1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: The late fifteen ten touchdown. What's up, guys, Welcome into 2 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 1: a week eighteen edition of Chargers Weekly, as always, joined 3 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: by Matt Muney Smith. Chargers locked up a playoff spot. 4 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: We'll get to them in a second. But but money obviously, 5 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: the NFL world all lives have been a buffalo into 6 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: mar Hamlin and just his condition and we're getting good 7 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: news as we've taped this Thursday morning that he's made 8 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: significant progress. So you know, that's all you can hope 9 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: for man, and hopefully things are trending positive. Yeah, no doubt. 10 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: You know, it's it's something that we've seen before in 11 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: other sports. And we saw Chris Prawner return and have 12 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 1: a you know, a lengthy career following you know, his 13 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: situation on the ice against the Red Wings, winds with 14 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: the Blues. We see Christian Ericson still playing soccer, you know, 15 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: after what happened to him on the pitch against Finland 16 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: when he was with Denmark and the Euros, and you know, 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: certainly we hope the same thing for themar Hamlin, no 18 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: doubt about it. Just hopeful and happy to hear that. 19 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: As we tape the podcast, the news seems to be 20 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: trending in a very positive direction, the levels of oxygen 21 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: that he needs to to make sure those lungs are 22 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: operating right. And and the fact that neurologically, it sounds 23 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: like they say, does not appear to have had any damage. 24 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: And you know, I'll just say this, and you know 25 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,119 Speaker 1: I said this in doing a couple interviews with people 26 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: that we're trying to just get some clarity on, you know, 27 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: how how the operation of NFL football works. Said, it's 28 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: crazy as it sounds. It's one of the best places 29 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: to have a situation medically. You know, we know we're 30 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 1: around him, Chris, our docs, we know how smart you know, 31 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: doctor Petri and Gazannaga and Yim and and doctor Tangar. 32 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: And to have those four and all the trainers and 33 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: then all the independent, uh medical professionals that are hired 34 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: by the NFL. UH, something goes wrong, and man, you've 35 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: got some really smart, accomplished people that can take care 36 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: of you and perhaps preventing, you know, some terrible things 37 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,559 Speaker 1: from happening. So happy for Damar that that that seemed 38 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: to be the case in Cincinnati, and you know the 39 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: right people were there to ensure his safety. And like 40 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: you said, it's just you know, you're hopeful that that 41 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: everything continues to trend in the right direction and he 42 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: makes full recovery. We see him back on in that 43 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: football field. Yeah, it's remarkable, Um, what the medical professionals 44 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: did on Monday night, And you said it it's it's 45 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: with every NFL team. We got the best of the 46 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: best here in LA with the Chargers, And you know, 47 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 1: I was in the locker room yesterday and you know, 48 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: I think just the humanity of the NFL two money, 49 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: like the last forty eight hours has been so cool 50 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: to see from from DeMar's toy drive to you know, 51 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: you don't have to know him personally to be a 52 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: brother of his. And I certainly felt that in the 53 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: Chargers locker room yesterday, you know, talking to Donald Parham, 54 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: you know, he was really the last scary incident that 55 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,399 Speaker 1: we saw on the field, and he kind of talked 56 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: about his emotions and um, it just puts a lot 57 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: of things in perspective. Man. You know, it was really 58 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: good to kind of hear what the guys had to say, 59 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: and obviously it shook up everybody, and you know, you know, 60 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: you can only hope that the mark continues to get 61 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: better and we can kind of continue to kind of 62 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: push forward a week eighteen, no doubt. And look, I 63 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: think you know, in the moment, everybody was saying the 64 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: same thing, and that is I've never seen anything like this. 65 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: We've never experienced anything like this, and I think that's 66 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: something to remember and to keep it in perspective. You 67 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: know that this is something that has never really happened before, 68 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: so you know, to suggest like some are and look, 69 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: I don't want to get too far down the road here, 70 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: but but people can be very opportunistic in situations like this, 71 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: and I find it gross and disgusting, but you know 72 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: they do that and they know it'll move the needle, 73 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: and they know it'll get eyes, and they know it'll 74 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: get some social media attraction. But you know, how to 75 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: talk about shutting down the NFL and we can't play 76 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: football anymore. It's like, do you not understand every single 77 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: person that covered this, you know, game said this is 78 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: the first time I've ever seen anything like this in 79 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: the tens of thousands of games that have been played, 80 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: and it's you know, I was I was watchually, I 81 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: was watching the game with a doctor front of mine 82 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: who is a surgeon and he knew immediately. It was 83 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: it's crazy, you know, And I think it just goes 84 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: back to how lucky they are to have those people 85 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: on the sidelines. As soon as he stood up and collapsed, 86 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: he whatever it was called corotas that whatever the name is, 87 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 1: he what he said. He's like, oh, oh my gosh, 88 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: the guy just had a heart event. That's cardiac arrest. 89 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: He knew immediately, and um, and then you know, he 90 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: was kind of we were talking about it, and it's 91 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: something that happens kids a lot. Because you're Sternham and 92 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: your your rib cage isn't strong enough to protect your heart, 93 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: andess just a it's a timing thing. You know, it's 94 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: exactly when you get hit and at that exact point, 95 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: at that moment that your heart is beating, you go 96 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 1: into hate a fib and you know, that's essentially what happened. 97 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: So I think it's important to keep that perspective as well, 98 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: that you know, this is a league that yes, it 99 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 1: is a violent game, and these guys are big and 100 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: they are strong, and they are fast, and the collisions 101 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: are violent and we get to see the ramifications of 102 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 1: it every single day when we fly every single week 103 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: when we fly home or we see what these guys 104 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: you know, are having to do to keep their bodies 105 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: right in the locker room and how long it takes 106 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: them to recover. At the same time, I think it's 107 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: also important. And you know, people can say it's you know, 108 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: we work for a team, or we work for the league, whatever. 109 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: I don't care. I mean, I think we also see 110 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: the precautions that they take and what they try to 111 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 1: do to prevent tragedies from occurring. And I think, like 112 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: you said, a lot of that was on display. You know, 113 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: the violence of the game was on display, as it 114 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: is every Sunday, but also you know, the protections that 115 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: are put in place to keep these players as safe 116 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: as possible was also seen that you know that evening. Yeah, 117 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 1: so you know, everything else has been secondary this week. 118 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: You know, we'll get into the playoff scenarios, and obviously 119 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: there's been some reports I think Adam Schefter had a 120 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: report about what could potentially happen with Bill's Bengals and 121 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 1: then number one seed. We get into that a bit, 122 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: but let's just let's roll wind to to another solid 123 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 1: performance by the Chargers. The defense was awesome again, gave 124 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: up a couple of big runs in the first half, 125 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: but really settled down. Buckled down. The play of Morgan 126 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: Fox and Kyle van noy Is really continues to the 127 00:05:55,480 --> 00:06:00,160 Speaker 1: perfect time getting Joey back. But I would say the 128 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 1: story is probably the offense. Seeing the offense as well 129 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 1: rounded and as balanced as they were, money Austin with 130 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 1: his seventy two yard touchdown, Mike with another ridiculous catch. 