1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:02,760 Speaker 1: All right, guys, Before we get started, a big thank 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: you to our sponsor, Microsoft, Windows eleven, the official operating 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: system of the NFL and the exclusive sponsor of the 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: LA Chargers, the all new Windows eleven. They're here to 5 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: bring you closer to what you love, like the LA 6 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: Chargers and the Final Drive. Learn about all the awesome 7 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: new features of Windows eleven at Windows dot com and 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: welcome in to yet another winning edition of the Final Drive. 9 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: Alongside Haley Elwood, I'm Chris Hayry joining us a bit 10 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: later Daniel Popper of the Athletic to break down this wild, 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: crazy game at SOFI Stadium. Chargers we at forty seven 12 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: forty two. Haley, I said this yesterday. I don't even 13 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: know where to begin. I'm gonna let you do the honors. 14 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: You let me know where we should begin. This was crazy. 15 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: Well I'll start here. I think some of us, I'll say, 16 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: at least for myself, I was expecting a shootout in 17 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: week two. It didn't happen, and I think a lot 18 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: of things factored into that. The penalties. Obviously, no one 19 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: could get into rhythm. Then you go to Kansas City 20 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: and you think, oh, these two offenses. Yeah, shootout. Not really. 21 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 1: Then you go to Week four against Vegas, No, oh, 22 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: but week five, Oh but week five in the fourth quarter, 23 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: we finally got it. We finally got what I think 24 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: had been a building and brewing and people were anticipating 25 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: over the last few weeks. That was probably one of 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,839 Speaker 1: the most wild games I've I've been part of during 27 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: my time with the Chargers. One of the most wild wins, 28 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: I'll say, because I was talking to Fernando about that. 29 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: Usually this team ends up on the other side of 30 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 1: those games, and I think it's really a positive thing 31 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 1: that they came out of this with a win twenty 32 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 1: six points in the fourth quarter, that is insane. And 33 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: the fact that it truly did turn into a track meet, 34 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: as Brandon Staley called it, good old old fashioned shootout. 35 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: It was nuts, and I think it was just kind 36 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: of funny and just wild to kind of it just 37 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: got cracked open at one point the game just totally 38 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: came undone, got cracked open, and it was a back 39 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: and forth fight until the very very end. But that 40 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: was an exciting one. And to come out on the 41 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: winning side of it, well, that is awesome to be 42 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: four and one right now, that's crazy. That's really really good. 43 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: Helly our guy Danny and Chargers communications right on time. 44 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: With a stat twenty six points scored in the fourth 45 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: quarter last night by the Bolts. It's the most points 46 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: scored by any team in the fourth quarter of any game, 47 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: says twenty seventeen. Just to put that in context of 48 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: what we saw back and forth. And you know, you 49 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: and I were sitting next to each other in the 50 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: first half of that game. I really thought the story 51 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: was going to be Durwin James with seventy eight tackles 52 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,959 Speaker 1: in the game against So Brother He had fourteen to 53 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: the first half. And obviously that's not a good thing 54 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: for the Chargers defensive if Durwin's making every play. The 55 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: Browns running attack gave the Chargers problems all day long. 56 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 1: They control time of possession. But yet this team still 57 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: finds a way to win leaning on the offense. You know, 58 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 1: I don't know what else you could say about Justin 59 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: Herbert and the way he plays and he takes care 60 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 1: of the football five total touchdowns. I think he has 61 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: twelve touchdowns and no interceptions over the last three weeks. 62 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: And Mike Williams one hundred and sixty five yards, a 63 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 1: career high, a pair of touchdowns, a thirty three yard 64 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: pass interfare, and said he drew he looked like Randy 65 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: Moss out there to meet him. It was it was crazy. 66 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: He is, especially after the very quiet game he had 67 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: against the Raiders on Monday. Again, it's sort of just 68 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: cracked open for him. I think one thing about Justin Herbert, 69 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: Daniel Popper wrote his normal postgame recap wasn't a recap. 70 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: It was basically an ode to Justin Herbert. And I'm 71 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: sure we'll talk to him about that. The bit about Derwin, Yeah, 72 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: I mean there's good and bad. Right. There's good because 73 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: he's the most by a Charger in a single game 74 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: since Donnie Edwards and oh six. But the bat is 75 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: the Browns got to the second level, and we talked 76 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: a lot about not getting you know, making sure that 77 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: you limit especially those running backs to get to that 78 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: to not get to that second level. So Derwin is 79 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: the line of defense. There isn't great, but you know 80 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: it's that whole bend but don't break kind of philosophy. 