1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: The late fifteen ten touchdown. What's up, guys, Welcome into 2 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,440 Speaker 1: a week seventeen edition of Chargers Weekly, as always, joined 3 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: by Matt Buddy Smith on location this week. Happy New Year, 4 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 1: my man, it's coming up. Yeah, Happy New Year, everybody. 5 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: Happy Holidays. I stuck, I pulled the Urban Meyer, but 6 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: thankfully I behave myself. I stayed back in the hometown 7 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: after the team did not hop on the team charter. 8 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 1: I came in a couple of days early. I'm from 9 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: northwest Indiana, so the schedule makers did me some sweet 10 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 1: favors for the Christmas season. Got to see the family 11 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: for the first time in like five years on Christmas. 12 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: I was nice. And then instead of flying back with 13 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: the team, stayed here. And then our friends at a 14 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: certain airline decided to start canceling flights at a rapid rate, 15 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: and I got quite concerned. But as of right now, 16 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: knock on a sure microphone, my flight will take off 17 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: tomorrow and I won't have to run a scramble drill 18 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: and figure out how to be at this game on 19 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: New Year's Day. Dude, some of those images from the 20 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 1: airport are unbelievable. Like you said, we don't name the airline, 21 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: but I mean overall, just travel has been ridiculous this week. Yeah, selfishly, 22 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: if if they know how to take care of me, 23 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: then we're good. We're okay. It's still be it. Well, 24 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: Bunny's still in the Midwest, basking in the Chargers twenty 25 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 1: to three win over the Colts, clinching a playoff berth 26 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: for the first time since twenty eighteen. And money, you know, 27 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: I think we say it every week, talked about Justin Herbert, 28 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: you know, winning games on the arm of Justin Herbert. Well, 29 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: this was all about the defense man and the defense 30 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: has played unbelievable the last three weeks. And you could 31 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: throw out the caveat it was Nick Foles. It was 32 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: a Colts team that didn't really have much to play for, 33 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: but I don't really think that mattered. One hundred and 34 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: seventy seven total yards, seven sacks, three pick oh for 35 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: ten on third down. This team has been so dominant 36 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: on third down over the last three weeks. And you 37 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,519 Speaker 1: talk about a team I think peaking at the right time, 38 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: especially on the defensive side of the ball. I mean, 39 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: this is I think what we kind of expected throughout 40 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: the year. He had so many injuries, but a switch 41 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: kind of flipped here, and this team has played really 42 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: good defense. Yeah, they found a rhythm, you know, they 43 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: certainly have, and I think it I think, you know, 44 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: the caveat probably has to be dropped in there. This 45 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 1: Colts team has been really bad all season, but it 46 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: gets wiped out because of what they did against Tennessee 47 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 1: and Miami. So this is just the third game in 48 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: a row where the defense has looked like this. They're 49 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: sacking the quarterback. They're the best team in the league 50 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: on third down. You mentioned zero on Monday Night previous 51 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: two weeks, three apiece, so I think it's three four 52 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: three if I remember right, three for ten for the Raiders. 53 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: I want to say maybe the Dolphins had three and 54 00:02:57,960 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: two of them if I remember right, we're on that 55 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: final drive when they were playing pre event, or one 56 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: of them at least, and then I think four for 57 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: the Titans. So it's it's not just a one game. Oh, 58 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: you just took advantage of a miserable Indianapolis squad starting 59 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: Nick Foles for the first time and you know, twelve 60 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: months so again you play who's in front of you, 61 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 1: and they look that was a I think it was 62 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: a high pressure game. You know, anytime, you know, you 63 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: always hear it, right, like, oh they here's the magic number. 64 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: It's one, and then you know you hear about We 65 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: hear it every year, right. There's these baseball teams that 66 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: go on these six game losing streaks when all they 67 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: gotta do is win one to punch their ticket, or 68 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: you know the way it works in basketball, and like 69 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: close out games are tough, and the NFL is a 70 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: little different because you're not playing the same opponent or 71 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: anything like, or an opponent multiple times. But you have 72 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: that in front of you. It's like, hey, if you 73 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: don't get it here, okay, well now you gotta you know, 74 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: get back home and face a Rams team that won 75 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl last year, even though they've been terrible year. 76 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: And then after that it's a Broncos team whose defense 77 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: has been number one in the league. You know. So 78 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: it's a high pressure game and the defense came to play. 79 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: That's where they were going to make their bones. That 80 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: Indianapolis Colts defense has been good all year. That front 81 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: has been really good all year. I had a feeling, 82 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: we talked about it, Chris, that this was going to 83 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: be you know, a little bit of a struggle for 84 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 1: the offense because of that interior rush of DeForrest Buckner, 85 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:23,840 Speaker 1: and that proved out, you know, to be the case. 86 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: Quitty pay was great. Their linebackers are really good. Stefank 87 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: Gilmour has been great in the secondary. So, you know, 88 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: I think we knew it was gonna that that if 89 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: this was gonna be a recipe for a victory to 90 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: punch their ticket to the playoffs, it would probably have 91 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: to be on the backs of the defense. And you know, 92 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: I'll just quickly add, you know, Kyle van Noy has 93 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: really found his place in this defense after struggling, I 94 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: shouldn't say struggling, but after just trying to get his bearings, 95 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: you know, and and figuring out, okay, I'm playing edge 96 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: the whole time, you know, and getting a rhythm in 97 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 1: that position. It's it's finally showed. And man as it showed. 98 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: He's he's been one of the best players on the 99 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: field for either team in each of these last three games, 100 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: and certainly that was the case on Monday. Yeah, he 101 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 1: was on McAfee two and he it really off the 102 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: field two money. I think he said he was hurt 103 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: not playing his best at the beginning in the middle 104 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: of the years, so he was kind of hesitant to 105 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: to kind of be that vocal leader in the locker room. 106 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: But these last three weeks he's come on and he 107 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: has kind of felt the um like it's okay now 108 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 1: to to have these player led meetings. And he said 109 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: it on Patch show, he said, I'm a winner. He 110 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: goes everywhere I've gone, I've gone, I win UM. And 111 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 1: you know, if you don't like the way, uh, you know, 112 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: we hold you accountable too bad. This is this is 113 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,359 Speaker 1: what it is. And I've seen some of these guys Sebaston, 114 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: Joseph Day, Khalil Mack, Kyle Vanno, guys who weren't here 115 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: last year, who they brought in because a they knew 116 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: the system would be they were they were leaders in 117 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: their own right and they had one of a different spots. 