131 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: He said it probably wasn't even his best catch, and 132 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 1: he's probably right. But you know, you see Keenan and 133 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: Mike's starting to mesh even more. You see the tight 134 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: ends get involved, justin thrown to touchdown to Parham and Everett, 135 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: and obviously if they can run the football like Debt 136 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: in January, they could be in good shape, no doubt. Look, 137 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: this is a tough offense to contend with when it's healthy, 138 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: you know. And I think the one thing that isn't 139 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: talked about enough, and you saw it on that seventy 140 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 1: two yard run from Austin, is how you know, well, 141 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: these wide receivers block, particularly Keenan and Mike. You know, 142 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 1: Keenan had a key block on that. Keenan doesn't make 143 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 1: that block that run doesn't happen. They like they're willing blockers, 144 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: they're effective blockers. I think when we talked about the 145 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: failures of the run game through the course of the season, 146 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: and you know, his team is ranked thirty at this 147 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: team is ranked thirty first, This team is rushing for 148 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: eighty yards per game. They can't get it going. I 149 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: think a big part of that was, you know, those 150 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: two guys not in there. You know, a lot of 151 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: it obviously is Rashaan Slater, and we know how effective 152 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: they were running to the left side last year. But 153 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: I think so much of it is the complete the 154 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: completeness of the blocking scheme, you know. And I think 155 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: Donald Parham we saw him improving that through the course 156 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: of the year. Last year. You know, he had a 157 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: big block on that run as well. So you know 158 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 1: what what we saw was I think, sort of, Okay, 159 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: we're finally we're almost back the whole, you know, almost there. 160 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: The only thing you're missing is Rashaan and Jamar has 161 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: done such a great job. But again, I mean talking 162 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: about one of the three best left tackles in the 163 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: game that very well could be back for Week one 164 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: of the playoffs. But I think that's what you're starting 165 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: to see offensively. In addition to you know, the continue 166 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: improvement health wise of Herbert, you know, and that fractured 167 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: rib cartilage that just gets better week after week after week. 168 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: It feels like he's if he's not there, he's pretty 169 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: dwn close to one hundred percent. And look that the 170 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: run game is also going to be more effective when 171 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: you have more of a threat, a downfield threat, and 172 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: those downfield threats, you know, we've talked about the lack 173 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: of speed, but they're there in playmakers, and I think 174 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: with Parum out there more and more, you know, that's 175 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: only going to help. Look, there was a wide open 176 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: touchdown from param on that you know, kind of the 177 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: that was just miss, no big deal, you know whatever, 178 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: it was, ended up being a positive play and went 179 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: for like thirteen or fifteen yards I think to either 180 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: Keenan or Mike. But I mean param is streaking down 181 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: the field for one of those throwbacks as Justin was 182 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: rolling to his right and he's kind of running through 183 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: the middle of the field toward the left sideline. So 184 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: I think is that I would love to see them 185 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: put some more of that on tape. I mean, I 186 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: think that's I know we're going to get into how 187 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 1: this game is going to play out against Denver, but 188 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: you know, the more the more of that you put 189 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: on tape, you know, the more stress you put on 190 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: a defensive coordinator in that first round of the playoff 191 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: of how they're going to have to figure out how 192 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: to play it, because we know they can do it 193 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: in so many different ways now, you know, with Austin 194 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 1: and with the emergence of josh Kelly is a bit 195 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: of a hammer back there, you know, running it's it's 196 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: really coming together at the exact time and it looks, 197 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: you know again, I'd love to see him do back. 198 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:09,719 Speaker 1: You know, it'd be great to see back to back 199 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:11,719 Speaker 1: thirty point performances from the offense if they're going to 200 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: play these guys. You look at the offense right, you know, 201 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,599 Speaker 1: And we talked about Gerald Everett not recording really a 202 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: stat line last week. Joshua Palmer didn't this week and 203 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,199 Speaker 1: thirty one points, and we know what josh was capable 204 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: of when called upon. Joshua Kelly nine for forty five, 205 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: Like he said, he's been a hammer back there. And 206 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: I really do think that they've been ramping this running 207 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: game up, and during this four game winning streak too, 208 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: muddy Justin Herbert hasn't had to throw three four touchdowns. 209 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 1: In fact that you know, there's games three he doesn't 210 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: throw touchdowns and they're winning. So I would say that's 211 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: a good sign. Getting the tight ends involved, I think 212 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: is a good sign. And you said, I think everything's 213 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: coming together at this point. Have you noticed that they've 214 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: been kind of ramping this running game up the last 215 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:58,839 Speaker 1: few weeks, especially in the red zone. You know, I 216 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: feel like that that's almost intentional. Yeah, And I you know, 217 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: I wonder how much of it. I know, Austin was 218 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: asked about his health and he was like, no, I'm 219 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: not healthy. My gosh, it's a week you know, seventeen. 220 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: Of course I'm hurt, you know, and my knee hurts, 221 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: my back hurts, my hands are you know. But I 222 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: wonder how much of that. You know, was doing everything 223 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: they can to to make sure he is as close 224 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: to write as he can be going into the postseason. 225 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 1: I mean, we've we've talked about it repeatedly. Our friend 226 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:31,839 Speaker 1: Baldy just put up a great Baldy breakdown on Eckler, asking, 227 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: you know, if he's the most complete back in the league, 228 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: and I don't think there's any question. You know, it's 229 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: a it's a toss up between he and Christian McCaffrey 230 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: and what they're all able to do, and how good 231 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: Austin is in pass pro and obviously catching the ball, 232 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: the guy's fourth on the league in receptions, but the 233 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 1: fact that he just scores touchdowns. You know that when 234 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 1: you need to score, this guy can figure it out, 235 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 1: whether it's from ten yards out or two yards out, 236 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: or on a swing pass or when Justin sees him 237 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: matched up against the linebacker and knows that guy is 238 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,839 Speaker 1: dead to rights. You know that he is so important 239 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: to what they need to do on offense. And so 240 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: as far as them ramping it up just now, I 241 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: almost wondered as some degree, you know, if if in 242 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: fact they wanted to, because you know, it's not like 243 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: they limited it touches. My gosh, the guy's got over 244 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: one hundred receptions, so it's you know they're there. But 245 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 1: at the same time, you know, those those hard yards, 246 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: the between the tackles runs, the you know, perhaps they 247 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 1: dialed those back a little bit, but I think more 248 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: than anything, it's just the offense is of is the 249 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: entire offense is available now. It feels like more so 250 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: than it has been since Week one and two. You know, 251 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: like everybody's out there for them. You know, you pretty 252 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: much have everybody out there, and now you know you've 253 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: you've got a defense that's creating optimal situations, you know 254 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: better starting field position. You know, the special teams has 255 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: been great all year, and it feels like it's even better. 