81 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: This team did give up a lot on the ground, 82 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 1: and I will ask Daniel Popper, maybe what needs to 83 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: kind of be shored up there, but at the same time, offensively, 84 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: you can produce. And I think we've heard a lot 85 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: of the phrase. We've heard the phrase complete game be 86 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: thrown out a lot, complete team be thrown out a lot, 87 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: And you know, Brandon Staley and a lot of the 88 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: guys have talked about that's where you know, your offense 89 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: can rely on your defense and you work all together, 90 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: especially you know too in the third phase and special teams. 91 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: And that's what we saw yesterday. You know, the defense 92 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 1: may not have held up their end of the bargain, 93 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: but the offense came through, and then defense came through 94 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: at the end to to you know, limit the Browns 95 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: after the Chargers had scored, they got to them on 96 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: fourth down and Baker Mayfield's tail mary essentially through incomplete 97 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: and that was your ball game. But there's so much 98 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: to take away from this game. We will talk to 99 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: again Popper about justin Herbert, but he's just insane. I mean, 100 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: you can't really explain it in any other way, just 101 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: what he's doing out there, and it just really really 102 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: seems like this offense is such a fit for him, 103 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: and working with Joel Embarti is such a fit for him, 104 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: and the same can be said about Mike Williams. I mean, 105 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: his production has just been incomparable to what we've seen 106 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: out of him over the last couple of years, and 107 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: he's proven himself as one of the top receivers in 108 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: this league. He had five receiving touchdowns all of last year. 109 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: On October tenth, he gets his fifth and sixth, and 110 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 1: there's no signs of stopping. I mean, the connection. We 111 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: thought the connection between Keenan and Justin was lethal last 112 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: year and it still is. Make no mistake about it, 113 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 1: it still is. But these big plays a seventy two 114 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: yard touchdown, a forty two yard touchdown and Haley, I'll 115 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: tell you this, Austin Eckler what he's doing. He had 116 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: that fumble, but to more than make up for it 117 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: another one hundred total yards, one hundred ninety total yards, 118 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: I believe, three total touchdowns. That dimension of this offense 119 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: fits so nicely with what Keenan does and with Mike does, 120 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 1: and it's opening things up, frankly for guys like Donald 121 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: Park Jr. He scored the first touchdown of the game 122 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: on Monday Night Football scores the first touchdown of the 123 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: game against the Browns, Jared Cook making timely receptions. There's 124 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: so many weapons on this offense, but you're seeing that 125 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 1: it kind of goes through Mike and Keenan and in 126 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: many ways right now over the last three weeks, Austin Yeah, 127 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: I mean, Brandon Staley said after the game, we felt 128 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: like we needed all of Austin's production those three total touchdowns. 129 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: I think he said the same about Mike, that they 130 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: needed all one sixty five, which was a career five 131 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 1: from Mike Williams. He did, Yeah, I got a chance to. 132 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: I spoke with Mike Williams last week and just kind 133 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: of was asking him, you know, what is it about 134 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 1: this offense? And he said, Look, they had a conversation. 135 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: He had a conversation with Joe Lombardi during the off season. 136 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: Lombardi told him like, hey, you're going to be the 137 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: Michael Thomas of this team. You're playing that role, that exposition, 138 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: you are going to be that guy. And then he 139 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: did say that that there are times in games where 140 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: he and Justin Herbert do what he calls Mike and 141 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: Justin things, which is it's just like a little look, 142 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: a little vibe that they give each other. I did 143 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: ask him last night the postgamepress or, was that seventy 144 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: two yeard touchdown of Mike and Justin thing? And he said, no, 145 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: that actually was what they saw out on the field, 146 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: and that was that was the actual call and the 147 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: game plan. He was being honest. But but I think 148 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: they're you know, it's it's funny when you hear a 149 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: guy talk about a bond that he has with someone 150 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: else and that this is only year two and really 151 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: like yere one and a half because we're not even 152 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: at you know, the full second season yet of Justin Herbert. 