thing too, is the Bills didn't really generate 325 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 4: a lot of pass rush in that game, you know, 326 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 4: like and I know you look at the final stats 327 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 4: and stuff, and you may look at sacks and QB 328 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 4: hits and stuff, like that. But it just looked like 329 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 4: Drake may did have some time to operate back there. 330 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 4: So heat him up, don't let him get going with 331 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 4: the run game. And because like here we go, they 332 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 4: ran the ball. What they threw at thirty six times, 333 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 4: they ran at thirty they were able to have a 334 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 4: very balanced offense. You know, just get him out of that, 335 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 4: get them, get him two to one, two to one, 336 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 4: pass to run and I think that's hot. 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And I 357 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 2: know the defense clam down in Denver down the stretch, 358 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 2: but the fact that that Justin was so dominant in 359 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 2: that second half and he's doing it each and every 360 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 2: week with a different set of guys from Joshua Palmer 361 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 2: to Quinton Johnston to Latin McConkey to Stone Smart. 362 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 3: I mean, it doesn't matter who it is. 363 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 2: And I just wonder if something switched in Justin too, 364 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 2: that we're going to see that over the last two 365 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 2: games going into the playoffs, that I'm playing on a 366 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 2: different level now than I've ever played, and I can 367 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 2: carry this team to a win. If the defense is 368 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 2: having a tough day, I can pick them up. And 369 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 2: it seems like he's almost found I don't want to 370 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 2: say confidence, He's always say confidence, but it almost just 371 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 2: this kind of new, unlocked level of playing football for 372 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 2: the Chargers. 373 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 4: You know, I'll credit as I always do, you know, 374 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 4: and we all do because he's just so good at 375 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 4: what he does. 376 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: But I'll credit DJ. 377 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,400 Speaker 4: He said it in the moment when Herbert on that 378 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 4: opening drive of the second half, or the second drive 379 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 4: of the second half, right, because they did not score 380 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 4: on their first and then the Bronco Oh no, no, no second. Yeah, 381 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 4: it was their opening drive. The Broncos had the ball 382 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,239 Speaker 4: and they scored a field goal, so they need an answer, right, 383 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 4: it's back to eleven. And remember in the first half 384 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 4: on the field goal drive, they had a third in inches, 385 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 4: not even a third and one, it was third and 386 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 4: maybe a football, and instead of Herbert's sneaking it, they 387 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 4: handed it to Gus. He lost two yards. I think 388 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,959 Speaker 4: Jamari Allan got inside of Jamari right off the snap, 389 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 4: just beat him right away and speared through and tackled Gus. 390 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 4: And I remember saying in the broadcast, man and I 391 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 4: get it. You know, I'm usually the guy that's constantly 392 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 4: politicking for the quarterback sneak. But I'm guessing Herbert's ankle 393 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 4: is not good. You don't want him planting with that thing, 394 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,439 Speaker 4: pushing into a bunch of three hundred pound bodies on 395 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 4: the sneak. 396 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: I get it. 397 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 4: I even said, I was like, I'd almost be tempted 398 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 4: to put stone Smart under their former quarterback and he's 399 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 4: two hundred and sixty pounds. Just let him take it. 400 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:57,400 Speaker 4: You only got to get six inches. Get in there, man, 401 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 4: and mix it up and get your first down instead 402 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 4: to bring it in. You know, a guy who's seven 403 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 4: yards behind the line of scrimmage gets the ball at 404 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 4: four yards behind the line of scrimmage, and now I 405 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:08,120 Speaker 4: has to get four yards and six inches. So long 406 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 4: way of saying, it appeared as though the ankle was 407 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 4: that bad that hey, this is such an issue that 408 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 4: the last thing we want to do is really hurt 409 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 4: this thing this early in the game by just trying 410 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 4: to get six inches of forward progress. And then in 411 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:25,959 Speaker 4: that third quarter, it's almost like Herbert said, that may 412 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 4: be your decision, coaches, that may be what you want, 413 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 4: but this is what I want. And that's when he 414 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 4: took off and he juked a guy and he skiff 415 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 4: arms another guy and he goes for sixteen yards and 416 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,400 Speaker 4: you could see the whole team and the whole sideline 417 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 4: just erupt like he's alive. Like, oh my god, he's alive. 