256 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: You know, every time I brand it's daily told us, 257 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: you know the great thing about Carter is every time 258 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: he touches the ball's first down, you know, he gets 259 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: you a first down on those punt returns. So you're 260 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: talking about a guy that's getting eleven plus yards per returns. 261 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 1: And I had good feel position there and just feels 262 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: like everything, you know, everything is coming together at the 263 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: exact right time. We kind of hammered this last week, 264 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: just Mike Williams and getting him involved. He was involved 265 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: in what had he hit four for seventy six in 266 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: Indianapolis and all this came on touchdown drives right from 267 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,959 Speaker 1: the beginning. He was involved tense targets, seven catches, ninety 268 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: four yards. He really has emerged money and I know 269 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 1: that he was hurt for a big chunk of the 270 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 1: middle part of the season here, But we know what 271 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: Keenan does. Keena moves the chains. Mike has been such 272 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: a difference maker, I think more so than ever now, 273 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: Like like I almost feel like the offense runs through 274 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: number eighty one when he's fully healthy, and like we 275 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: saw that in the first half of the game, and 276 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:01,719 Speaker 1: you know, I just I think we're just going to 277 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: continue to see more of it. Um, you know, we 278 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: we'll get into how much the guys may play Week 279 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: eighteen and all the scenarios here, but the fact that 280 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: the fact that when Mike touches the ball, good things happened. 281 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: I feel like number eighty one is the primary. Uh. 282 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know, maybe Austin, but I just 283 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: feel like things happen when Mike touches the ball, Bunny. 284 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 1: So you know, it's interesting. I don't know if we 285 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: brought this up last week or I don't. I don't 286 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: think we did, because I think it was something that 287 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: popped up this week in the stat pack. You know, 288 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: when Mike and Keenan are on the field together for 289 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: full games, you know, since this return, since they've both 290 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: been out there since you know, Keenan's been healthy and 291 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 1: Mike's been healthy. Keenan is averaging over eight receptions per 292 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: game and Mike is averaging over seventy five yards per game. 293 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: And I think it's you know, you hear the term 294 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: all the time complimentary football, and I think those two 295 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: just compliment each other so well. You know, you said 296 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: it perfectly. You know you need to get first down. 297 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 1: There's no better receiver in the league. I mean, there's 298 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: just not nobody. He has more third down receptions for 299 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: first downs than Keenan out he's the best at it. 300 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: So that's such an important thing to have. And nobody 301 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:10,679 Speaker 1: has converted more third downs in twenty twenty two than 302 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,840 Speaker 1: the Chargers. They have converted the most, and it's the 303 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: most by a pretty healthy margin. And I think a 304 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: big part of that is having receivers that can win 305 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: at the point of attack or win at the point 306 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: of reception, like Mike you know, where you know it 307 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 1: is a contested catch, and Keenan, who can just break 308 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: anybody down and just leave him in the dust, you know, 309 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: and pick up however many yards you may need. And 310 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: then on top of that, you've got Austin Eckler, who 311 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: leads the league in yards after contact and yards after catch. 312 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: So you've got everything. You know, you need a guy 313 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: who is look you need to and you know Austin's 314 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: gonna get hit right when he catches up. Okay, well 315 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: he's got the most yards after catch, so you know 316 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: you're gonna get that. You gotta get four. And you 317 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: know keen is going to break a guy off at 318 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: the three. You know, at three, catch it, fall forward 319 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: for four. You want that big play downfield, Mike your guy. 320 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: Now you got everything opened up. And like you said, 321 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: you didn't even have a target for Gerald Everett two 322 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: weeks ago against the Colts, and then here he's catching 323 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: the touchdown. Params catching the touchdown. You go to your trees. 324 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: You know, when you get into those golden ghost situations, 325 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: it's just there's so many options, you know, and they're 326 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: now all healthy. And I think Parham is a big, 327 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: big part of that because of how effective he can 328 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: be in the ends on how tall he is, how 329 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: tall Keenan is, how tall look. I think I don't 330 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: think it's a coincidence that the Chiefs went out and 331 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: got Marquees, Veldez, Scantling and Juju Smith, Schuster and obviously 332 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: Travis Kelcey. We know how effective he is. You know, 333 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: the Chargers have given them fits, particularly in the red 334 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: zone with Keenan, Mike and Parum because of their size. 335 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: And I think that's what Brett Veach did. He's like, 336 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: let's go get Pat some size and you know, let 337 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: him kind of play jump ball and throw these you know, 338 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: kind of high point passes in the red zone because 339 00:15:55,400 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: freaking effective. So, you know, I think everything keep saying it. 340 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: Look at the Bengals last year. You know, they played 341 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: their best football at the perfect time. The defense came 342 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: together at the perfect time, Joe Burrow found his rhythm 343 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: at the perfect time, and they made a run all 344 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: the way to the super Bowl and they damn near 345 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: one it. You know, were it not for cutting a 346 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: pass loose at eighth of a second sooner before Aaron 347 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: Donald h him, you know, they would have won that game. 348 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: So I think it's kind of that's why I think. Look, 349 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: I am you know me, I am not the most 350 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: optimistic person. I tend to kind of see things is 351 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: there going to go wrong? And I just I feel 352 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: like this team is in a really really good place 353 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: right now mentioned the Bengals too, Evan McPherson. They don't 354 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: get to the super Bowl without him. Yeah, and Camera Dicker. 355 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: It kind of fits that bill right now, the rookie kicker. Yeah, exactly, exactly. 356 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: And you know, just I mentioned this on Monday, But 357 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: so Mike has twelve one yard games in his career 358 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: in ninety four yards Sunday, so this doesn't count. But 359 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: charges are eight and four in those games. In the 360 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: four losses, we're all the side by three points. So 361 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: when you get Mike the ball, you get him involved 362 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,159 Speaker 1: as a good chance, you're you're gonna win the game 363 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: or you're you're in the game. And you know, we 364 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 1: talk about all the points and the stats they put 365 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 1: up offensively last year money they were playing complimentary football 366 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 1: in the sense that all three phases were in sync. 367 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 1: They're in sync now and the defense has played fantastic 368 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: over the last four weeks, mostly without Darwin. Joey comes 369 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,479 Speaker 1: back and it was good to see him get a 370 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: few good rushes in there. But I mentioned at the top, 371 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: like the way Kyle van Noy and Morgan Fox are 372 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: playing right now. You have a pass rush that now 373 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: includes mac Bosa and the clip that these guys are 374 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 1: going on right now. You add Romp to the mix too. 375 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: You're packing a pass rush for the playoffs. Yeah, so 376 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: you know, I'll start with Joey. He looked great, you know, 377 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: I know, you look at the box score. You got 378 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: to watch the game to know what kind of impact 379 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 1: he had. But man, his pressures were a huge deal 380 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,040 Speaker 1: and they're a big reason why that Morgan Fox and 381 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: those guys are getting no sacks. He was. He was 382 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: the Joey that we were used to see and had 383 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,880 Speaker 1: a couple of huge tackles. His run defense really showed 384 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: up in the second half, you know, and you're talking 385 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 1: about Cam Akers ripping off a couple of those big ones, 386 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 1: Malcolm Brown getting the twenty three yard or second half, 387 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,120 Speaker 1: the Rams had fifty one yards of offense fifty one 388 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: yards and they could not get anything going, and anytime 389 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: they tried to run at Joey it wasn't happening. So 390 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: you know, they had a couple explosives. Was a little 391 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: disconcerting at the start, but it was great to see 392 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: them overcome that, make the adjustments and get it right. 