153 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: But it's crazy, but um, but to have a guy 154 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: kind of talk about the report that they've built and 155 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: that now they're so comfortable with each other that it 156 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: literally can just be a look a vibe, you know, 157 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: go down the field, I'll look back, I got you, 158 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: I got this. That breathes the utmost confidence, I think 159 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: in both players and success ultimately. If you're the Browns 160 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: and I know the Chargers improved the forum one of it, 161 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,119 Speaker 1: but if you're the Browns and you have two hundred 162 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: and thirty rushing yards on the ground, you don't turn 163 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: the football over. You possessed the ball for over thirty 164 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: six minutes in this game and you still lose. You 165 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,679 Speaker 1: gotta be scratching your head. What the heck just happened? 166 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: Justin Herbert happened? I think it's basically what the answer is. 167 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: I mean, that fourth quarter, I really I thought that 168 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: the Kansas City game was one of the best games 169 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 1: I had seen in terms of just Herbert Mahomes knocking 170 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: off the AFC West champ. This was more like, I 171 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: don't know, it was a shootout, but in a weird way, 172 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: because you know, Cleveland was running the ball and being effective. 173 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: You know, it was like it had like this arena 174 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: football vibe in terms of the scoreboard. But it was 175 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: just a very strange game. And you know, for Durwin 176 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: and Drew Tranquil to have twenty eight total tackles, I mean, 177 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: I don't know if you're going to see something like 178 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: that again this season. But it's just a matter of 179 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: this team finding ways to win in the offense, kind 180 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: of picking up the defense and winning another nutty game. 181 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: They've won so many different ways. Haley to before one 182 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: going into Baltimore and then a bye. I don't think 183 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: you can ask for much more. Well, That's the key 184 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: word there, right, Win. They've won different games in so 185 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: many different ways, whereas you and I have come on 186 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: these podcasts over the last couple of years and talked 187 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: about the different ways that they've lost games and just 188 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: kind of having to find their way, and that was 189 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: what Justin said. They're finding ways, they are learning how 190 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: to win. They're learning how to win games, and I 191 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: think a lot of that's also starts, which is confidence 192 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: that Brandon Staley has instilled in this team by you know, 193 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: we haven't talked about it yet, but a couple of 194 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: those fourth downs going for it on fourth downs, which 195 00:09:58,040 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: wasn't just in this game, it's been kind of a 196 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: allmark and a theme that we've seen over the first 197 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: few weeks of this season. But giving the offense specifically 198 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: the confidence to go and yeah, we're gonna go for 199 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: it from our own twenty four yard line and get 200 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: it done. That just breeds confidence, and that has to 201 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,439 Speaker 1: breed that ultimately must take these guys all the way 202 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: until the end where you feel like you get it 203 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: during the game and you're like, heck, yeah, we can 204 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: go out and finish this game. And you know, like 205 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: you said, with the Browns. It's not many times. I 206 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: think I think I saw a tweet. They might be 207 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: the only team in NFL history to put up over 208 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: five hundred yards of offense, not turn the ball over 209 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: and not win. I mean, that's crazy. But at the 210 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: same time, you know, defensively they were losing. They lost 211 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: Jadavin Clowney. He wasn't in this game. Myles Garrett can 212 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: only do so much, and he was certainly a factory 213 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: yesterday in terms of getting pressure. But when it got 214 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: cracked open in that fourth quarter, you just couldn't stop. 215 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: Justin Herbert, I'm so glad you brought up the fourth 216 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,079 Speaker 1: doctor versions. Before we get to Popper, let's just hit 217 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 1: on this really quickly, because in the third quarter, Chargers 218 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 1: are down two. Scores were now fourteen. It's your own 219 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: twenty four. It's fourth and two. If you don't convert that, Hailey, 220 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 1: the ball game's over. It's a free possession. It's over. 221 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 1: You either go down twenty one or you go down seventeen. 222 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: I mean that those are the only two options. Essentially, 223 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: they get it. They convert another fourth down on that drive, 224 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: like that was the turning point in the game. That 225 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: fourth and two from their own twenty four. I believe 226 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: if you don't get that, the ball game is over. 227 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: That really was the play of the game. When you 228 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:34,199 Speaker 1: look at all these wild players back and forth that 229 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: fourth quarter. If the Chargers do not get that in 230 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: the third quarter, we're talking about it, maybe a completely 231 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: different ball game. That fourth quarter may not mean really anything. Yeah, 232 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: you tweeted it. You said something like, hey, remember these 233 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: two fourth down conversions if the Chargers come back to 234 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 