118 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: You're seeing those guys really start to take ownership of 119 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: this defense. And then you add in the fact that 120 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: guys like Drew Tranquil, second year in the system, Nasaderly, 121 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: Michael Davis, guys who had been here before who were 122 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: trying to kind of find their way in this system. 123 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: They found their way. Although he Gillin's another guy man 124 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: who's been just so steady all year long. That fourth 125 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: and one where he jumped over the line, he said 126 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: he was channeling his inner Troy Palamalu pulling Nick Foles back. 127 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,719 Speaker 1: I mean, those are the types of guys that have 128 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: really kind of set the tone late in the season. 129 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: And we don't even mention Derwin. James Derwin didn't play 130 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: the last two weeks. That was one of the more 131 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: vicious hits you're ever going to see. But I love 132 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: what Brandon Staley said after the game. They set their 133 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 1: guy up. That was their fault, not on and that's 134 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 1: what Listen, you can't tell me that. First of all, 135 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: I know Derwin. I know Derwin's attent. Derwin just plays 136 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 1: freaking hard, and that I have to believe got the 137 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: defense up a little bit like, oh okay, this is 138 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,559 Speaker 1: what we're doing, you know. And Darwin sacrifices his body. 139 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: You know, he's in concussion protocol right now. But it 140 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: just shows you when this team's healthy, and hopefully they 141 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: get Joey Bosabek at some point, they could be a 142 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: force in January. Yeah, look, I think you just to 143 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: that particular play and I Obviously I'm calling the game, 144 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: so I don't know, but I guess Troy, you know, 145 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 1: went on a pretty healthy rant about how upset he 146 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: was about it, and you said it. You know, we're 147 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: we're biased because we're around Derwin. We love Derwin. He's 148 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: one of the best dudes you'll ever be around. Um, 149 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: but it's just not in his character. He's not a 150 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 1: dirty player. He never has been. Respects the game, respects 151 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: his opponent, you know that weekend and week out, and 152 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: Brandon Staley said it perfectly. Nick Foles absolutely set him up. 153 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: I mean, that ball is floating out there, Derwin is 154 00:07:57,960 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: you've got to be able to see him just sitting 155 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: there behind him. As long as that ball is up 156 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: in the air, he's got a chance to, you know, 157 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,239 Speaker 1: really break on it. And I think ultimately what happened, 158 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: and I'm you know, you'd have to ask him, but 159 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: because the concussion, you can't talk to him. But I think, 160 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: you know, I think he was going for the ball, 161 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: like That's what my view of it was, and it 162 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: kind of happened right in front of where we were 163 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: calling the game. Is the ball was caught a little 164 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: bit high, and it looked like Derwin was kind of 165 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: just coming in to put his body in his head 166 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: right on that ball to try to pop it out 167 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 1: to force the incompletion. And you know, Derwin, unfortunately is 168 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: a victim of his own genetics. He's so big that, yeah, 169 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: he's not your average size defensive back. He's two inches 170 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: taller and fifteen pounds heavier than you're average, and just 171 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: as fast, if not faster than more explosives. So like 172 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:53,599 Speaker 1: you combine all that, and those are the kind of 173 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 1: collisions you get. I get the whole flag because look 174 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: when you drop your head to try to pop it out. Yeah, 175 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 1: bought the guy on the chin because of where he 176 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: was coming in. But it wasn't it wasn't a target. 177 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: It wasn't like he was trying to lower his head 178 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: to crack this guy in the skull and do that 179 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 1: kind of damage to me. It was like Durwin kept 180 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: saying and screaming on the sideline. I hit his shoulder. 181 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: I hit his shoulder, Yeah I did, you know, So 182 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 1: it's unfortunate. I'm happy that there was no additional discipline. Now, 183 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,319 Speaker 1: I just hope that he's okay and that he's able 184 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,439 Speaker 1: to come out because as you said before he left. Boy, 185 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: what an impact he put on that game. I mean, 186 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 1: his pressure forced the interception that Michael Davis got and 187 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: then he intercepts the ball himself. Was just a remarkable 188 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: grab to get that knee down, you know, on that 189 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: that right sideline and it was play. It was kind 190 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,719 Speaker 1: of building toward one of those signature Drwin games. You 191 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: just felt like a sack was coming for him. You know, 192 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: it's going to be a sack, interception, maybe there's a 193 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: forced fumble in, there's something like that, and it's a 194 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: reminder of how much he can impact the game. You 195 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: mentioned to Lowie and and I think kind of one 196 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,319 Speaker 1: of the things that this particular group has done and 197 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: who knows if it would have happened way because they're 198 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: young players and they're just getting more experienced. So there 199 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: should be you know, this this arc of you know, 200 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 1: of production that that continues in an upward trajectory. But 201 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 1: you know, Alloe Chris Rump, who's now had saxon back 202 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: to back games, Brandon Phohoko, how well he's played at 203 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: the point of attack. You know, perhaps under guys like 204 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: Austin Johnson and Sebastian Joseph Dan having those guys around him, 205 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: that helps Phohoko, that helps Gazziano get his first career sack. 206 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 1: He had a tip ball, you know, things like that. 207 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 1: So I think you make a great point, which is 208 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: sometimes it's not necessarily in the box score. But it's professionalism, 209 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: it's experience, it's veteran leadership. It's the stories about Khalil 210 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: Mack taking these young guys out that are you know, 211 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: undrafted practice squad, Pahokos, Gaziano's, Davison's, you know, building this camaraderie, 212 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: picking up the tab you know, on these nice dinners, 213 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: letting them know how appreciated and how important they are. 214 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: Kyle van Noy's leadership, you know, winning Super Bowls, being 215 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: a winning player from a winning culture, helping to guide 216 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: the path of this is what we have. This is 217 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: what it looks like in December, and this is what 218 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: it looks like in January. And this is how you 219 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,559 Speaker 1: get to a neutral field in February and play for 220 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: the Lombardi. I think all that is now coming out 221 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: because it can because now you've punched your ticket and 222 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: now you're in the tournament, and now you're not looking ahead. 