393 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: And look, Darwin's not out there. Nothing against a lowe 394 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 1: darn near had an interception was so close after that, 395 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,959 Speaker 1: you know, the handoff just wasn't quite orchestrated correctly on 396 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 1: that throw to Van Jefferson, but he almost closed and 397 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: got that. And that's the situation where like, hey, if 398 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: that's Darwin, he probably closes and ends up picking that 399 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: ball off. So I think that's something to keep in mind. 400 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: But the one thing that really jumped out to me 401 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 1: beyond how good Bosa look, and you've already said it, 402 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: I don't I don't need to echo them. And everybody 403 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 1: knows how well Kyle van Nooi is playing right now, 404 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: and what a huge asset Morgan Fox has been, you know, 405 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: setting a new single season high for sacks. But the 406 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: one thing that really stood out to me is how 407 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:17,399 Speaker 1: many guys they were running through, you know. And remember 408 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: we talked about, oh boy, this is not a deep group, 409 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: and I mean there were times where we didn't know 410 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: if they were gonna be able to feel the defensive line, 411 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: you know. And now you just see how well Fajoko 412 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: has been playing, and you're when you look down there, 413 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 1: you see there's Sebastian Joseph Day. I'm just pulling up 414 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 1: the box scrow so I can remember all that. You know, 415 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 1: Moa got out there in rotation, Josser Taylor is given, 416 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 1: you know, Asante Samuel a break on the outside because 417 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: it's he's a bigger guy and more effective when it 418 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: comes to kind of okay, well they're gonna run a 419 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: little bit more. Let's get Josser out there. And he's 420 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: making plays. And so you know, when you're talking about 421 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: losing Austin Johnson, Christian Covington, Tito A Bony, and you're like, 422 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 1: you know, Jerry Tillery gets waived, and now you look 423 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:03,199 Speaker 1: down there and you see these waves of Rump and 424 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: Fox and Sea Bass and and Fojoko and MOA's out there, 425 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 1: like these guys are fresh. They're now there there. It's 426 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 1: no longer you know, these guys aren't being asked to play. 427 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: Oh that Like there were times when we were talking 428 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:18,719 Speaker 1: Chris and we're like, oh, that's the most snaps he's 429 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: ever played in his most snaps, that's Sebastian Josephday's ever 430 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:23,879 Speaker 1: played in his career. You know, that's like that was 431 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: happening this year. Most snaps Morgan Fox has ever played 432 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: in a game in his career, Like those things were 433 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: happening on the interior of the line, and that's not 434 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: happening anymore. You know, Hinton was out there. So it's 435 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: like they're able to throw fresh body snap after snap 436 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 1: after snap, and you know, we when when you're getting 437 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 1: you know, after they were able to overcome sort of 438 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: the initial surge of that Rams run game. They were 439 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 1: now you're looking at third and sevens second and nine, 440 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: and that's when you get you know, when when you 441 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 1: look at and you see, oh yeah, here's five sack, 442 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: three sacks, five tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, and 443 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: that's that's what you can do. And so I think 444 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 1: so much of that is just keeping those bodies fresh 445 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: on the interior, pin in your ears back, getting after 446 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: him on the edges. And a huge part of that, 447 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 1: too is just again we've said it, Drew Trankle's a 448 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 1: pro bowler and the guy's playing as good a linebacker 449 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: is anyone in the league. And you know, he pops 450 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: up another eleven tackles, two tackles for loss, you know, 451 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 1: firing into that. You know, those run fits are just exceptional. 452 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 1: Some tackles for lost are really slow down that run game. 453 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: So you know, as the offenses hit their rhythm, the 454 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 1: defenses hit its rhythm and really got to another level 455 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: in that game against the Rams, and I expect to 456 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:44,680 Speaker 1: see the same thing against the Broncos, with you know, 457 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: kind of how beat up their offensive line is, how 458 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 1: many sacks Russell Wilson has taken this season, the fact 459 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:53,360 Speaker 1: that it's not Javante back there, you know, and it's 460 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 1: instead it's Latavius Murray and Tyler Batty and Chase Edmonds, 461 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 1: like they ought to be able to do some damage 462 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,879 Speaker 1: and continue. I'd love to if that's the thing. Like, 463 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,199 Speaker 1: there's almost a little part of me that kind of 464 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: would like to see the Ravens win the game. It's selfish, 465 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: you know, I think, you know what, I shouldn't say 466 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 1: that because I would like the guys to get their 467 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: rest is better than anything. There's nothing that beats rest. 468 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:16,360 Speaker 1: So now I'd like to see the Ravens lose so 469 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: we can get these guys some rest and feel good, 470 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 1: you know. But I think they'll play a quarter something 471 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: like that. I could totally see that, you know, and 472 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: that would be fun to see them try to kind 473 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 1: of pick up where they left off in that second 474 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: half against the Rams. All right, guys, a quick break 475 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,159 Speaker 1: to tell you about Ultimate Chargers. It's the free to 476 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 1: play next level fantasy football game. Open packs collect players, 477 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 1: pick your lineup and crush the competition. 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So, so, one 487 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 1: thing that really stands out to me from the off 488 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: season that both Tom Tolesco and Brandon Stanley said was 489 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:17,640 Speaker 1: we won a deep team and we want a complete 490 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 1: team because the depth was tested last year and you know, 491 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: they faltered down the stretch frankly in December, and you 492 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,199 Speaker 1: mentioned all these guys that have come in and stepped up. 493 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 1: The depth has been tested and they got through on 494 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: the other side, and it's been really neat to see. 495 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 1: You know, when you say stuff during the off season, 496 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 1: everybody says kind of the same things, and you want 497 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: to have a good year and want a deep team completely, 498 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,680 Speaker 1: but like they've you really meant it, and now you're 499 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:46,959 Speaker 1: seeing it. You're seeing the fruits of the labor in 500 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 1: December and January and as we get into Denver. Now, money, 501 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 1: let me just lay out the scenarios. Think most Chargers 502 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:55,399 Speaker 1: fans know what's at sake here. The Chargers are in 503 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: the fifth seat right now. The Bengals and Bills. We 504 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: don't know what's gonna happen with that. It is probably 505 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:06,360 Speaker 1: won't be played right, So it's it's Bengals and it's Ravens. Right, 506 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 1: it's Bengals Ravens. And that got moved to the morning 507 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: window so on the West coast. So essentially, the Chargers 508 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 1: can be going to Denver just to see what happens 509 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 1: in Jacksonville and Tennessee on Saturday night. They may know 510 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:22,439 Speaker 1: their playoff opponent. And if the Ravens lose, and it 511 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: looks like Lamar Jackson will not play at this point, 512 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: he isn't practiced. If the Bengals beat the Ravens in Cincinnati, 513 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: the Chargers will have the five seed locked up. They 514 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 1: will know their opponent before kickoff in Denver. So I 515 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 1: ask you, and you mentioned maybe you play a quarter, 516 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 1: and I'm sure that the team is probably still, you know, 517 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 1: gonna wait and see what happens before they kind of 518 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: divulge exactly what they're gonna do. But you want to 519 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 1: rest guys, but you also want to keep the momentum going. 