1: win this game. Because it's entirely true. Little did we know, 235 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: we thought that was crazy. Little to we know what 236 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: the what the fourth quarter would freak It was like 237 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: a game of Madden. It was like it was and 238 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: there were so many tweets about that. I was talking 239 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: with my husband about that on the way home last night, 240 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: and there were so many tweets. Aaron Nagler, who covers 241 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:09,959 Speaker 1: a Green Bay Packer, said it was almost like these 242 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: coaches grew up playing Madden. And I was like, well, 243 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:15,199 Speaker 1: they are young. They are on the younger side, so 244 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: they probably did rich eyes and tweeted about a ten 245 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: year old having skittles in the press box and being 246 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 1: hopped up, and maybe they were the ones controlling this game. 247 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: It just it got nuts. But but that drive specifically, 248 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: which ended with that Herbert rushing touchdown and the two 249 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,439 Speaker 1: point conversion to bring them within six, it was just 250 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: it's it's wild, it's crazy, it's risky, it worked, which 251 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: is really all you need to say at the end 252 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: of the day, and then it got them to the 253 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: fourth quarter where they ended up scoring twenty six points. 254 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: So I don't know, I just think it's again it 255 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: goes back to that confidence. And look, Brandon Staley again 256 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: talked about it and said, you know, like last week 257 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: he mentioned, every fourth down has a life of its own, 258 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: every play has a life of its own, and you 259 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: assess and you realize. But he felt like they needed 260 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,079 Speaker 1: it to get it, to get it going at that point, 261 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: and they got it, and then they got the one 262 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: later on that fourth and seven. So you build that 263 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: confidence in your team to get it done and we'll see. 264 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: I mean, hey, it's still early in the season. I 265 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,079 Speaker 1: think again, this team has shown that they're going to 266 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: go for it, and it's so funny. At one point, 267 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: I think it was a fourth and seventeen and Miles 268 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: Simmons from Pro Football Talk tweeted, oh is this where 269 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: we punt now, And I said, yeah, these are the 270 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: things that now go through my head when you're watching 271 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: Chargers games, like what is the craziest scenario that could 272 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: happen here? Okay, this is too much. The team will punt, 273 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: but it's it's nuts. But I think it is a 274 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: two way street, as they said to and this team 275 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: has the confidence that they that they can convert, and 276 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: they've converted. Playing and simple. All right, right on cue, 277 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: Daniel Popper has entered the lobby. Let's talk to Daniel 278 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 1: and here he is, Daniel Popper of the Athletic Daniel 279 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,559 Speaker 1: Haley and I just talked about this for about ten 280 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 1: fifteen minutes. I feel like we were all over the 281 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: place because the game was all the place. Why don't 282 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: you let us know what you thought of Sunday. Oh, 283 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 1: one of the craziest, wildest football games I've ever watched, 284 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: and I've spent a lot of time watching football in 285 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: my twenty eight years on this earth. It was one 286 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: of those, you know, quintessential shootouts. I know Brandon Staley 287 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: said it turned into a track meet, but I think 288 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: the biggest takeaway from this game is you don't win 289 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: a track meet against that kind of offense unless you 290 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: have a legitimate superstar quarterback, not an up and coming quarterback, 291 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: not one of the best young quarterbacks in football, a 292 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: superstar quarterback, full stop, no qualifiers. And that's what Justin 293 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: Herbert is. I know that a lot of people have 294 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 1: been talking about his game over the last year plus. 295 00:14:55,720 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: I think last yesterday he arrived like he's here and 296 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: this guy is an elite quarterback and he's going to 297 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: be able to win the Chargers games even when everything 298 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: around him is failing and flailing and floundering. And I 299 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: think that's what we saw yesterday. Once that I got 300 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: last night, that sort of indicates how ridiculous this performance 301 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: was from him in the offense in the fourth quarter. 302 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: Twenty six offensive points in the fourth quarter, most offensive 303 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: points scored in a fourth quarter since twenty thirteen, eight 304 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 1: years ago. That's how ridiculous, how prolific, how explosive this 305 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: was in the fourth quarter, And it was it was 306 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: Justin Herbert refusing to let the Chargers lose this game, 307 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: just refusing right. And a lot of people in the 308 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: draft process and after he was drafted talked about his leadership. 