223 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 1: You are you know, you are focused on playoff seating 224 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: because there's a lot of it, and I know we're 225 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: going to get into it. There's a lot of variants 226 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 1: and where this Chargers team can end up and other 227 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: teams can end up. And I can only imagine how 228 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: much is on the plate of those advanced scouts as 229 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: they're trying to figure out, okay, what is art because 230 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: you always have to, you know, the advanced scouts have 231 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: to look two three games in advance, and they're trying 232 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,559 Speaker 1: to put together this puzzle of what the Charger is 233 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: going to be doing. I sat down with Sebastian yesterday 234 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: just to talk about him playing his former team. But 235 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 1: I asked him, I said, you know, for the fans, 236 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: they probably point to that Miami game as the start 237 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: of Okay, this is when the defense really started to 238 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: come on. I said, when did you kind of notice 239 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: that this was going to be something? And he said, 240 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: actually it was the Raiders game. He's like, the way 241 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: that they started that Raiders game with three and out 242 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: the pick six Bryce Callahan, and then it just kind 243 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 1: of got sideways. But he said, you know, we kind 244 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: of knew then, like all right, this defense kind of 245 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: has figured it out a little bit, and I go 246 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: back to that that play in Arizona Money. We're talking 247 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: about this on Monday. I still believe that that that 248 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 1: two point play was really the pivotal moment of this season. 249 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: I think guys really did at that point, you know, 250 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: start to believe that, hey, we got something here. Now 251 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: we put ourselves in a position. You know, we do 252 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: this podcast every week then, and it's I think it's 253 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: very easy for fans to be kind of prisoner of 254 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 1: the moment. Like when things are going good, you're really excited. 255 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 1: When things are not going great, you're you're really down 256 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: and negative. But it just shows you a seventeen game season, 257 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 1: this team's nine and six. A lot of this has 258 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 1: not been pretty, but look at where they are right now. 259 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: You know they're in prime position to get the fifth 260 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: seed if they just went out in Baltimore loses a 261 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: game or I think I saw something yesterday where if 262 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: since he loses out, since he could be the one 263 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: seed or the sixth seed. Man, Like, that's how tight 264 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: this AFC is. The Chargers have played the Chiefs games 265 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,719 Speaker 1: by a field goal, two games by a field goal. 266 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: So you can't tell me that the Charges is the 267 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: fifth seed don't have a good as shot as any 268 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: to make noise in the postseason. Yeah, just going back 269 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: to that Raiders game, completely agree, and like, look, there's 270 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: a reason why the third down stats go back to 271 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 1: that game because the defense was dominant for a healthy 272 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: chunk of that game, and just things you know, get sideways, 273 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 1: and it's and I guess, you know, if you want 274 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: to focus on sort of what Okay, so what went 275 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 1: Ron went back and watched every drop back and every 276 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: offensive play in the Colts game, and I think it's 277 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,680 Speaker 1: you can trace it back to that Raider game as well. Right, 278 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: So they start, you know, they get the they get 279 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:10,959 Speaker 1: to pick six, they can only convert you know, the 280 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: field goal instead of getting a touchdown on the other turnover, 281 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: and then they start the third quarter with a chance 282 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: to build a lead and build on their lead, and instead, 283 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: you know, it's a fumble and the fumble turns into 284 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: a touchdown, and then the next three and out turns 285 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 1: into a touchdown for the Raiders and they get them 286 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: momentum back. And so I think when when you look 287 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: at the Colts game and it's like, okay, when is 288 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: when are we going to get that offense. I thought, 289 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: when are they going to get that offensive you know, 290 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: when are they get this offensive game? The game where 291 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: you're like, oh, yeah, there we go. There's our thirty 292 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: point game, there's our four hundred and fifty yard game. 293 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: And I, like I said, I think the way the 294 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: Colts defense has been playing all season and just the 295 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: way that the you know, sort of the terms dictate themselves. 296 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 1: You know, you could have punted every possession in that 297 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: game and felt pretty good about, how you know, about 298 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: getting out of there with the win. So I think, 299 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: you know, it's again, it's a defense that piled up sacks. 300 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: What are they have four or five? I think they 301 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: had four if I remember right against the Chargers, I 302 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: think they who the Colts. Yeah, yeah, the Colts game, 303 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: I think it was four. Um, you know bucher Pay 304 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: had one. Yeah. So so you know, and I think 305 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: according to PFF, you know, it was the most pressured 306 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: Herbert's been under all game or all season. So you know, 307 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: it's funny. I got home and four sacks yea, yeah, 308 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: So I got home one in the morning. I drove 309 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: home from INDI next morning, you know, get up whatever, 310 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: talking to the parents and the wife, and the family 311 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: and stuff, and they were like, oh, it was great. 312 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: We were able to sync up your call with with 313 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: the TV, and the whole family was sitting around listening 314 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: to you and DJ and Shannon and and watching it 315 00:15:57,760 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: and it was awesome. And they were like, man, it 316 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: was such a rough game for Herbert though. Man, oof, 317 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 1: that was tough to watch. And it's like, really, I 318 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 1: feel like that at all. I felt like Herbert actually 319 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: played pretty well. And so when I went back and 320 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 1: watched every dropback, I was like, holy crap. I did 321 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 1: not You know, you don't realize the pressures because you're 322 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: in the moment and like that. You know, when I'm 323 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: calling the game, I've got to watch the play, but 324 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: I'm also kind of scanning downfield to see what's open, 325 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: figuring out where he might go to call the completely, 326 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: you know, all that sort of stuff. And and I 327 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: don't think people realized how much pressure he was under 328 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: in that game. I mean, it was it was constant. 