418 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 4: I can't believe what I just saw. You know, I 419 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 4: didn't think this was gonna we were going to have 420 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:52,120 Speaker 4: this today. And from that moment that that was it. 421 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 4: That was the switch from that play, that was the 422 00:19:55,960 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 4: switch that flipped, and the offense came alive, defense came alive. 423 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 4: And that's what having a franchise quarterback and having a 424 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 4: superstar quarterback can do for you, is it's those plays 425 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 4: when you're like, oh, yeah, we're not out of this, 426 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 4: like this is yeah, we're down eleven. We have not 427 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 4: played well, but we're not out of this by any 428 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 4: stretch because we got ten and look what ten's able 429 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 4: to do. And then you just see the plays that 430 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:23,640 Speaker 4: he made for the remainder of the game. My god, 431 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 4: that touchdown passed the Darius Davis is one of the 432 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:27,439 Speaker 4: great ones, and he's got plenty of great ones. One 433 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 4: of the great ones that we've ever seen from him. 434 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 4: So I do think, you know, speaking to your point 435 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 4: about what happened in that second half. I do think 436 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 4: there was that moment of Herbert saying, no, man, we 437 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 4: ain't going out like this. It's a Thursday night, it's 438 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 4: a primetime this is a must win game. We have 439 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 4: lost three or five and we got to get it. 440 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 4: This is a tiebreaker. This essentially we'll go a long 441 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 4: way to punch our ticket into the postseason and it 442 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 4: maybe help us make a run of the super Bowl. 443 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 4: Not like this, And I think you hit it right 444 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 4: on the head. That was soon super star Justin Herbert, 445 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 4: top five, top three quarterback in the league, reminding everybody 446 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 4: what he's capable of doing. 447 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 3: You know, money. 448 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 2: It's just like the evolution of Justin under Jim Harball, 449 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 2: just from something as simple as wearing that that gold 450 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:18,360 Speaker 2: jersey during training camp, being the only the only guy 451 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 2: to wear it. 452 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 3: Say hey, this is your team. 453 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,480 Speaker 2: There's no more Keenan Allen, there's no more Mike Williams, 454 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 2: there's no more Austin Eckler. You're gonna be the guy 455 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 2: who carries us each and every week. And it's been 456 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 2: it's been fun to see the evolution of the offense, 457 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 2: I know, for for fans, and at times it's been frustrating. 458 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,120 Speaker 2: Trying to figure out, okay, how we going to generate points, 459 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 2: but to see the way that Justin has included everybody 460 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,639 Speaker 2: and it could be anybody's game. You know, the the 461 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 2: Joshua Palmer two point conversions in Atlanta and Denver, like 462 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 2: two of the most important plays in the season, really, 463 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 2: because I don't think that they beat Atlanta without the 464 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 2: two point conversion, and that the second one was an 465 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 2: unbelievve we catch but also made it a three point game, 466 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 2: you know, so it makes it at least a field 467 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,959 Speaker 2: goal game at that point. The way Ladd has been playing, 468 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 2: you know, at least fifty yards and eighth strade games. 