309 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: And I know anyone that's been around him, knows that 310 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: that is complete BS and always was complete BS. But 311 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: this is what leadership looks like. Him walking into the 312 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: huddle and looking at his teammates and saying, we're scoring 313 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: every time we touched the damn ball, and everyone being like, yeah, okay, 314 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: I mean that's what Mike Williams said. He's like, all right, 315 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: we got you, let's go do it. There's there's just 316 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: a confidence about him, an aura about him where you 317 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: look at him and you see what he does in 318 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: a football field, and he says, yeah, we're gonna we're 319 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: gonna score every time we touch it. Here, We're gonna 320 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: put up twenty six points in the fourth court. And 321 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: everyone's like, yeah, that's that's in the that's that's possible 322 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: because of you, because of your skill set, right, because 323 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 1: of your arm talent, because of your athleticism, because if 324 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: you're an eight field in the pocket, and because of 325 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: your leadership, and because we believe in you. And it 326 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: was just throw after throw after throw after throw after throw. 327 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: It was fourth down conversions. It was the third and 328 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: five with Tack McKinley, you know, barreling down on him 329 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: off the edge after beating store Norton. He shrugs him off, 330 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: rolls out, and throws a forty yard laser to Keenan 331 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 1: Allen over a leaping Troy Hill. And you're just sitting 332 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: there and you're like, how many quarterbacks in the NFL 333 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 1: can do that? Very few? And to do it in 334 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: that moment with the stakes as high as they were 335 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: against the team that has Super Bowl aspirations. I mean, 336 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: that's what you want out of a quarterback. NFL executives, 337 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:07,959 Speaker 1: personal executives dream all day and night a dream and 338 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 1: then dream when they're sleeping about finding a quarterback who 339 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: can win games in these scenarios. The Chargers are living 340 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: that dream right now. They have a superstar under center. 341 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: I had Laura Rutledge from ESPN on my podcast a 342 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: couple of weeks ago, and she admitted, she goes, we 343 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: got it wrong. A lot of us got it wrong 344 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 1: about Justin Herbert. She goes, myself included, and she said 345 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: the reason she felt was because they paid way, way, 346 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: way too much attention to the scheme that was Randon 347 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 1: Oregon and that maybe not translating to the NFL. Why 348 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: is this scheme that he's in right now with Joe 349 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: Lombardi's such a good fit for him. Yeah. Well, I 350 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 1: think primarily it's a matchup based offense. So you know, 351 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: go back to the fourth and two play last week. 352 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: They realize they're in man coverage. They see it's Jared 353 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: Cook against Denzel Perryman, who's five eleven verses six five, 354 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: and they're just gonna spam that matchup, like we like 355 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: six five over five eleven. This is what Drew Brees 356 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: did for two decades, just finding the matchup on the 357 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: field where they have an advantage and then just putting 358 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: the ball in a place where only his guy can 359 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 1: get it. I think you're seeing a lot of that 360 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 1: right now. And what they have and Justice said that 361 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: sad night last night, what they have all over the 362 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: field is matchup nightmares, and Mike Williams is the matchup 363 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: nightmare on the field at six four two twenty, and 364 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 1: they are just using him in a way that the 365 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 1: previous regime didn't use him. And then that goes back 366 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:37,880 Speaker 1: to creativity, It goes back to foreside, it goes back 367 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: to thinking outside the box. But I think a lot 368 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: of it is the weapons around him. You know, I 369 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: give a lot of credit to the organization for buls 370 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: during this offensive line in the offseason. I think that's 371 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 1: been a big part of it. But you just got 372 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:51,880 Speaker 1: a lot of really talented players that are mismatches who 373 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: are also really savvy and really smart all over the field, 374 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 1: and that's helping bring the most out of a young quarterback. 375 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: But you really have to give him a ton of credit. 376 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: I mean, young quarterbacks don't put up the numbers that 377 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 1: he put up in three games against the team that 378 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 1: he's put up without turning the ball over against the 379 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: types of pass rushes that he was going against. But 380 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,199 Speaker 1: just to answer your question, I mean, specifically, it's the 381 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: thought process of it being a matchup type offense and 382 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: then having those players around him that can create those mismatches. 383 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: Hopper these fourth down conversions, Man, it's like going to 384 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: Vegas and just never ever losing. Haley and I just 385 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: talked about this. If they don't get the fourth in 386 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 1: two at their own twenty four, there is no fourth quarter. 