520 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 1: So like I asked some of the guys that the 521 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 1: balance there, and you know, I'll ask you, like I 522 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 1: guess different teams they approach it. You know, some guys 523 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: will want to play all the week eighteen and be 524 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 1: ready to go for the playoffs. Some guys want to 525 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 1: wrest their guys and kind of get that mini buy. 526 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: Where do you stand on that? You know, I tend 527 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 1: to stand on the side of rest. You know. I 528 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,639 Speaker 1: think you talk to these guys and they talk about 529 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: what the bye week does for them, you know what, 530 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: even what the mini buy does for them. As much 531 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 1: as they hate playing on Thursday, always say, oh yeah, 532 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 1: you know, we hate playing on Thursday, but that mini 533 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: by sure is nice. So I think it's it's evident, 534 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 1: you know, how how far rest goes and you know, 535 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: to me, that's that's the big thing about the Bills 536 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:37,880 Speaker 1: Bengals game and whether or not it's going to be 537 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:40,879 Speaker 1: you know, resumed is I just don't know how they 538 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 1: do it. I can't imagine being the Bills or the 539 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 1: Bengals and playing a game when your opponent gets a 540 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: week of rest, you know, because you're obviously gonna have 541 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: to push the playoffs back a week and play during 542 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: that bye week. So now the Bills and the Bengals 543 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: play a game, and their wild card opponent, which could 544 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: be the Ravens, you know, ends up getting Lamar Jackson back, 545 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: or the Chargers get you know, if it's the Chargers 546 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: in the six they get Rashaan Slater Bag. It's like, 547 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: you're not gonna sign up for that. And so I 548 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: just kind of use that and talking to players over 549 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:09,400 Speaker 1: all the years that you know, I've been doing this, now, 550 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 1: there is nothing that trump's rest. It is. It is 551 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:17,399 Speaker 1: the most important thing to get your body right. You know, 552 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:20,239 Speaker 1: it's week eighteen. Guys are banged up to the bed 553 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: Jesus bells. You know, if there's one thing they would love, 554 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: it's a week off, you know, And look the buy 555 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 1: as you know, the one seed getting to buy. It's 556 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: not only you're no longer you're not in the path 557 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: of peril because you have to play a game, but 558 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: you get to rest while your future opponent does not, 559 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: you know, and you get to get healthy. So I 560 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: do think there's that that would be the approach is 561 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: guys like Austin Ekeler, you know, that have been beat 562 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,439 Speaker 1: up that it played a lot, Khalil Mack, you know, 563 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:56,440 Speaker 1: Morgan Fox, Kyle van Noy, Drew Tranquil like. I could 564 00:26:56,480 --> 00:27:00,439 Speaker 1: see guys like that getting the game off. If the 565 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:03,439 Speaker 1: Ravens lose and they have the five locked up, I 566 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: could totally see them getting a much deserved, you know, 567 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,880 Speaker 1: week off to get ready for what is a much 568 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 1: more important game. I just to me, that's that's more 569 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 1: important than making sure you you know, you don't keep 570 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 1: your rhythm or something. You know, because when you talk 571 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 1: to guys, they always tell you that momentum does not 572 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:26,720 Speaker 1: there's really they say, yeah, it's it's nice to have, 573 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 1: and it's more of a confidence thing as opposed to 574 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: a momentum thing. You know, winning five six games and 575 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:33,679 Speaker 1: we're all it's just more confidence. You feel like you 576 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: step on the field and like, yeah, we can't be beaten. 577 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 1: I am beaten five weeks, So you just have that belief. Well, 578 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,520 Speaker 1: they'll they'll still have that belief. It's like, yeah, we 579 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: won four in a row, and we're playing our best 580 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: football this season, you know since Week one, and we're 581 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:48,400 Speaker 1: going into the postseason. We feel really good about where 582 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:51,720 Speaker 1: we're at. So you'll still have that confidence. And I 583 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: don't necessarily feel like, you know, you need to get 584 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,679 Speaker 1: you know, reps out there now look great to get 585 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 1: both out there. I think he still needs to get 586 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: his foot. I think he needs to get his game 587 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 1: win and his game conditioning right. So I could see 588 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: him go out there. But I just like I said, 589 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 1: I think there's select individuals that would benefit from you know, 590 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:14,920 Speaker 1: DeAndre Carter doesn't need to take shots, receiving punts, you know, 591 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 1: like you can pull him off of That is kind 592 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 1: of what I'm getting at there. I don't think there's 593 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,880 Speaker 1: anything wrong with that. I don't feel like justin Herbert 594 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 1: and needs to get out there and do anything to 595 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: be right for the playoff game. So yeah, I think 596 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 1: that's personally That's how I would approach it. And I 597 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,920 Speaker 1: think that would be best case is the Bengals win, 598 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:36,159 Speaker 1: they lock up the you know, if the Bills and 599 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:37,879 Speaker 1: the Bengals aren't going to play, they lock up the 600 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 1: three or the two seed. Based on what happens in 601 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 1: Bill's Patriots and Chargers get ready to take on the 602 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 1: Titans or the Jags. Yeah, I think the mindset guys 603 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: will know, right if the game doesn't mean anything, it's 604 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: it's not like if if you pull guys and you 605 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: lose that there's allviously gonna holp momentum. I think his 606 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 1: team has found a formula to move forward with. And 607 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:05,720 Speaker 1: you mentioned Tennessee Jacksonville. Obviously we don't know if that's 608 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: going to be the opponent. A lot a lot of 609 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 1: things can happen week A teams are weird, but from 610 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: from that perspective, you know, we went to I think 611 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: we went to Tennessee and jackson on twenty nineteen, so 612 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: we could be making a return to one of those stadiums. 