469 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 2: Quintin has had small ups and downs. For the large 470 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 2: part a successful sophomore season based on what happened last 471 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 2: year to get Hayden Hurst back, Disleygue, you know, Stone smart, 472 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 2: like Gus. You know, Gus was the huge game when 473 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 2: when they need it the most, especially in that second half, 474 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 2: and then hopefully getting JK back, Like that's the that's 475 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 2: the engine of the of the offense that they have 476 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,160 Speaker 2: sorely missed, and they have tried to figure out ways 477 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 2: to score offense without JK money, and it seems like 478 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 2: they figured it out, and right when they figure it out, 479 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 2: hopefully they get them back. 480 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,919 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think the question will be, you know, 481 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 4: if you and that's where the Pittsburgh collapse comes into play, right, 482 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,880 Speaker 4: It's would be nice if you were just locked into 483 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 4: the six. You know, if you win this week and 484 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 4: and you're guaranteed the six, it's you almost kind of 485 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 4: wonder be nice to just kind of get the buy. 486 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 4: You know, you get a buy, you can just kind 487 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:13,120 Speaker 4: of rest everybody against the Raiders and get jk right, 488 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 4: get Denzel right, Rest Joey, rest Khalil, like, rest all 489 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 4: these guys and just have it by going into that 490 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 4: Baltimore or Pittsburgh game is kind of what we were 491 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 4: thinking could be the possibility. Then it's like, okay, well, 492 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:31,359 Speaker 4: is that a better path than getting that five seed 493 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 4: and not having to go to the East Coast and 494 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 4: playing indoors and taking on a Texans team that's been 495 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 4: taking on a little bit of water here. So it'll 496 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 4: be interesting to see how they play it and what 497 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 4: is more valuable, how they think the better path is. 498 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:47,439 Speaker 4: You mentioned dobb and I bring it up because of Dobbins, 499 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:49,879 Speaker 4: because I don't know what the right answer is, you know, 500 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,879 Speaker 4: running running is different that that position is different than 501 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 4: any other. It's you don't need reps, you need health, 502 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,679 Speaker 4: and so it has nothing like you you don't need 503 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 4: to worry you about shaking off the rust at running back. 504 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 4: You know, it's you know what, here's the play call, 505 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 4: here's the hole you're supposed to hit, this is where 506 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 4: we want to go. If it's there, great, If it's not, 507 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 4: figure it out and break, you know. And so that's 508 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 4: the question for JK because when you talk about Dobbin 509 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 4: since his injury, their last five they're averaging seventy six 510 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 4: and a half yards per game, thirty first in the league. 511 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,639 Speaker 4: Weeks one through eleven with JK in the lineup, one 512 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,640 Speaker 4: hundred and twenty two rush yards per game, twelfth best 513 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:30,439 Speaker 4: in the NFL. They're seven and three. The last you 514 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 4: know five, of course, they're two and three. So it's 515 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 4: kinda it's one of those where I don't know what 516 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 4: the right answer is, you know, like I said, these 517 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 4: are you may look at the records a combined six 518 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:43,920 Speaker 4: and twenty four between the Patriots and Raiders, but they're 519 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 4: still good teams. You know, they're still good. The Raiders 520 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 4: are a divisional team, they are a rival. They hate 521 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 4: the Chargers. Antonio Pearce is coaching for his job. You know, 522 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 4: They're going to pull out every stop they can possibly 523 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 4: find to try to mess with the charge Arger's playoff path, 524 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 4: especially if they lose to the Patriots and they have 525 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 4: to win that game to get in like they are. 526 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 4: So I don't I'm not sure. I would be very, 527 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 4: very surprised if JK is activated for this game, but 528 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 4: it could be up to him and him saying I'm good. 529 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:17,919 Speaker 4: I'm one hundred percent. There is absolutely no reason not 530 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 4: to play me, and that may be the case. You know, 531 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 4: so the running game will change dramatically. And now one thing 532 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 4: I will say, going back to the Denver game, Chris, 533 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 4: think about it. They ran the ball eleven times against 534 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 4: Tampa and just could not get it going. They could 535 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:35,879 Speaker 4: not really get it going against the Broncos either, but 536 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 4: coach Roman stuck with it. Giro stuck with it, and 537 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 4: that's what we talk about. You got to tend to 538 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 4: rise that meat and then pop it. And that's what happened. 