387 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: I mean, that game is all but over, I think, 388 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 1: and maybe not because of everything you just said about 389 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: justin Herbert, but to go down twenty one, potentially in 390 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,120 Speaker 1: the middle of the third quarter, if you don't get 391 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: that fourth in two or seventeen. I think, at the 392 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: very least, what do you make of this team having 393 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: so much confidence on fourth down and then also delivering 394 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: on that confidence. Yeah, So I don't think it's that 395 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: complicated of a conversation, right. I think a lot of 396 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:09,479 Speaker 1: people are saying, oh, they expanded their analytics department, and 397 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 1: it's win probability, and it's data and it's math, and 398 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 1: it's all of this complicated stuff that sports fans don't 399 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 1: really want to talk about. But it isn't that really, 400 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: Like at the crux of it, it's Brandon Staley looking 401 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: on the field and saying number ten's my best player, 402 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 1: and I'd rather go down fighting with the ball in 403 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 1: ten's hands than do anything else. Right, I want to 404 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: give this guy a chance to win the game every 405 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 1: single time I can give a chance. I want him 406 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: to have as many plays with the ball in his 407 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: hand as I possibly can have. And that's it. And 408 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: win probability is factored in. They are modeling and they're 409 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: making decisions like I think a perfect example is going 410 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: for it or going for the two point conversion down 411 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: fourteen when they scored that touchdown, Like that is that's math. 412 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: Like you can go find the flow chart that shows 413 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: you that if you go forward and two in that situation, 414 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 1: you have a sixty two point five percent chance of 415 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:58,400 Speaker 1: winning the game. Like, we can go through all that, 416 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 1: but the over arching philosophy is justin Herbert is my 417 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: best player. I'm going to give him as many chances 418 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,959 Speaker 1: as possible. That decision fourth and two from the twenty four. 419 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 1: There's been a lot of buzzy decisions here from Staley 420 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 1: so far. We need to go back the fourth and 421 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: nine in Kansas City, but that fourth and two, I 422 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: think is the one that I have to point to 423 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: because you need to keep the ball on that possession. 424 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: Your defense is exhausted. They've been on the field for 425 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: what at that point it was over seventy percent of 426 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 1: the time in the game. They could not stop the run. 427 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: And Brandon knew at that point we need to maintain 428 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:37,439 Speaker 1: some possession on this tree so we can figure some 429 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: stuff out defensively, look at some of these cut ups 430 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 1: and figure out what we can do to try and 431 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: stop the run. We need to give this defense a rest, 432 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 1: and if we don't keep them, if we go three 433 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: and out here, this game is over. Anyway, We're not 434 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 1: going to pump this ball away and then hope that 435 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: we get lucky. The only way we win this game 436 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: is if we convert this fourth down and at the 437 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 1: very minimum possessed the ball. And so that's why I 438 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: think that it was just a really impressive decison. And 439 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 1: you know, everyone's expecting him to throw on the play 440 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: and they hand off the equler on a draw and 441 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: convert it. And how many how many coaches do you 442 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: think in the league would go for it in that situation? 443 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:14,959 Speaker 1: I asked justin that last night. He said, I don't know. 444 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,399 Speaker 1: I said, how many coaches that you've ever been around 445 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 1: would do it? And he said, I don't know, but 446 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: I know ours did. So, you know, I think Harbaugh 447 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: probably outside of him, you know, I don't know if 448 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 1: there's anyone in the league that you know, views the 449 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 1: game through that prism um. You know, obviously Belichick did 450 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: it with Brady in that Colds game way back, you know, 451 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:46,880 Speaker 1: ten fifteen years ago or whatever against Peyton Manning. They 452 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: didn't get it and he got absolutely crucified for it. 453 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: But yeah, like very few, I mean, two maybe three 454 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: coaches make that decision, but it won them the game. 455 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 1: It won them the game. That decision, right, do you 456 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:00,360 Speaker 1: want to point we want to point to one play 457 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: that flip that game. It's right there. And then obviously 458 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: they have to hit the fourth and seven at the 459 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:06,919 Speaker 1: Cleveland twenty two and you know, Justin throws an absolute 460 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: dime to Keenan on an out route and that was 461 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 1: that was crucial. But you want to talk about playing 462 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 1: to win fourth and two from your own twenty four, like, 463 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: that's that's it right there, Like I'm playing to win, 464 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: like I'm not going to cower and fear and punt 465 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 1: the ball away and hope that my defense, who hasn't 466 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:23,360 Speaker 1: stopped anything all day, can all of a sudden turn 467 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,359 Speaker 1: things around. You're grasping at straws at that point. So 468 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: go out there, put your offense in the field, and 469 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 1: play to win, because if it's not happening now, it's 470 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: not going to happen later. And you just have to 471 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: love that mentality. I mean you have to love it. 472 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 1: You have to. Yeah, it's a like you said, gutsy risky, 473 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: but it worked. It worked last night. Let's flip to 474 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 1: that defense for a second. They gave up two hundred 475 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: and thirty on the ground to Cleveland. You know, days 476 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,399 Speaker 1: after they just limited the Raiders to forty eight rushing yards. 