329 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: It was a lot he was he was under a 330 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 1: lot of heat. And that's nothing on the offensive line. Well, 331 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I guess it is on the offensive line. 332 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: But again, it's one of the better fronts they're going 333 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: to face all season. I mean, Buckner is an all 334 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: pro level player. Pay has really come on, and we 335 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: know Yannick and Goackway has just been as consistent as 336 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: any edge rusher. You know, I think DJ made the 337 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 1: joke he said if he says, like I think I 338 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: Gus went to coach high school, he would bring Yannick 339 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: and Gotway with him, you know, Like, so I think 340 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: it's and and look he made some And what I'm 341 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: getting at here is, you know, there were some really 342 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:09,919 Speaker 1: good plays that were made in that game that unfortunately, 343 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: you know, weren't that didn't hold. You know, there was 344 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: that long completion to Keenan that got for you know 345 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: that the completion didn't um. It was broken up by 346 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: the ground and by the player. It was a little 347 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: bit behind it. But like that was a twenty five 348 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: yard throw that could have set up a touchdown in 349 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 1: the third quarter. We finally could have had our first 350 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 1: third quarter touchdown perhaps, you know, and Pip gets called 351 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 1: for the hold, which was a hold you know on 352 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 1: that that tossed a parum that was perfect that it 353 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: would have given you a first and ten from the 354 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: twenty nine of Indianapolis. So like things like that, how 355 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 1: about Keenan barely stepping out of bounce exactly Keenan barely 356 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:45,120 Speaker 1: and which, by the way, I don't know if he did. 357 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: I still to this, I don't know if he did. 358 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: It was right in front of us where it happened, 359 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: and I was really surprised they did not take a 360 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 1: look at it. But then, you know, I didn't feel 361 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: like they blew the was the play dead because the 362 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 1: sideline official where Keenan was running is the one that 363 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 1: signal touchdown. So I'm like, well, if he didn't blow 364 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,479 Speaker 1: it dead, who blew the play dead? Because it certainly 365 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: would be irresponsible if any other official blew that play dead, 366 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: then the guy that it was right in front of. 367 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: So I think they just kind of missed that one 368 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: or assumed that he stepped out. Anyway, there was some 369 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: incredible if there was that throw that you know, what 370 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:24,239 Speaker 1: a cool play to dial up for Joe Lombardi, you know, 371 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: the throwback from Kelly and Herbert getting rid of that thing. 372 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:29,400 Speaker 1: Like if you watch that play over and over again, 373 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 1: you will see there is so much pressure in his 374 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 1: lap when he gets that ball. He just hasked to 375 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,479 Speaker 1: flip it and try to get his hand where he 376 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: wants it, and then he throws an absolute seed, I 377 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 1: mean a freaking seed to keenan right in front of 378 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: the hand of an out you know, the outstretched hand 379 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: of a defender. It's the only place you could put 380 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: that ball for that completion. And he does it with 381 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 1: two guys in his face on a throwback trying to 382 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: get his hand set. And I think that overshadowed what 383 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: was the second best throw of the game, which would 384 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: have probably been any other quarterbacks best throw of the game, 385 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: you know, from the week, and that was the little 386 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 1: drop the arm slot side arm around DeForrest Buckner who 387 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: was just about to sack him on a second and 388 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 1: nine to Mike Williams who was bracketed and goes for 389 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: eighteen yards. Like those are the things that just show 390 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 1: up as what forty eight yards of passing that in 391 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:27,679 Speaker 1: the box score, that that doesn't tell the story, Like 392 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: that does not tell you what Justin Herbert did for 393 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: those whatever fifty eight or forty eight yards of passing. 394 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: So Justin has one touchdown pass over the last three weeks. 395 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: Charges of won all three games, And I think if 396 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:46,400 Speaker 1: you're a Chargers fan, I'd be very encouraged by that 397 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,199 Speaker 1: because Justin is making place throughout the game. I do 398 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: believe that they'll get the offense right. I think that 399 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: you'll you'll see a game where they can score twenty 400 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: eight thirty one points and if the defense is planned 401 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:03,120 Speaker 1: like that, then that's the speed. But when you look 402 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,919 Speaker 1: at those status you're like, oh, well, what's what's going on? 403 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: I think the one thing that they have to do 404 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 1: money And you saw this all game Mike Williams four 405 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: for seventy six. All four of those catches came on 406 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,959 Speaker 1: those two touchdown drives. They gotta get Mike involved as 407 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: much as they possibly can. You can never have eighty 408 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: one thrown the ball too enough. I still believe with 409 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: Joshua Palmer too, Like Joshua showed us in the middle 410 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: parts of the season that he could take a heavy 411 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:34,439 Speaker 1: load and make a make an impact. I think a 412 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:36,959 Speaker 1: lot of it though, to your point is the pressure 413 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: that's just Justin's getting. You know, he was hit seven times. 414 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: You said he was sacked four times, but eighty one 415 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: showed up on those two touchdown drives and then like 416 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 1: every other possession the Chargers had, didn't even get targeted. 417 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,719 Speaker 1: So I think they did enough. They knew what they 418 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: had to do to beat the Colts. Austin was great. 419 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 1: They helped control of the clock, they kind of dominated 420 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: the second half. They won by seventeen points. But you 421 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: won't see Indie in mid January. That's when that office 422 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 1: has to get rolling. Yeah, what I what I'm hoping 423 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: you don't see is is you know, an offshoot of Indie. 424 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: It was interesting what they did, so what the Colts 425 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,159 Speaker 1: ended up doing, and again when you go back and 426 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,199 Speaker 1: watch it, unfortunately, I you know, you don't see it 427 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: during the game. I think DJ might have mentioned it. 428 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: I think he did mention it during the game because 429 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,199 Speaker 1: he sees everything. But it really jumped out to me 430 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 1: when I went back and watched all the dropbacks. They 431 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: bracketed Keenan and Mike on every play. Those two guys 432 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 1: two defenders committed. So you've got four defenders committed to 433 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: those two receivers almost every single play. Mike was bracketed 434 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:46,120 Speaker 1: the entire game. There were just there were two guys 435 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,880 Speaker 1: on him the entire game. Keenan, I would say, and look, 436 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 1: somehow Keenan still got eleven receptions out of it. But 437 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 1: I would say, yeah, on eighty percent of his routes 438 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,199 Speaker 1: was bracketed by two guys, and then they were like, 439 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,880 Speaker 1: all right, we can get away with Russia. For we're 440 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 1: going to commit four bodies to these and then we're 441 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 1: going to try to mix and match and hope pressure 442 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: gets home before Herbert can find or one of these 443 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: other receivers can break away from single coverage. And so 444 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: that was their plan and it worked pretty darn well. 445 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: So that you know what the thing is is that 446 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: Indy can do it, you know, because again they've got 447 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: in Gackway, pay Buckner, those guys are all really really 448 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:25,479 Speaker 1: good at rushing the passer, and we know that that's 449 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: what Gus has always done. He always rushes for he 450 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,919 Speaker 1: doesn't believe in blitzen. So, you know, depending on who 451 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:32,640 Speaker 1: they face in the playoffs, it'll be interested to see 452 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 1: if they try to take that model, because I do 453 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 1: think it was. It was effective in getting rid of 454 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:40,640 Speaker 1: Mike and making it very hard for Justin to find 455 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: Mike downfield before the pressure got to him, you know, 456 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 1: before Mike was able to break away. There were a 457 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: couple couple plays in there where I think maybe, but 458 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 1: that's just asking so much. A guy's got a clock 459 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 1: in his head and you kind of get a feel. 460 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:55,159 Speaker 1: You know, Justin is going to get a feel for 461 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 1: what the pressure is and how long he has to throw, 462 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: you know, and he got he got he got tagged, 463 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 1: I think twice on balls that he probably should have 464 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:04,199 Speaker 1: got rid of. But I think he was just so 465 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:06,920 Speaker 1: frustrated in trying to let those routes develop that were 466 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:08,679 Speaker 1: just very hard for him to get because of the 467 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:12,439 Speaker 1: double coverage that Mike was facing. So you take that 468 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: piece of it, and again that's frustrating, but there's just 469 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: a lot that you kind of said to get to. 470 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 1: So the other thing is, yeah, he's got one touchdown 471 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: in the last sting ten quarters, right, and three interceptions 472 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: in the last ten quarters. So if and I brought 473 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 1: this up on the on the broadcast with DG, I said, hey, 474 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 1: if you if you were to draw it up, and 475 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 1: I said, hey, you know what, Justin's gonna throw three 476 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,400 Speaker 1: picks and no touchdowns in ten quarters, but you're gonna 477 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: get five rushing touchdowns and the ground game's gonna average 478 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:43,119 Speaker 1: over four yards per carry. How you feel about that? 479 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 1: He's signed me up, Sign me up for as unbalanced 480 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: as it's been all season. You know, when you look 481 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,679 Speaker 1: at the totals, I want to say, I want to 482 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: say there's six hundred it's around six hundred and thirty 483 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 1: ish attempts pass attempts, and I think it's around three 484 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty rush attempts. Like, that's how out of 485 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: balance we are right now on this team, run to 486 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: pass so to be able to try to get that 487 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,679 Speaker 1: balance back in tow as the playoffs come around and 488 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: you don't know if you're running their past and you 489 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: have to honor those play actions because we know how 490 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 1: effective those have been. I think that's that may be 491 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 1: what we're setting up here is Joe Lombardi is trying 492 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: to get this thing back in balance for film, for 493 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:25,679 Speaker 1: teams that are like, all right, give me, give me 494 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 1: the last five games, cut up the last five games. 495 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:29,199 Speaker 1: What are we looking at? I think you've got to 496 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: have so much more of that balance for teams to 497 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: have to prepare for. And then I think, just if 498 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: I'm gonna nitpick, because I'm sure we'll probably move on 499 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,199 Speaker 1: from dy here and shift, but like, if I'm gonna nitpick, 500 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 1: there's a couple like there's a couple things. I just 501 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: don't want to see on that third and goal. Why 502 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 1: is Keenan coming off the fields? That's the one guy 503 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: I don't want to come off the field. You know. 504 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,160 Speaker 1: There was a really and I didn't understand the package 505 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 1: at all. It was it was param McKitty and Everett. 506 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 1: He brought in three tight ends and they all went 507 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,199 Speaker 1: out in the pattern and it was it was a 508 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: very strange. It was just a real strange calls. And 509 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,199 Speaker 1: I think just beyond that, I don't ever want to 510 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:16,640 Speaker 1: see Keenan Allen off the field on third down and 511 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 1: he was upset, like when they didn't get the touchdown. 512 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 1: He was he was freaking hot and he was he was. 513 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: He was in Staley's ear and I think he was. 514 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: It was funny because DJ's like, hey, I think Keenan's 515 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:29,959 Speaker 1: sharing the same opinion you have right now because he 516 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: was and I and I get it. It's like, man, 517 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 1: the guy's unstoppable. That's not what just let's not overthink it. 518 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,399 Speaker 1: I get trying to you know, hey, I've been sitting 519 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 1: on this one for a while. Let's put this one 520 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: out there and see if they know what we're about 521 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:47,160 Speaker 1: to do. I get it, but I'm more comfortable going 522 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 1: with thirteen eighty one. Let's let's get thirteen thirty and 523 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: eighty one out there and let the chips fall as 524 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:57,639 Speaker 1: they may. Uh. The other thing is on that first drive, 525 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 1: third and a half yard. Come on, man, let's just 526 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: the guy seven for seven. He's seven for seven. Let's 527 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: just get him under there, get the half first downs, 528 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,679 Speaker 1: not touchdowns. Let's go. Um and they got back to 529 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 1: that later in the game. You know where it was 530 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 1: just right up the gut. Yeah. Um So, Keenan, still 531 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:22,879 Speaker 1: you talk about being bracketed fourteen targets. I had to 532 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 1: I was just looking at the snapcouts, Bunny as you 533 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:29,360 Speaker 1: were talking to Gerald. Everett wasn't even targeted. I think 534 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 1: he was on the field for fifty four percent of 535 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 1: the time, so that that kind of Uh, I'd have 536 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,560 Speaker 1: to go back and see why he wasn't targeted. Like 537 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:39,400 Speaker 1: you mentioned that one param play was was awesome. Ty 538 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 1: Trey had the holding call. But um, but Gerald is 539 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:44,919 Speaker 1: is a guy that they they're gonna have to get involved. 540 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: I guess when when you when you do try to 541 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:50,120 Speaker 1: take eighty one and thirteen out of the game. Um, 542 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:54,120 Speaker 1: Gerald and Joshua and obviously Austin he's been catching balls 543 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 1: all all season. Um, but I found that curious. I 544 00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: was like, did Gerald play in the game? Yeah? He was. 545 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: Well again, I think, you know, the Indie because of 546 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 1: how bad they've been offensively, how app they've been offensively, 547 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,199 Speaker 1: the defense has unfortunately been overshadowed. Gus has done an 548 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: exceptional job. And look if they know, you know, and 549 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: I'm guessing Gus very well could end up looking for 550 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 1: another job this offseason, you know, because of the you know, 551 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: frank gets fired, so don't know what his future is. 552 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 1: But their linebackers are really good. They're they're really good, 553 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: um okaraka Zaire Franklin, They're really really good. And I 554 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,439 Speaker 1: think you saw a lot of that. Um you know, 555 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: you just saw their effectiveness, whether it's in coverage, rush 556 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: in the passer, their ability to tackle right away. They 557 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 1: did a really look, it was just it was a 558 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:50,200 Speaker 1: good defensive effort from Indianapolis. And you know, and and Herbert. 