613 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: Your thoughts on that matchup and what the Titans are 614 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: doing with Dobbs as the starter down in place of 615 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 1: Malik Willis, Yeah, I think they both present challenges. You know, 616 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 1: obviously we know what the Jaguars were able to do 617 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 1: to the Chargers earlier this season. Now, this is a 618 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 1: completely different Chargers team than the one that got beat 619 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:41,719 Speaker 1: up by those Jaguars. The playoffs are a completely different 620 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 1: situation for a second year quarterback, second year running back, 621 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 1: all those young players on defense that have never been 622 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: in a playoff game before, and how the level of 623 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:56,239 Speaker 1: physicality rises traumatically. But they're a really good team with 624 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 1: a really really good head coach and a hell of 625 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 1: a play call. So I think, you know, Trevor Lawrence 626 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 1: has really kind of hit his rhythm and and showing 627 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 1: you Now, granted, he wasn't asked to do a lot 628 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 1: against the Texans because the defense dominated them so early 629 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 1: and they just didn't want to put him in harm's way, 630 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 1: but prior to that, he's been on a hell of 631 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: a run at the end has shown that he is 632 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: that versatile, you know, Austin Eckler type back that can 633 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: do it all and is a true, you know, kind 634 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 1: of five tool or queen on the chessboard. However, we 635 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:29,959 Speaker 1: want to describe the type of weapon defensively, Man, they 636 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 1: are long and they are fast up front, so I 637 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 1: think they present a challenge for sure, But I would 638 00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 1: still feel confident going into that matchup the Titans. You know, 639 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: we know what the Titans do. And remember it was 640 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: a Titans team that did not that that was down 641 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 1: a great majority of their defensive pieces that are getting 642 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: healthy and I think are coming back. A lot of 643 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 1: them are coming back for this game against the against 644 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 1: the Jacks, and we know what they're capable of doing. 645 00:30:56,920 --> 00:31:00,520 Speaker 1: What Mike Rabel defenses do. You know, regard list of 646 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,640 Speaker 1: how the game plays out, they're always in it at 647 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 1: the end. They just they know how to grind and 648 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 1: either they create turnovers or they just force punts and 649 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 1: three and outs. They just churn the clock by running 650 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:18,239 Speaker 1: the ball with Derrick Henry and getting first downs and 651 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 1: keeping your offense off the field. And they always have 652 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 1: a shot at the end. So you know that's going 653 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: to present an issue as well, not to mention. You know, look, 654 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 1: Nashville can get cold, They can get an early there, 655 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 1: so you know it can be you know, adverse climate 656 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 1: as well, and maybe that affects your passing game when 657 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:38,719 Speaker 1: starts whipping, you get a heavy rain or maybe sleet. 658 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 1: You know, now that comes into play. So I think 659 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: they each present unique issues. If you are asking me like, hey, 660 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 1: where would you you know, what team do you think 661 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 1: is the better matchup? I think probably Tennessee's the better 662 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 1: matchup because, you know, I think they just are a 663 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 1: little bit more one dimensional. You can really kind of 664 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: key in on on Derrick Henry and and say, all right, 665 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: if Josh Dobb's gonna beat us, Josh Tom's gonna beat us, 666 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 1: you know, so be it. But we're going to commit 667 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: the extra resources to stopping Derrick Henry at the point 668 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 1: of attack, not letting him get crazy. And then you hope, 669 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 1: you know, you get your offense a few extra possessions 670 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 1: that you could take advantage of and build a lead. 671 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 1: And that's the other thing is if you can get 672 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,239 Speaker 1: up two scores on Tennessee, it's very hard for them 673 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:28,120 Speaker 1: to overcome that, no doubt, you know. And again, at 674 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:32,000 Speaker 1: the same time, I do like the Chargers, even though 675 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: a lot of them don't have a ton of playoff experience, 676 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 1: you know, I still feel like that's a very young 677 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 1: Jaguars team, and rarely do you see really really young teams, 678 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 1: you know, make runs. And I say that, you know, 679 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:47,479 Speaker 1: think back to last year with the Bengals. You know 680 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 1: and Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase and all of them 681 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 1: just dominating the postseason and make their way to the 682 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:53,960 Speaker 1: Super Bowl. So that's what I was gonna say. Look, 683 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 1: they won't neither will be easy. Does playoff experience matter, right, 684 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:01,240 Speaker 1: because you mentioned that since anything. Jackson was a young team, 685 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 1: but they have a Super Bowl winning Hey, coach Mike 686 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:06,240 Speaker 1: Vrabel has been to an AFC Championship game. So like 687 00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:09,720 Speaker 1: from from the coaching perspective, like, listen, Mike Vrabel's gonna 688 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 1: have those guys ready, like we've seen Tennessee. Like it's 689 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: almost like they're doing it with magic sometimes, like like 690 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 1: Malik Willis almost beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead earlier this year. 691 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:22,760 Speaker 1: You know, just because of what you said. They grind 692 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 1: the clock. Um, they played their brand of football. Uh, 693 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 1: Jacksonville is just like Jacqueline Hide, Like they'll look amazing 694 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: then they'll Detroit. Yeah, So like you don't know what 695 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 1: you're gonna get with those teams. I was gonna ask 696 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:38,320 Speaker 1: you some of the players on the Chargers, right, Uh, 697 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:42,000 Speaker 1: Keenan's been there at least in the postseason before, you know, 698 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:46,959 Speaker 1: Mike Austin, Durwin, Joey I mean, albeit it was twenty eighteen, um, 699 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:48,960 Speaker 1: and still they want a playoff game on the road. 700 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 1: A group of guys that want a playoff game on 701 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:54,120 Speaker 1: a road. Yeah, you know Staley was in the playoffs 702 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 1: with the Ramps a couple of years ago. You know, 703 00:33:56,360 --> 00:34:01,080 Speaker 1: he's been a member of a playoff staff in Chicago. 704 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:05,080 Speaker 1: So like there's there's definitely Like I go back and forth. 705 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:08,760 Speaker 1: I like how much does playoff experience really matter versus 706 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 1: like who's just playing good ball right now and who's 707 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:14,120 Speaker 1: not afraid to go on the road. And I look 708 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:16,400 Speaker 1: at what the Chargers were able to accomplish on the 709 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:18,839 Speaker 1: road this year. Um, they subb their towing a couple 710 00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:21,360 Speaker 1: of places, but like even going to San Francisco and 711 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:25,080 Speaker 1: Santa Clara and playing those guys tough, going to Arrowhead, 712 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:28,319 Speaker 1: losing by a fuel goal. Um, you know, we know 713 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: that they dropped that one in Vegas, but um, you know, 714 00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:35,480 Speaker 1: winning gutting it out against a Cardinals team, Um that 715 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:37,960 Speaker 1: you know wasn't going anywhere. But I feel like that 716 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 1: two point conversion flipped the season. The Chargers schedules interesting 717 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:45,319 Speaker 1: money because they may go into the postseason having only 718 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 1: played I think three playoff teams. Um, if you look 719 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,320 Speaker 1: at their schedule, it's it's actually crazy, like because you're like, okay, 720 00:34:51,560 --> 00:34:55,160 Speaker 1: only three playoff teams San Francisco, Kansas City, and the 721 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 1: winner of that Nashville or the Tennessee Jacksonville game. Right, So, like, 722 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:00,880 Speaker 1: you know, you play who's in front of you, and 723 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:03,680 Speaker 1: they may get to eleven wins without beating a playoff 724 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:06,960 Speaker 1: team in the regular season, But does that matter? And 725 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 1: do you think that maybe making the soft part of 726 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:12,200 Speaker 1: this schedule gives you a little confidence and as you 727 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:15,520 Speaker 1: playing your best ball? So like the like, here's why 728 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 1: I love the five. You know, the five slot is. 729 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:22,719 Speaker 1: So let's say you win the five, right, you win 730 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:26,879 Speaker 1: that game, the Jacksonville Tennessee game, And again I would 731 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:29,080 Speaker 1: not be the least bit surprised if the Chargers were 732 00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 1: favored in that game going into wherever they have to go, 733 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:33,759 Speaker 1: Tennessee or Jackson would not surprised me in the least 734 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:35,919 Speaker 1: to see them favored. So let's say you win that game. 735 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 1: The Ravens are the six. You know, the Ravens when 736 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:43,440 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson were healthy, were seven and three. You know, 737 00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:47,240 Speaker 1: one of those losses was the defensive meltdown to Miami. 