477 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:54,160 Speaker 1: Chris and I talked about the impact that Derwin had, 478 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: which was good, but there's bad to it too, right 479 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:58,919 Speaker 1: because Cleveland's getting to that second level where he has 480 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: to be the one to come in and tackle what 481 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 1: really needs to shore up though with this rush defense. Yeah, 482 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: I've been thinking about this all night and then into 483 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: the morning, and I hope you got some sleep, Daniel, Yeah, yeah, 484 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: you know a little bit, but mostly thinking about football. 485 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: How do you fix it? I don't know, I really don't. 486 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: I mean, you you it's a talent issue, and it 487 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 1: was a concern coming into the season the depth on 488 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 1: this defensive line. And I'm one hundred percent sure I 489 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 1: said it on this podcast or one of these podcasts 490 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: with you guys at some point in the offseason that 491 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 1: they just didn't have the depth and they were one 492 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 1: injury away from this becoming a really big issue. And 493 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 1: if it was, if the injury was to lend Ball, 494 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: Joseph or Justin Jones, and they were going to be 495 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 1: in big trouble against some of these teams that could 496 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 1: really run the football and that's what you're seeing right now. 497 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 1: So Justin Jones is out through the bye week. They're 498 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: going up against a really, really good running team next 499 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 1: week against the Ravens, and the players that are playing 500 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: have to step up. I mean, that's what it is. 501 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: It's plain and simple. They're not being physical enough at 502 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: the point of attack, and they're really relying on Lindball 503 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: Joseph to carry the entire defensive line to be an 504 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 1: All Pro player at thirty three years old, and that's 505 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 1: just not You can't ask the guy to do that 506 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:17,400 Speaker 1: at this point. He can do it for a game, absolutely, 507 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: he still has that in him. He did it against 508 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 1: the Raiders. He's single handedly created that Russian defense performance 509 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: against the Raiders by just being an absolute dominant force 510 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:28,159 Speaker 1: on the interior. But I just don't think you can 511 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:30,199 Speaker 1: ask a thirty three year old Windball Joseph to do 512 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:32,120 Speaker 1: that week after week after week after week. He could 513 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: do it at twenty seven or twenty eight, but that's 514 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: just not a realistic thing to ask of a guy 515 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 1: at that point in his career. So you just need 516 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,639 Speaker 1: these players step up. Jerry Tillery needs to step up. 517 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 1: Christian Covington needs to step up and they need to 518 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:43,680 Speaker 1: get more out of these undrafted free agents where there's 519 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: Brady Phoco, Joe Gaziano Forrest Merrill. But the issue heading 520 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: into the season was that they didn't have the depth, 521 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:51,359 Speaker 1: and we're seeing that kind of exposed at this point. 522 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 1: And it's just a physicality issue. It's a talent issue upfront, 523 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:58,159 Speaker 1: and they just need more out of the players they have. 524 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:03,160 Speaker 1: It's really that simple, popper last one for me, this 525 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: has been a difficult stretch of their schedule. Right, you 526 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: go to Kansas City, you win the Raiders with three 527 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:11,360 Speaker 1: and oh you take care of them on Monday night. 528 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 1: I think Cleveland is a team that if if both 529 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,360 Speaker 1: teams make the playoffs, they may see each other in January. 530 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,679 Speaker 1: At some point Cleveland is for real. And now you 531 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: got you got Baltimore, your four and one. How important 532 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: is Sunday? Given that all of the division lost on Sunday, 533 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,119 Speaker 1: including the Chiefs, they're two and three. Now if you 534 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: go to five and one headed into the buy beating 535 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 1: premium teams in the AFC. If you're gonna drop a game, 536 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 1: you drop it to Dallas, right, you're beating premium teams here. 537 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: Just how important is Sunday, with the rest of the 538 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 1: scheduling context and just everything that's happening around the Chargers, 539 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:54,160 Speaker 1: I think, I mean, every game is important, to use 540 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:57,919 Speaker 1: the old football cliche, but heading into this early stage 541 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 1: of the season, these first six teams were to buy. 542 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: I was saying, if you're three and three through these 543 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 1: six games, like that's a win because you're going to 544 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: give yourself a chance to play meaningful games in November December. 