539 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 4: They finally popped it, you know, with a run from 540 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,239 Speaker 4: Gus and with a shovel pass from Hassan right there 541 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 4: at the line of scrimmage. They were able to wear 542 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 4: that team down enough at the line of scrimmage where 543 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:56,400 Speaker 4: it finally paid off. And I think that's what's important 544 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 4: for people while they're watching a game and they're saying, 545 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 4: why do we keep running it on first or second down? 546 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 4: We're only getting three because you have to because you 547 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 4: want your offensive line going forward so they can bring 548 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 4: the fight to the game. Instead of taking the punches, 549 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:11,959 Speaker 4: you want them to deliver the punches. And that's how 550 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 4: you start to wear out the legs of defensive lineman 551 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 4: because they've now got a hold there, but they're trying 552 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 4: to come forward while you're going forward. You're not just 553 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 4: kind of getting back in pass pro and trying to 554 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:24,200 Speaker 4: redirect them. You're flying forward and trying to wear them down. 555 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 4: And so I think that's something else that you revealed 556 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 4: itself against the Broncos. Okay, it may not be great, 557 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 4: and the numbers may not look pretty on a per 558 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 4: carry basis, but we have to stick with it. We 559 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 4: just have to because sooner or later it's gonna pop. 560 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 2: You know, May one more point about the fifth or 561 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 2: the sixth seed. We'll just talk as if we expect 562 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 2: the Chargers of go in there hopefully take care of 563 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 2: business against the Patriots. The Raiders game, we would assume 564 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 2: is the late window game. 565 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:53,719 Speaker 1: Now. 566 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:54,960 Speaker 2: I know they like to put a lot of late 567 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 2: window games in Week eighteen to make sure that everybody's 568 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:03,959 Speaker 2: playing at the same time, but Baltimore in Cleveland and 569 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 2: since he in Pittsburgh, that could very well be the 570 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 2: early window. That could be like the early window games 571 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,919 Speaker 2: in Week eighteen, So the Chargers may know if they 572 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 2: can even get the five seed going into the Raiders game. 573 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 4: Well, now, correct me if I feel like they kick 574 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 4: them all at the same time, Chris, I feel like 575 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 4: they are all one o'clock starts right, and then you 576 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:27,120 Speaker 4: just had they don't do early window, late window I feel. 577 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 4: Isn't that what they've been doing the last few years 578 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 4: is they'll finger, they'll they'll kind of pluck a couple 579 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 4: games and then they'll they'll I just. 580 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 2: I remember, do you remember the Denver game a couple 581 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 2: of years ago, where uh, there was games going on 582 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:43,400 Speaker 2: before and you know we talked about the whole Mike 583 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 2: Williams playing in that game in Week eighteen, so there 584 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 2: there was early and late window there. 585 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 3: I could be off. 586 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 2: It could be they could all be kicking off at 587 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 2: the same time, but it would it would lead me 588 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 2: to believe maybe there's a there's a an East coast window, 589 00:27:57,359 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 2: and then there's certain East Coast games that may be 590 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 2: played in that late wine though. Right, It's just something 591 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 2: to maybe potentially think about if the if the Browns 592 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 2: and Ravens and Steelers and Bengals all kick off at 593 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 2: ten am Pacific in week eighteen, it's. 594 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 4: All you're right at this point, You're right if for 595 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 4: some reason, I always thought, because let's see, so they 596 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:23,399 Speaker 4: they played last year, they played two on Saturday, and 597 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 4: then they played one, two, three, four in the early window, 598 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 4: and then all those games in the late window, and 599 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 4: for some reason I felt like they would not put 600 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 4: any games of consequence early, like anybody that had to 601 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 4: play for something, they played them at the same time, 602 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 4: like it was one of those Yeah, you know, so 603 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 4: I think for the Bengals. 