559 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: I think, you know, again, while the stats aren't eye popping, 560 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 1: you know, thirty one attempts for two hundred and thirty 561 00:27:56,800 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 1: five yards, still seven and a half per the Chargers, 562 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 1: you know, when you go through team stats, they converted 563 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: fifty percent of there are not quite fifty percent of 564 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: their third downs. They went on a little bit of 565 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: a role there though on third downs, and then they 566 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:13,879 Speaker 1: hit a little bit of a lull, but they you know, 567 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 1: they won the game by seventeen points, you know, And 568 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:19,439 Speaker 1: I think it's it's complimentary football. I think that's what 569 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: people have to remember, Like, when the defense is playing dominant, 570 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 1: it doesn't necessarily mean the offense has to blow a 571 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 1: team out. A lot of it could be complimentary football. 572 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 1: It could be, Hey, that was a pretty rough interception there. 573 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 1: Let's make sure that doesn't happen again, you know, with 574 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: the pressure. Finally, that's the first you know, that's the 575 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 1: first lost fumble of Herbert's career. When you think about 576 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 1: how much pressure that guy's been under his entire career, 577 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 1: how many sacks that he's taken, how many pressures he's taken, 578 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: that's the first time he's ever lost a fumble. He's 579 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: fumbled before, but he's been able to corral it or 580 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:49,959 Speaker 1: someone else has. But it's the first time he's ever 581 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 1: lost fumble. So I think my guess is his coach, 582 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 1: you know, might have called in the adjustment of you know, 583 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 1: defense is on fire. The Colts they they can't do 584 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: much here, so let's make sure we play it conservatively. 585 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: And they did, and I thought it, you know, went 586 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:10,400 Speaker 1: pretty damn well. It did. And just to give you 587 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: some perspective on how dominant the defense was, those three 588 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 1: points came on those basically those two fifteen yard penalties 589 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 1: by Dorwin on that one drive and then they were 590 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:24,120 Speaker 1: they were fourth in one inside the twenty because of 591 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: that fumble, that Herbert fumble. Right. Other than that, the 592 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 1: defense they didn't even come close. Now men come close 593 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: to the red zone. No. One hundred and seventy total yards, 594 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 1: three and a half yards per play, zero for ten 595 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:40,640 Speaker 1: on third down, one for four on fourth down, time 596 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: of possession eight minutes more like it's it was just, 597 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 1: you know, and you look at penalties and that's the 598 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: only like you said, six penalties for sixty yards on 599 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 1: the chargers, that's what really kind of got them those 600 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 1: three points and perhaps made it twenty three instead of 601 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:57,239 Speaker 1: twenty eight or thirty one to three. Yeah, all right, hey, 602 00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 1: let's take a quick break. We'll go back on the 603 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 1: other side, will talk rams and playoff seating. All right, guys, 604 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 1: introducing Ultimate Chargers. It's the free to play next level 605 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 1: fantasy football game. Open packs collect players, pick your lineup 606 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: and crush the competition. Ultimate Chargers play now inside the 607 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,920 Speaker 1: La Chargers app. Also want to remind you to play 608 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: the Chargers Picks now. The official LA Chargers Pickup Contest 609 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 1: is where you predict the game outcomes for a chance 610 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: to win a Chargers Jersey. Check out the free to 611 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 1: play Chargers Picks tab and the La Chargers App to 612 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 1: play and for every game this season, when the Chargers 613 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: defense gets an interception, you can score a free chicken 614 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:39,520 Speaker 1: sandwich when you buy one at your local Popeyes. Visit 615 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:44,480 Speaker 1: Chargers dot com slash promotions to learn more. So Money. 616 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 1: The Battle of Los Angeles New Year's Day at SOFI Stadium. 617 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 1: The Rams crush the Broncos really put that that organization 618 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 1: in the tailspin this week, scoring fifty plus points. And 619 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:05,239 Speaker 1: I'll say this, the Rams, they're they're not tanking, they 620 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 1: don't have a pick. McVeagh is coaching the heck out 621 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: of Baker Mayfield right now, and they're gonna be ready 622 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 1: to go on Sunday. Yeah. Look, Baker's plan for his career. 623 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 1: We know what a gamer he is. I mean, he's 624 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: a freaking guy that you know, was the number one 625 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: overall pick. You know, there's a reason you got all 626 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: these evaluators got didn't go number one, he was gonna 627 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:27,800 Speaker 1: go top ten. So there were number of people that 628 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 1: thought he was franchise quarterback. He was for a second 629 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:34,960 Speaker 1: in Cleveland. He's obviously faced a lot of adversity throughout 630 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 1: his career with the coaches that he's had to play for, 631 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 1: the chaos in Cleveland heading down to Carolina, where you know, 632 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 1: it seemed like it was a pretty rough go under 633 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 1: Matt Rule, who got fired in the middle of the season, 634 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 1: and now he's got to figure out how to learn 635 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 1: a playbook, you know, for a team that's got one 636 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: of the worst offensive lines statistically, has a running back 637 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 1: that was benched for four or five games and reportedly 638 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:02,280 Speaker 1: had it out with his head coach before they finally 639 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 1: kind of had a little bit of a peace pipe 640 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 1: meeting and were able to sort things out. No triple 641 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 1: crown winner from last year in Cooper Cup, you know, 642 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 1: in a defense that's you know down Aaron Donald, the 643 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 1: best player in the NFL so and all he did 644 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:18,560 Speaker 1: was hang fifty one. Now granted some of those were 645 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 1: defensive scores, but was put up fifty one on you know, 646 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 1: the best defense points wise in football. You know, nobody 647 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: has allowed fewer points this year than the Denver Broncos. 648 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:32,920 Speaker 1: And this guy puts a fifty burger on him. So look, 649 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 1: one thing I noticed is he took what they gave him. 650 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 1: It was all tight ends. It was I mean, Higbie 651 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 1: had a monster day and it was just and Baker 652 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 1: did a great job. You know, he was able to 653 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 1: move away from pressure. I watched all of his drop 654 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 1: backs as well. He played a really really good game. 655 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:53,880 Speaker 1: When he was under pressure, he hung in, you know, 656 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 1: long enough to let a route develop. But he really 657 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 1: used his tight ends. It was a lot of Bryson 658 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 1: and Higbee and he also used his backs a lot. 659 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:08,480 Speaker 1: I think, you know, between Van Jefferson and Powell I 660 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: can't remember, oh and at Well, it just seemed like 661 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 1: they were barely involved. So you know that's where hopefully 662 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 1: knock again, Derwin's you know, good to go, because that's 663 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 1: you know, if that's how you want to do it, 664 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:22,479 Speaker 1: just throw him on Higbee and be like all right, 665 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:25,640 Speaker 1: eleven targets, nine catches Derwin. Here you go, budd, go 666 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: go knock that out. Let's see if he's got a 667 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:30,480 Speaker 1: counter to that. So McVay is a great play caller. 