545 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 1: And that's really how I was measuring success this season. 546 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 1: So even if they're four and two through these six 547 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: games like that isn't a massive win. And the fact 548 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:18,239 Speaker 1: that they even have a chance to go five and one, 549 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: like I would have never expected that. I'll admit that 550 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 1: right now. I would have never expected them to have 551 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: that chance. But the coaching has been fantastic and Justin 552 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:27,920 Speaker 1: Herbert is playing out of his mind, and they're giving 553 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:31,400 Speaker 1: themselves an opportunity here so important because it's another game, 554 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 1: important because it's an AFC game. But if you're four 555 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:36,440 Speaker 1: and two through these six games, you're still going to 556 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 1: give yourself a real shot to contend for the postseason. 557 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 1: You get into the buyoweek, you get Kenneth Murray back 558 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:42,919 Speaker 1: and get Justin Jones back. We'll see what happens with 559 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: Brian Bulaga and then you head into a much easier 560 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 1: section of your schedule. So important, but now I don't 561 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 1: think absolutely crucial to win, despite what you said about 562 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 1: you know, AFC implications and those types of things. It 563 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 1: should be a good one though. I mean, this whole 564 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 1: season for me kind of has it's just echoed twenty 565 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,880 Speaker 1: eighteen a little bit with just the fact that they 566 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: were kind of on this role and it's it's erie 567 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,760 Speaker 1: in a sense that they're playing similar teams and you 568 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 1: got Baltimore on the schedule next. But but it should 569 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 1: be a really good game. I mean this is you 570 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 1: mentioned John Harbaugh earlier. These these coaching matchups to me 571 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,120 Speaker 1: is also really interesting just what sort of chess matches 572 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: And you saw that with Stefanski and he did some 573 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:29,159 Speaker 1: wild things. We talked about, you know, these guys playing Madden, 574 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 1: and then you know, obviously with Staley. But but Harbaugh 575 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: has been around for a while, he's been around the block. 576 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 1: He's a former Super Bowl winning coach. But but he's 577 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: got that edge too. Yeah. Absolutely, I don't think we're 578 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 1: gonna see a single punt in the game that the 579 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: Ravens will attempt the field goal because they have the 580 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 1: best field goal kicker in history of the game. But yeah, 581 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: just I mean it's amazing. It's like, I mean it 582 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 1: literally you bring in Madding. It's great because it reminds 583 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: me of like playing Madden on GameCube in two thousand 584 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: and four with my brother and in our basement, just 585 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: like every fourth down going for it. Now, I wasn't, 586 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:05,520 Speaker 1: you know, not seven for seven or nine for nine, 587 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 1: And in my first you know, five games, I was 588 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: more like o for seven or over nine because my 589 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 1: brother would absolutely wax me with Michael Vick rushing for 590 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 1: seven hundred fifty yards every single game. But it is, 591 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: it's it's wild, but I mean it's it's what the 592 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: math tells you to do. And it's certainly what the 593 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 1: math tells you to do when you have a quarterback 594 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 1: as talented as Jessin Herbert with the type of sporting 595 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 1: CASTI has. So I don't think it's like I think 596 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 1: a lot of people are labeling it as you know, 597 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 1: super risky or and gutsy, and I haven't said ballsy, 598 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: but like it's it's a smart thing. To do, and 599 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 1: there's a lot of data and reasoning to back up 600 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: the decisions. I just think it's a it's an opportunity 601 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:45,960 Speaker 1: to get a little greedy on Sunday to get to 602 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 1: five and one. Because when this is all said and done, 603 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: seventeen game season, if you can get head to heads 604 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 1: over Baltimore, over the Chiefs, over the Raiders of the Browns, 605 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 1: that does wonders when there's gonna be so many teams 606 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: vying for playoff spots. So Popper always love the insight, man. 607 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:10,400 Speaker 1: I love the Justin Herbert parting shot off the top. 608 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 1: I felt like I was the sports reporters. I also work, dude. 609 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 1: That is quite a compliment. I grew up watching that chest. 610 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: I appreciate that. Always appreciate your time, brother, and big 611 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 1: win in Baltimore. I'm sure we'll talk to you after 612 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 1: that sounds good. Thanks for having me. Hey, guys, that's 613 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: gonna do it for us. Big thanks to Popper for 614 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 1: Haley ol Wood up Chris Harry. This has been the 615 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 1: final drive presented by Microsoft Windows eleven