604 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 2: Maybe then they don't consider the charges of getting the 605 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 2: fifth of the sixth seed as right as big as 606 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 2: winning the AFC North. And also some of these games 607 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:01,200 Speaker 2: will reflex to Saturday too, right, So that's another thing 608 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 2: to think about like, I mean. 609 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 4: We could end up having Steelers Bengals on Saturday, which 610 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 4: would be a huge boom for us because if the 611 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 4: Steelers win, then it's like, all right, great rest everybody, 612 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 4: you're the sex take the buy. If they lose, all right, 613 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 4: let's go. Let's go get it, man, let's go get 614 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:17,960 Speaker 4: the five. So yeah, I see what you're saying. Now, 615 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 4: it's a it's that because that's not of concert. That's 616 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 4: not you're getting in or you're not getting in. That's 617 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 4: more you know, four or five I get or five 618 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:29,800 Speaker 4: or six. I see what you're saying. Yeah, that'd be great. 619 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:32,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, because I if I'm not mistaken, I think that 620 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:35,000 Speaker 2: that's what was happening going into Denver right there was 621 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 2: you weren't going to improve your seed anyway a couple 622 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 2: of years ago before playing Jacksonville. I think you're always 623 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 2: going to play Jacksonville for no matter if you want. 624 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 1: To exactly right. 625 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, they were locked into it. So well, it's gonna 626 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 3: be fun. Man. 627 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 2: I'm excited that the Charger fans get to experience h 628 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:56,479 Speaker 2: meaningful football going into December and January. Hopefully the Chargers 629 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 2: punched their ticket to the postseason. Anything else to add 630 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:01,959 Speaker 2: about this game. Money before before we get out of here, 631 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 2: we got to catch a flight. 632 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:06,760 Speaker 4: You know, like I said, it it's never an easy 633 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 4: place to play. It's a creepy trip in from from 634 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 4: where we stay, you know, through that one lane road, 635 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 4: and it's winter. It's supposed to be freezing. Rain is 636 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 4: kind of you don't even get the benefit of snow. 637 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 4: It's like just warm enough. It's like thirty four degrees 638 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 4: where it's not snowing, it's raining, So it's gonna be 639 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 4: adverse conditions. Last year snapped a seven game losing streak, 640 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 4: including the playoffs. We got Lad McConkey, who very likely 641 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:41,560 Speaker 4: is going to break Keenan Allen's rookie records for for 642 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 4: Chargers receivers as rookies. He only needs a couple of 643 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 4: catches and a few yards. So what does he need? 644 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 4: He needs, uh two three catches and eighty something yards 645 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 4: and he's and he's good, and so would love to Yeah, 646 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:01,479 Speaker 4: I would love to see that on set Saturday. But 647 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:03,640 Speaker 4: you know, it's less about the individual and more about 648 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 4: the team. And it's exciting. Man, they're five and twelve. 649 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:09,239 Speaker 4: Last year, you think about the final four games and 650 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:12,520 Speaker 4: you know, losing your GM and your head coach, and 651 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 4: as you know, we wanted Gift to win those games 652 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 4: as badly as possible because he's such a good dude. 653 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 4: And it just didn't play out great. You were playing 654 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 4: out the string and you lose the backups against Kansas 655 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 4: City in the final week, and it was just such 656 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 4: a bad taste, you know, just was such a rough season. 657 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 4: So to have coach Harbuck come in here and to 658 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 4: do what he did immediately and to be sniffing double 659 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 4: digit wins and maybe an eleven and six season is 660 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,600 Speaker 4: on the table after five and twelve, almost flipping the record. 661 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 4: It's been a lot of fun and so enjoy it. 662 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 1: And it's the only. 663 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 4: One that's on, you know, and so we you know, 664 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 4: hopefully we'll we'll get you on the radio on ninety 665 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 4: eight points seven aro on the Chargers app or you'll 666 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 4: be able to watch it on TV on NFL Network there, 667 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 4: but very excited about this one. 668 00:31:58,360 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 2: Love it all right, guys, let's get do it for 669 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:03,560 Speaker 2: us for money. I'm Christmas has been Chargers Weekly. Enjoy 670 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 2: the game on Saturday. 671 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:05,920 Speaker 3: We'll talk to you next week.