668 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:32,320 Speaker 1: You know, he's in the conversation as the best in 669 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,520 Speaker 1: the league, and I'm sure he dialed that up specifically 670 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:39,080 Speaker 1: for what the Broncos defense was presenting. And you would 671 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:43,959 Speaker 1: assume he's he knows Sean he looked. Brandon Staley knows 672 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 1: Sean McVay. Sean mcmayno's Brandon Staley. They know each other 673 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:48,560 Speaker 1: really well. So it'll be interesting to see how these 674 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: two guys are are scheming it up to try to 675 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:53,480 Speaker 1: knock the other out, because we know both of them 676 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 1: are exceptional play callers on each side of the ball 677 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:59,400 Speaker 1: that they call plays for. As bad as Baker looked 678 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 1: at the beginning of the year, it just goes to 679 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 1: show you what an awesome play caller an offensive head 680 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:08,280 Speaker 1: coach Sean McVeigh is for him to come in moments 681 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 1: notice and to play the way he's playing. And listen, 682 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:15,319 Speaker 1: Chargers fans maybe should give the Rams a gift basket, right. 683 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: They completely buried the Raiders in any chance of the 684 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:21,920 Speaker 1: Playoffs a couple of weeks ago in the last seconds 685 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 1: and put the Raisors into a tailspin where they're gonna 686 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:31,840 Speaker 1: have a new quarterback next year. Yeah, they unfortunately, Yeah, unfortunately. 687 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:33,680 Speaker 1: For as hard as I've been on Derek Carr on 688 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 1: my radio show repeatedly the chart, you know that the 689 00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 1: Petros and money side of me has really enjoyed taking 690 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 1: shots at car. The Chargers play by play side of 691 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:46,879 Speaker 1: me is like, now, I keep that guy there as 692 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:50,319 Speaker 1: long as possible because I know he's got a couple 693 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:53,120 Speaker 1: of wins and a couple of big wins against the Chargers. 694 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: But I don't ever feel like I say, wow, Derek 695 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:59,239 Speaker 1: Carr really won them that game. Now, last year in 696 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:03,560 Speaker 1: Week eighteen, it was Max Crosby and Josh Jacobs really 697 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:06,759 Speaker 1: won them that game. Uh, same goes, you know with 698 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:08,840 Speaker 1: the pick six and stuff back and whatever. It was 699 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 1: Week thirteen, Week twelve. So yes, unfortunately, the Raiders are 700 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:17,279 Speaker 1: going to have a new quarterback next year. And I 701 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:19,960 Speaker 1: wouldn't be surprised, Chris, if we're playing Tom Brady twice, 702 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:23,200 Speaker 1: you know next year, that would not surprise me at all. 703 00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 1: I think, you know, when you're talking about a team 704 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:31,520 Speaker 1: that is desperate to do something now you know that 705 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,919 Speaker 1: that wants to get this done. You know, Davante Adams thirty. 706 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:37,759 Speaker 1: So it's not like, you know, Darren Waller, these are 707 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:41,759 Speaker 1: these are all players that are seasoned Vets. I don't 708 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:44,160 Speaker 1: it doesn't you know, Max Crosby. It does not line 709 00:35:44,239 --> 00:35:47,240 Speaker 1: up as a, oh, we're going to draft our quarterback 710 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:49,839 Speaker 1: of the future and uh, you know, figure it out 711 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:52,400 Speaker 1: in the next two three years. Does not feel like that. 712 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 1: It feels like it's a let's reunite somebody with Josh 713 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:59,680 Speaker 1: McDaniels that he's worked with before. And look, we thought 714 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 1: this was going to happen this year when when they 715 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:05,640 Speaker 1: arrived in Las Vegas, that the car was going to 716 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 1: be out, that it was going to be a figure 717 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 1: out a way, you know, to get Garoppolo there or 718 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,359 Speaker 1: get you know, maybe Tom Brady. And remember that's that's 719 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,000 Speaker 1: now come out that that that was the place that 720 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:19,480 Speaker 1: he thought he was going before he went to Tampa 721 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:21,480 Speaker 1: and he was like, you're sticking with that guy, you know, 722 00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:23,799 Speaker 1: And there was an expletive in there, You're kidding me. 723 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:27,400 Speaker 1: So it's clear that Tom seemingly wanted to go to 724 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:30,319 Speaker 1: Las Vegas to play for the Raiders. Um, you know, 725 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:32,480 Speaker 1: grew up in the Bay Area when the Raiders were there, 726 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:34,640 Speaker 1: even though he was a forty nine er guy. So 727 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 1: you know, not to get two sidetracked here, but that 728 00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:45,000 Speaker 1: would be my guests, Garo, Yeah, I think it's Garoppolo, 729 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:48,440 Speaker 1: Brady or Yeah. I just you know, there's a lot 730 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:51,239 Speaker 1: of people that are speculating, Oh maybe you know Bill 731 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:54,640 Speaker 1: Belichick will will bring Derek Carr's not. I just I 732 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 1: can't see that marriage at all. I don't see you know, 733 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 1: I could be wrong, but um, that just doesn't seem 734 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:05,239 Speaker 1: like a fit to me. Derek Carr, Bill Belichick, but 735 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 1: who knows, you know. And they're talking about maybe if 736 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 1: he's over Mac Jones, that Mac Jones gets traded back 737 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 1: to Vegas and car goes to New England. But I 738 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:16,520 Speaker 1: just can't see that. I think it's more likely he 739 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 1: gets cut than traded. It's it's such dangerous business to 740 00:37:21,360 --> 00:37:24,759 Speaker 1: have forty million bucks on the books and trust that 741 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:26,280 Speaker 1: a team is going to go through with a trade 742 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:28,400 Speaker 1: that's sort of been agreed to before you can actually 743 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:31,600 Speaker 1: consummated a month later. I think they would just as 744 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:33,640 Speaker 1: soon move on. And that's why he's not playing, so 745 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:36,840 Speaker 1: the injury guarantee doesn't kick in. Yeah, Car's gonna have 746 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 1: a market though. Um. You know, I look at the 747 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:43,080 Speaker 1: team like Arizona or Tampa, Like when Brady does move 748 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:46,160 Speaker 1: on from Tampa, Um, they're gonna need a quarterback. Yeah, Arizona, 749 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:50,640 Speaker 1: they're gonna need a bridge guy until Kyler's ready. But 750 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:56,400 Speaker 1: you know what, what about Lamar Jackson in silver and black? 751 00:37:57,560 --> 00:37:59,279 Speaker 1: I feel like I feel like that they're gonna pull 752 00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:01,239 Speaker 1: out all stops because you said they have they have 753 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:03,040 Speaker 1: the tight end of plays, they got a slack guy, 754 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:04,759 Speaker 1: they got the Vante Adams, they have a heck of 755 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,759 Speaker 1: a running game. And something that stuck to me at 756 00:38:07,719 --> 00:38:09,399 Speaker 1: the beginning of the years, I think Steve Young said, 757 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:12,800 Speaker 1: if you put Lamar Jackson an actual a passing offense 758 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:17,200 Speaker 1: with with with a passing guru, um, look at what 759 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:19,279 Speaker 1: he will do, look at what he could accomplish. Hey, 760 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:23,000 Speaker 1: I as as again as the play by play person 761 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:25,160 Speaker 1: for the Chargers, I'd be off that. Yeah, let me 762 00:38:25,239 --> 00:38:27,319 Speaker 1: let me know. I do want it. I absolutely want 763 00:38:27,480 --> 00:38:29,759 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, do you want to put Lamar Jackson into 764 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:32,120 Speaker 1: a passing offense and ask him to drop back and 765 00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 1: try to distribute. Let's go, let's go bring that in. 766 00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:37,320 Speaker 1: There's a reason the Baltimore Ravens built the offense the 767 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:42,080 Speaker 1: way they built it um because that's that's what's a 768 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:44,880 Speaker 1: complete nightmare for teams. You know, when you're able to 769 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:47,680 Speaker 1: level the numbers because a guy can take off and 770 00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:50,840 Speaker 1: run and now you've got wide receivers that can block, 771 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:53,600 Speaker 1: and tight ends that can block, and a running game 772 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:55,960 Speaker 1: that can you know, that's two hundred and thirty pounds 773 00:38:55,960 --> 00:38:58,400 Speaker 1: and you're rotating three four guys, and that's a nightmare. 