738 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:50,440 Speaker 1: So that's eight and two. The other one was the 739 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 1: late game collapsed to Buffalo, right, Like, that's a really 740 00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:59,520 Speaker 1: really good team when Lamar Jackson is the quarterback and 741 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: it is really hard to account for. And if they're 742 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:06,520 Speaker 1: the six and it's you know, they take on Cincinnati, 743 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:10,920 Speaker 1: they already beat them once, you know, in Baltimore, and 744 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:13,560 Speaker 1: you know, we'll see if they can beat him twice, 745 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:16,879 Speaker 1: you know, this week or three, you know, but they 746 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:20,120 Speaker 1: match up, Well, that's weird, like like this this is 747 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:22,600 Speaker 1: very well be they'd be playing the same exact game 748 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:25,319 Speaker 1: a week later with Lamar Jackson. Right, So that's kind 749 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:27,640 Speaker 1: of like if you're the five, you win that game. 750 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 1: Let's say Baltimore wins that game. Well, now Baltimore's got 751 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:32,000 Speaker 1: to go take on the number one seed that's been 752 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:34,879 Speaker 1: on the buy and the Chargers get a team that 753 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:36,880 Speaker 1: was in a playoff game the week before, and you 754 00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:38,279 Speaker 1: have no idea how that's going to go. Is it 755 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:40,239 Speaker 1: a physical game, is it a game that they had 756 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:42,720 Speaker 1: to eke out? Is it you know, were they upset? 757 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:45,040 Speaker 1: Are they did all three wild cards win? You know, 758 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:47,120 Speaker 1: there's so many different things that can happen when you 759 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:49,920 Speaker 1: don't have to now take on that number one seed 760 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:52,960 Speaker 1: that's gotten that rest has a really big advantage over 761 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:56,680 Speaker 1: you because they've had that week off, you know, to 762 00:36:56,760 --> 00:36:59,080 Speaker 1: get right to get healthy. They weren't involved in a 763 00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:01,000 Speaker 1: playoff game. Like we said that, they are so much 764 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:05,520 Speaker 1: more physical in nature than regular season games. And I 765 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:09,400 Speaker 1: would not be surprised in the least to see that happen. Well, now, okay, 766 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:12,840 Speaker 1: now you've got a Baltimore team again that was seven 767 00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:15,880 Speaker 1: and three and two of those games were just bone 768 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:19,239 Speaker 1: headed miscues late in the in the games. Would not 769 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:21,360 Speaker 1: surprise me at all to see Baltimore go on a 770 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:25,160 Speaker 1: run and maybe you're hosting the AFC Championship game at 771 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 1: so far, you know, it's like like even that path 772 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:31,360 Speaker 1: to me, and this year's AFC makes sense, you know, 773 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:33,200 Speaker 1: as the Bills were the number one seed and we 774 00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:36,319 Speaker 1: just saw them struggle on so many different occasions and 775 00:37:36,360 --> 00:37:38,319 Speaker 1: how they look through the first part of that game 776 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:41,200 Speaker 1: against Cincinnati it was seven to three, and you know, 777 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:45,320 Speaker 1: you've got Higgins has that catch right at midfield prior 778 00:37:45,360 --> 00:37:49,520 Speaker 1: to you know, that horrible injury to Tamar, Like they're 779 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:52,960 Speaker 1: just making their way right through that defense. That is 780 00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:56,400 Speaker 1: really beat up right now. You know the their running 781 00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:59,520 Speaker 1: game is essentially Josh Allen. You know he's been a 782 00:37:59,560 --> 00:38:02,520 Speaker 1: little loose with the ball lately. So like what I'm 783 00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:04,359 Speaker 1: getting I mean, And again going back to the way 784 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:06,920 Speaker 1: the Chargers played the Chiefs in Week one before Herbert 785 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:11,840 Speaker 1: fractures his ribs, You've got two interceptions I've said it repeatedly, 786 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:14,920 Speaker 1: and four near interceptions. You know that two of them 787 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:18,560 Speaker 1: were taken off the board by the officials. Um, so 788 00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:21,480 Speaker 1: we know they can play the Chiefs like that. It's 789 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:24,600 Speaker 1: you get that five and it's just it's set up really. 790 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:29,359 Speaker 1: I feel like it sets up really really well for them. Yeah, 791 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:34,000 Speaker 1: you know, I go back to December and Cincinnati, uh 792 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:37,759 Speaker 1: went up twenty four. Nothing on that team, So like 793 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:41,080 Speaker 1: I feel like that there's enough guys on the team 794 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:44,600 Speaker 1: that felt that and played in that game. So if 795 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:46,360 Speaker 1: you do, let's say you do go to Cincinnati in 796 00:38:46,360 --> 00:38:49,480 Speaker 1: the first round. Let's say the Ravens knock off the Bengals, and, um, 797 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:53,440 Speaker 1: you know the Chargers of the Broncos. Right, you go 798 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:57,239 Speaker 1: to Cincinnati, You've been there, right, Kansas City, Right, you 799 00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:00,600 Speaker 1: want an arrowhead? Last year, we want to in two 800 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:02,480 Speaker 1: of the three teams that we talk about as the 801 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 1: favorites in the AFC, you went to their place last 802 00:39:05,719 --> 00:39:07,719 Speaker 1: year and you won, And I go, this is this 803 00:39:07,880 --> 00:39:10,279 Speaker 1: podcast is called Chargers Weekly, So this is glass half 804 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:12,360 Speaker 1: full for the Chargers. We'll talk about this, right because 805 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:16,279 Speaker 1: we've seen them lose to the Chiefs many times. But 806 00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:19,040 Speaker 1: the fact that they've gone there and they did win. 807 00:39:19,120 --> 00:39:21,560 Speaker 1: Last year they went to Cincinnati, they did win. They 808 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:23,239 Speaker 1: haven't played Buffalo in a while. I think that the 809 00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:26,120 Speaker 1: last time they played Buffalo in Buffalo was Josh Allen's 810 00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: first start. He's a little bit of a different player now, right, 811 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:33,120 Speaker 1: But just the path is there. The path is there, 812 00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:37,440 Speaker 1: and I would, honestly, I would like to see Jacksonville 813 00:39:38,080 --> 00:39:44,360 Speaker 1: Chargers just because I want to see this new unapproved 814 00:39:44,440 --> 00:39:47,799 Speaker 1: Chargers team maybe getting slaterback who knows Bosa in the 815 00:39:47,840 --> 00:39:51,399 Speaker 1: mix against this Jags team that has a Super Bowl 816 00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:53,719 Speaker 1: winning coach but not a lot of playoff experience in 817 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:56,279 Speaker 1: terms of players, right. And you know, I think the 818 00:39:56,280 --> 00:39:58,200 Speaker 1: thing with Cincinnati too, is it like the great thing 819 00:39:58,200 --> 00:40:01,880 Speaker 1: about the way the AFC has has managed to shake 820 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:04,960 Speaker 1: out is you know, and again I don't know how 821 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 1: it's going to work itself out, you know, based on 822 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,040 Speaker 1: what happens this coming weekend. But you know, the top 823 00:40:10,080 --> 00:40:13,640 Speaker 1: three teams are the Bills, the Chiefs, and the Bengals, Right, yeah, 824 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:15,560 Speaker 1: two of those teams are gonna have to play each other. 825 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:17,560 Speaker 1: Like two of those teams are going to end up 826 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:19,319 Speaker 1: playing each other in the divisional round. One of them 827 00:40:19,360 --> 00:40:21,840 Speaker 1: is going to get knocked out in the divisional round, 828 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:23,880 Speaker 1: you know, unless they lose the wild card game. So 829 00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:25,839 Speaker 1: let's just say chock holds and they win the wild 830 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:28,920 Speaker 1: card game. Like it's either gonna be Bills Bengals, and 831 00:40:29,160 --> 00:40:30,920 Speaker 1: you know, we already talked about what that looked like 832 00:40:31,040 --> 00:40:35,120 Speaker 1: through you know, about seventy percent of a quarter, you know, 833 00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:37,279 Speaker 1: in favor of the Bengals. The Bengals have already beaten 834 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:40,400 Speaker 1: the Chiefs. The Bills have already beaten the Chiefs at 835 00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:43,759 Speaker 1: their place. So it's like, you know, the way that 836 00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:48,560 Speaker 1: it appears to be lining up right now is what 837 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:50,640 Speaker 1: you what I think you don't want is you don't 838 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:53,279 Speaker 1: want to have to go to Buffalo into Kansas City. 839 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:59,040 Speaker 1: I think that that presents, you know, just because of climate, atmosphere, 840 00:40:59,560 --> 00:41:03,279 Speaker 1: you know, caliber of quarterback and what they're capable of 841 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:07,400 Speaker 1: doing experience play callers, you know, like I just there, 842 00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:10,880 Speaker 1: there's a lot going. Yeah, so I think if you 843 00:41:10,880 --> 00:41:14,360 Speaker 1: can because of the path, if you can thread that 844 00:41:14,480 --> 00:41:16,880 Speaker 1: needle and two of those teams got to play one 845 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:19,560 Speaker 1: another and knock the other one out, that that to 846 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:22,799 Speaker 1: me helps the path to the super Bowl considerably. You know, 847 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:24,360 Speaker 1: you mentioned it you gotta go to since Okay, so 848 00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:28,160 Speaker 1: let's say Cincinnati knocks off Baltimore, you know, and or 849 00:41:28,200 --> 00:41:29,640 Speaker 1: maybe they end up as the two and if you 850 00:41:29,680 --> 00:41:31,520 Speaker 1: have to go to Cincinnati, you said it up twenty 851 00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:34,279 Speaker 1: four nothing and then after the Bengals rally you end 852 00:41:34,320 --> 00:41:36,160 Speaker 1: up putting a forty burger on them and getting the win. 853 00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:37,960 Speaker 1: That's a lot of confidence. That was just last year 854 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:39,440 Speaker 1: for a team that made it to the super Bowl. 855 00:41:39,800 --> 00:41:44,719 Speaker 1: So you know, again you said it's Chargers Weekly. It's positive. 856 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:47,000 Speaker 1: You know, we're going to look at things probably in 857 00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:50,279 Speaker 1: a positive light. But I think almost anybody would tell 858 00:41:50,280 --> 00:41:52,279 Speaker 1: you that. And you're starting to see it, you know, 859 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:54,520 Speaker 1: you're starting to see it with with guys that break 860 00:41:54,560 --> 00:41:57,040 Speaker 1: down film on. If you if you're on social media 861 00:41:57,040 --> 00:42:00,279 Speaker 1: and you follow guys like Orlovski who's taken his shows 862 00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:03,200 Speaker 1: at the team through the course of the season. They're 863 00:42:03,200 --> 00:42:05,839 Speaker 1: all changing their tune there. You know, I think Dan 864 00:42:05,920 --> 00:42:08,279 Speaker 1: posted something today that was like or yesterday that was 865 00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:11,200 Speaker 1: hey healthy, Mike Williams, Austin Eckler, and Keenan Allen. Now 866 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:14,239 Speaker 1: that's a different looking Charger team. You know, Baldy broke 867 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:16,400 Speaker 1: down the Austin Eckler and what his impact is and 868 00:42:16,520 --> 00:42:19,239 Speaker 1: what that can mean for a postseason run. So you know, 869 00:42:19,320 --> 00:42:22,520 Speaker 1: the the dudes that watch every minute of film from 870 00:42:22,520 --> 00:42:25,440 Speaker 1: every team are starting to see it as well. And 871 00:42:25,480 --> 00:42:28,840 Speaker 1: I think that, you know, it's not just us that 872 00:42:28,840 --> 00:42:31,200 Speaker 1: that are saying it here on Chargers Weekly, but it 873 00:42:31,239 --> 00:42:34,480 Speaker 1: feels like some of the more you know, independent parties 874 00:42:34,840 --> 00:42:36,399 Speaker 1: that are just telling it like it is or starting 875 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:39,319 Speaker 1: to see it as well. Hey, money, listen on this. 876 00:42:39,920 --> 00:42:42,800 Speaker 1: The seventh seed in the AFC, all right now. No, 877 00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:46,480 Speaker 1: we've talked about potential upsets three to six. I mean, 878 00:42:46,719 --> 00:42:50,239 Speaker 1: would you be surprised if if Pittsburgh gets in and 879 00:42:50,760 --> 00:42:53,399 Speaker 1: you know, I wouldn't play Cincinnati or has to play 880 00:42:53,480 --> 00:42:57,520 Speaker 1: Kansas City and it's close, you know, New England, I 881 00:42:57,520 --> 00:43:00,319 Speaker 1: would not be surprised at all. I mean, look, they 882 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:05,799 Speaker 1: are they're certainly limited offensively, but defensively, you know, having 883 00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:08,719 Speaker 1: to contend with Cam hey Warden and TJ wat up 884 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:11,879 Speaker 1: front and Mika Fitzpatrick on the back end and Mike 885 00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:14,600 Speaker 1: tom and the coach. You know, it will not surprise 886 00:43:14,719 --> 00:43:19,480 Speaker 1: me at all because I do not suspect the Patriots. 887 00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:22,520 Speaker 1: I just I don't. I don't think the Patriots are 888 00:43:22,520 --> 00:43:25,440 Speaker 1: a very good team. So I would be really really 889 00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:27,799 Speaker 1: surprised if they were able to go into Buffalo and 890 00:43:27,800 --> 00:43:30,440 Speaker 1: get a win over the Bills. Now, certainly there are 891 00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:34,520 Speaker 1: extenuating circumstances, and there's an emotional toll that that game 892 00:43:34,520 --> 00:43:35,920 Speaker 1: took on the Bills. You don't know what kind of 893 00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:39,600 Speaker 1: headspace they'll be in, But from just a straight football standpoint, 894 00:43:40,080 --> 00:43:43,520 Speaker 1: I would view that as a likely Bill's route of 895 00:43:44,080 --> 00:43:47,480 Speaker 1: the Patriots. And then that opens the door. And I 896 00:43:47,520 --> 00:43:51,560 Speaker 1: don't know exactly, you know, pardon my ignorance, but I'm 897 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:54,480 Speaker 1: not quite sure exactly how it works out. So I think, 898 00:43:55,040 --> 00:43:58,040 Speaker 1: you know, it would have to be Pittsburgh needs to win. 899 00:43:59,239 --> 00:44:03,319 Speaker 1: New England needs to lose, and the Dolphins need to lose. 900 00:44:03,440 --> 00:44:05,759 Speaker 1: The Dolphins need to lose two to the Jets, which 901 00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:10,720 Speaker 1: is possible because the Dolphins are starting sky Skyler Thompson. Yeah, 902 00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:14,719 Speaker 1: and that Jets defense is really good. Yeah, and you 903 00:44:14,719 --> 00:44:16,839 Speaker 1: would you would think the Jets, you know, they're gonna 904 00:44:16,840 --> 00:44:20,000 Speaker 1: finish you. You're strong, I would, you know, even though 905 00:44:20,600 --> 00:44:22,560 Speaker 1: even though they went on this losing skid, I think 906 00:44:22,560 --> 00:44:25,120 Speaker 1: they exceeded expectations for a majority of the year. Like 907 00:44:25,160 --> 00:44:26,840 Speaker 1: you said, they sell have a pretty good defense, and 908 00:44:27,320 --> 00:44:29,000 Speaker 1: you know, I'm sure Salah is going to have his 909 00:44:29,120 --> 00:44:31,560 Speaker 1: guys wanted to finish the season the right. I think, 910 00:44:31,560 --> 00:44:32,920 Speaker 1: if I'm to put it this way, I think if 911 00:44:32,920 --> 00:44:34,920 Speaker 1: you would ask me who would I want in the seven, 912 00:44:35,400 --> 00:44:38,400 Speaker 1: I'd want Miami. You know, I'd want Miami. Give to 913 00:44:38,600 --> 00:44:41,160 Speaker 1: another week to recover. Hopefully he's okay. I don't know 914 00:44:41,160 --> 00:44:42,600 Speaker 1: if they have they shut Have they said they're shutting 915 00:44:42,640 --> 00:44:44,160 Speaker 1: him down for the season or I don't think they have, right, 916 00:44:44,200 --> 00:44:47,000 Speaker 1: I don't think they have. But it's so Sundays not happening. 917 00:44:47,040 --> 00:44:49,160 Speaker 1: I don't think, No, it's not. So let's just say 918 00:44:49,160 --> 00:44:52,040 Speaker 1: two it gets healthy. I think given all of my 919 00:44:52,920 --> 00:44:54,400 Speaker 1: you know, if I want to see all the wild 920 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:57,279 Speaker 1: Cards win and the Chargers have a crack at at 921 00:44:57,640 --> 00:45:01,080 Speaker 1: host in a playoff game in the AFC, championship. Um, 922 00:45:01,880 --> 00:45:05,600 Speaker 1: I think I would like to see Miami in that slot, 923 00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:10,600 Speaker 1: just because you know, of all the of all the 924 00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:13,600 Speaker 1: challenges that each of those teams present. You know, a 925 00:45:13,640 --> 00:45:17,279 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick coach defense, you know, with with Udon and 926 00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:21,040 Speaker 1: Uche upfront, Judon and Uche upfront, you know, and what 927 00:45:21,080 --> 00:45:25,600 Speaker 1: Bill's able to do defensively, the offense just stinks. It stinks, 928 00:45:25,719 --> 00:45:28,440 Speaker 1: and I just can't see it keeping up with you know, 929 00:45:29,160 --> 00:45:32,440 Speaker 1: with Buffalo or Cincinnati. How fun would how fun would 930 00:45:32,520 --> 00:45:35,480 Speaker 1: uh Tyreek Hill going back to Kansas City, That's what 931 00:45:35,520 --> 00:45:37,799 Speaker 1: I mean, Like if you would be fun, right if 932 00:45:37,800 --> 00:45:40,440 Speaker 1: you if you had if you had Tyree, you know, 933 00:45:40,520 --> 00:45:44,319 Speaker 1: to try to contend with Tyreek and Moss, Dirt and 934 00:45:44,480 --> 00:45:48,320 Speaker 1: Wilson and Gisecki and Waddle, like, that's just a lot 935 00:45:48,360 --> 00:45:51,880 Speaker 1: of offense that can really get on you in a hurry. Um. 936 00:45:51,960 --> 00:45:57,640 Speaker 1: So I think that's probably the best option. Um. I agree. 937 00:45:57,120 --> 00:45:59,040 Speaker 1: You know, as much as I love the Steelers and 938 00:45:59,040 --> 00:46:01,000 Speaker 1: they're grind it out, I just I think it would 939 00:46:01,040 --> 00:46:03,400 Speaker 1: look like last year when the Steelers snuck in and 940 00:46:03,440 --> 00:46:05,200 Speaker 1: then they got into that playoff game and it's like, yeah, 941 00:46:05,239 --> 00:46:06,920 Speaker 1: that's not a playoff team, you know, a way to go, 942 00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:09,280 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin, you rally the guys. They had no business 943 00:46:09,360 --> 00:46:11,319 Speaker 1: having a winning record and getting into the playoffs, but 944 00:46:11,320 --> 00:46:14,200 Speaker 1: they're there and they don't belong there. I think that's 945 00:46:14,239 --> 00:46:19,120 Speaker 1: perhaps what you might see. So so Miami so can't 946 00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:22,920 Speaker 1: see byam would be awesome. Miami played Buffalo up in Buffalo, 947 00:46:23,040 --> 00:46:24,840 Speaker 1: I think a week after they played the Chargers and 948 00:46:25,040 --> 00:46:27,360 Speaker 1: she layed them. Well should have beat them, Yeah, they 949 00:46:27,400 --> 00:46:29,440 Speaker 1: should have. They should have won that game. Yeah, and 950 00:46:29,440 --> 00:46:32,600 Speaker 1: then then Cincinnati. They went to Cincinnati. That's where two 951 00:46:32,640 --> 00:46:35,600 Speaker 1: got hurt. M So you know that game was a 952 00:46:35,640 --> 00:46:38,080 Speaker 1: little bit different. So you know, the Dolphins, I agree 953 00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:39,560 Speaker 1: with you. I think that that's the one you want. 954 00:46:39,719 --> 00:46:43,439 Speaker 1: That would be an intriguing seven seed. If if two 955 00:46:43,560 --> 00:46:46,040 Speaker 1: is right, and you know we've seen them win five 956 00:46:46,080 --> 00:46:47,400 Speaker 1: in a row lose five in a row, they can 957 00:46:47,480 --> 00:46:50,560 Speaker 1: get hot, you know, Like imagine you're the Bills, Bengals, 958 00:46:50,719 --> 00:46:55,000 Speaker 1: Jaguars or Titans and your first round opponents are the Chargers, 959 00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:57,919 Speaker 1: the Ravens and the Dolphins. Like it's yeah, that that's 960 00:46:57,960 --> 00:47:01,320 Speaker 1: the AFC. You know, it's it's it's stacked. You're talking 961 00:47:01,360 --> 00:47:06,120 Speaker 1: about justin Herbert Lamar Jackson and if it's Ta Tuah 962 00:47:06,160 --> 00:47:10,880 Speaker 1: plus Waddle Tyreek Hill, like that's those are the wild 963 00:47:10,960 --> 00:47:13,359 Speaker 1: card teams that you will have to contend with. So 964 00:47:14,200 --> 00:47:16,800 Speaker 1: uh it or Burrow or Joe Burrow is the wild 965 00:47:16,840 --> 00:47:19,839 Speaker 1: card with Jamar Chase, you know, like it's yeah. So 966 00:47:20,040 --> 00:47:23,160 Speaker 1: that's why I said the keeping the five is paramount 967 00:47:23,719 --> 00:47:27,480 Speaker 1: because you look, you could end up hosting a divisional 968 00:47:27,520 --> 00:47:31,440 Speaker 1: game if every wild card team wins, you know, you 969 00:47:31,480 --> 00:47:35,719 Speaker 1: could host the divisional round and potentially the AFC Championship, 970 00:47:36,080 --> 00:47:38,120 Speaker 1: you know, and I don't think again, there were people 971 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:41,759 Speaker 1: talking about Miami as a potential Super Bowl contender when 972 00:47:41,760 --> 00:47:43,520 Speaker 1: they traded for Bradley Chubb. Oh look at that. They're 973 00:47:43,560 --> 00:47:45,279 Speaker 1: all in. I believe this team can win the Super Bowl. 974 00:47:45,320 --> 00:47:47,560 Speaker 1: You can't stop tight, you know, talking heads were saying 975 00:47:47,600 --> 00:47:51,480 Speaker 1: that again, Lamar Jackson when he's on the field, Baltimore 976 00:47:51,520 --> 00:47:55,120 Speaker 1: is a nightmare to contend with that running game, you know, 977 00:47:55,239 --> 00:47:57,880 Speaker 1: with with Edwards and Dobbins and Lamar Jackson, that is 978 00:47:57,920 --> 00:48:00,839 Speaker 1: a mess. So that's so I get, you know, win 979 00:48:00,920 --> 00:48:04,000 Speaker 1: this game in Denver, get the five, and let's see 980 00:48:04,000 --> 00:48:06,960 Speaker 1: how this thing plays out. So as we close, you 981 00:48:07,000 --> 00:48:09,600 Speaker 1: know what I'd like for Chargers fans. I'd like for 982 00:48:09,680 --> 00:48:12,000 Speaker 1: them to enjoy the game on Saturday Night. I'd like 983 00:48:12,080 --> 00:48:15,960 Speaker 1: for Baltimore to lose, and I'd like for the Chargers 984 00:48:16,000 --> 00:48:18,480 Speaker 1: fans to have a stress free week eights. Right, They've 985 00:48:18,480 --> 00:48:20,160 Speaker 1: been through it, been through a lot, to your buddy, 986 00:48:20,160 --> 00:48:22,680 Speaker 1: a lot of games, a lot of a lot of 987 00:48:22,719 --> 00:48:24,279 Speaker 1: down to the wire, a lot not a lot of 988 00:48:24,400 --> 00:48:27,000 Speaker 1: We're gonna make the playoffs, and you know I want to. 989 00:48:27,120 --> 00:48:29,480 Speaker 1: I want everyone to exhale in week eighteen before we 990 00:48:29,600 --> 00:48:34,520 Speaker 1: get to walk our weekend. Man, I love it. We'll 991 00:48:34,600 --> 00:48:36,880 Speaker 1: end on that. Uh, I'll see you. I'll see you 992 00:48:36,920 --> 00:48:39,480 Speaker 1: this weekend. Everyone. Stay safe if you're in La in 993 00:48:39,520 --> 00:48:42,680 Speaker 1: the rain, and UH always appreciate you watching and listening 994 00:48:42,760 --> 00:48:44,720 Speaker 1: for money. I'm Chris has been Chargers Weekly.