774 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:01,319 Speaker 1: You know. The one thing that gets the Ravens every 775 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:05,880 Speaker 1: year is when Lamar drops back to throw and they're 776 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:08,640 Speaker 1: not making first downs, and like, I'll never forget the 777 00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:12,920 Speaker 1: wild Card Maybe you know, my sort of approach in 778 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:16,439 Speaker 1: my position is distorted, because man, when we went into 779 00:39:16,440 --> 00:39:20,799 Speaker 1: play that wild Card game and I was floored at 780 00:39:20,840 --> 00:39:23,279 Speaker 1: their approach, I was like, what do you guys not 781 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:26,640 Speaker 1: remember what happened three weeks ago in Los Angeles when 782 00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:29,640 Speaker 1: you ran the ball down the charger's throats and Lamar 783 00:39:29,800 --> 00:39:32,719 Speaker 1: was freaking running and all these dudes were running the 784 00:39:32,719 --> 00:39:34,520 Speaker 1: ball and they come out and they start throwing it 785 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:37,680 Speaker 1: around and next thing you know, you got incomplete passes, 786 00:39:38,040 --> 00:39:41,200 Speaker 1: you got scrambles instead of designed runs where you're getting 787 00:39:41,239 --> 00:39:43,480 Speaker 1: you're fumbling the ball and the Chargers go up two 788 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:47,680 Speaker 1: scores and they can't recover. So by all means, thanks 789 00:39:47,680 --> 00:39:50,359 Speaker 1: Steve Young, drop them in there. It'll be interesting though, 790 00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:52,120 Speaker 1: because that's going to cost the two first round picks, 791 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:53,360 Speaker 1: and I do think a team would be willing to 792 00:39:53,400 --> 00:39:56,320 Speaker 1: give it up if they put that franchise tag on Lamar. 793 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:59,080 Speaker 1: I could totally see a team giving that up. But 794 00:39:59,120 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 1: I and again, I think you have to design the 795 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:05,799 Speaker 1: offense specifically for his exceptional skill set. I mean, he's 796 00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:07,719 Speaker 1: an incredible player, and I would be all for it 797 00:40:07,719 --> 00:40:09,520 Speaker 1: if I didn't have a quarterback a hundred percent. I'd 798 00:40:09,560 --> 00:40:11,399 Speaker 1: give up to first for that guy. But I do think, 799 00:40:12,160 --> 00:40:15,920 Speaker 1: you know, you've got to design something specifically for his 800 00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:18,799 Speaker 1: unique talents because he is unlike any other quarterback in 801 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:22,520 Speaker 1: the league. And I don't think it's drop him back 802 00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 1: and let him distribute. I just don't think that's the 803 00:40:24,239 --> 00:40:27,719 Speaker 1: effective way to do it. Yeah, maybe not so much 804 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:31,239 Speaker 1: drop him back, but like he's never had a Davante Adams. No, No, 805 00:40:31,360 --> 00:40:33,560 Speaker 1: you're right, you know, so you get him a weapon 806 00:40:33,640 --> 00:40:36,800 Speaker 1: like that, and yeah, I think that's fairy and Darren 807 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:39,120 Speaker 1: Waller and you know, pass catchers and stuff, But yeah, 808 00:40:39,160 --> 00:40:43,759 Speaker 1: I think, hey, I've got it. It'll be fun. The 809 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:46,640 Speaker 1: speculation of Lamar Jackson and silver and Black has gotten 810 00:40:46,760 --> 00:40:50,560 Speaker 1: exactly off Wales. Basically, the reason we even got to 811 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:52,840 Speaker 1: this point is because the Rams wrecked the Rator's season. 812 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:57,320 Speaker 1: The Rams put the dagger in the Broncos season. Daniel 813 00:40:57,360 --> 00:41:00,680 Speaker 1: Hackett fired, and you know, I don't I don't necessarily 814 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:02,040 Speaker 1: think we need to go like, Okay, what do the 815 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:04,280 Speaker 1: Charges need to do to win? To beat the Rams? 816 00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:05,680 Speaker 1: They just have to keep doing what they're doing. They 817 00:41:05,719 --> 00:41:08,640 Speaker 1: have to play great on third down. I'd like to 818 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:11,080 Speaker 1: see this offense experiment a little bit more and get 819 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:14,719 Speaker 1: ready for January. And then that second half, scoring the 820 00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:17,640 Speaker 1: third quarter, come out strong in the third quarter. I 821 00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:19,560 Speaker 1: think they really do have to figure that out because 822 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:24,160 Speaker 1: when you're playing postseason football, every freaking quarter counts, man, 823 00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:27,240 Speaker 1: and that third quarter has been a liability for this team. 824 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:30,440 Speaker 1: And again they were rolling, you know, that first drive 825 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:33,400 Speaker 1: of the third quarter. They're rolling. It's working, you know, 826 00:41:33,440 --> 00:41:34,719 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden you get that holding 827 00:41:34,760 --> 00:41:38,360 Speaker 1: penalty and it becomes first and twenty instead of first 828 00:41:38,360 --> 00:41:40,360 Speaker 1: and ten from the Indianapolis twenty nine. It just feels 829 00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:43,919 Speaker 1: like there's been one of those every single game. So yes, 830 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:46,879 Speaker 1: I would love to see it. I like the game plan. 831 00:41:47,480 --> 00:41:50,239 Speaker 1: It's it might have been, and I should have done 832 00:41:50,239 --> 00:41:52,920 Speaker 1: the work before we started the podcast. Shame on me 833 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:56,000 Speaker 1: being lazy, but I want to say it was the 834 00:41:56,040 --> 00:41:57,759 Speaker 1: first game we've had this season where they had more 835 00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:01,120 Speaker 1: rush attempts than pass attempts. You know, thirty one, you know, 836 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:04,399 Speaker 1: past attempts, thirty two rushes, So you know, let's see 837 00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:05,879 Speaker 1: more of that. I would love to see it. Keep 838 00:42:05,880 --> 00:42:09,680 Speaker 1: it balanced. And you know, Josh's averaging, Joshua's averaging four 839 00:42:09,719 --> 00:42:12,359 Speaker 1: point two I think per carry, Austin Eckler's averaging four 840 00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:16,600 Speaker 1: point one per carry. We got two rushing touchdowns. They 841 00:42:16,640 --> 00:42:18,960 Speaker 1: did it again. You know, they did it against Miami, 842 00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:22,920 Speaker 1: they did it against UM, they did it against Arizona, 843 00:42:22,960 --> 00:42:25,360 Speaker 1: well not every soon they did against Miami, did against Tennessee, 844 00:42:25,480 --> 00:42:29,839 Speaker 1: and now they did it against UM the Colts where 845 00:42:29,840 --> 00:42:33,799 Speaker 1: they had a clock consuming second half drive. You know 846 00:42:33,880 --> 00:42:38,040 Speaker 1: that that final drive that Eckler scored a second touchdown on, 847 00:42:38,120 --> 00:42:41,319 Speaker 1: it took eight minutes, game's over. You know, think about 848 00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:43,239 Speaker 1: Miami eight and a half minutes for the field goal 849 00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:45,640 Speaker 1: to put them up two scores, game is over. You know, 850 00:42:45,800 --> 00:42:47,719 Speaker 1: those are the things to get me excited because that's 851 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:51,000 Speaker 1: playoff football. That is, can you run the four minute drill? 852 00:42:51,080 --> 00:42:53,839 Speaker 1: Can you convert third downs? Can you keep them off 853 00:42:53,840 --> 00:42:56,560 Speaker 1: the field as they're standing on the sidelines watching the 854 00:42:56,600 --> 00:42:59,600 Speaker 1: games slip away from them, you know, just sucking the 855 00:42:59,640 --> 00:43:02,839 Speaker 1: hope from them, you know, in terms of victory because 856 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:04,960 Speaker 1: they can't get you off the field. Those are the 857 00:43:04,960 --> 00:43:07,440 Speaker 1: things that I'm excited about with this team, you know, 858 00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:10,520 Speaker 1: as the playoffs approach against the Rams, look, they we 859 00:43:10,600 --> 00:43:12,719 Speaker 1: said it. They had six sacks last week. I know 860 00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:15,440 Speaker 1: the Broncos offensive line hasn't been great, but you know, 861 00:43:15,480 --> 00:43:18,400 Speaker 1: the Rams, again, it's another team with a good front. 862 00:43:18,719 --> 00:43:22,320 Speaker 1: You know, Leonard Floyd is you know, even without Aaron Donald, 863 00:43:22,680 --> 00:43:25,440 Speaker 1: you've got guys that can rush the past or specifically 864 00:43:25,560 --> 00:43:28,239 Speaker 1: Leonard Floyd, who's a really good pass rusher. And I 865 00:43:28,280 --> 00:43:29,960 Speaker 1: think after that game, I want to say he's now 866 00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:31,680 Speaker 1: double digit sacks. I don't remember. I think he had 867 00:43:31,719 --> 00:43:36,160 Speaker 1: two in that game. He might have had anyway, He's 868 00:43:36,200 --> 00:43:39,200 Speaker 1: he's coming up on, you know, on double digit sacks 869 00:43:39,160 --> 00:43:41,239 Speaker 1: if he's not already there. I know Bobby Wagner had one. 870 00:43:41,280 --> 00:43:43,880 Speaker 1: Now I'm looking at the box. Murchison had a couple. 871 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:47,160 Speaker 1: So they can get to the quarterback twelve quarterback hits 872 00:43:47,680 --> 00:43:50,359 Speaker 1: last week. Now, Look, Russell has been a giant disappointment 873 00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:52,880 Speaker 1: this season and does not look mobile at all despite 874 00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:54,680 Speaker 1: being a mobile quarterback. So a lot of that plays 875 00:43:54,680 --> 00:43:57,640 Speaker 1: into it. But I think it's another test for this 876 00:43:57,760 --> 00:44:00,640 Speaker 1: offensive line to see if they can give Justice, you know, 877 00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:03,400 Speaker 1: some time to throw the ball and take advantage of 878 00:44:03,400 --> 00:44:07,160 Speaker 1: opportunities that present himself downfield. I let's look at the 879 00:44:07,160 --> 00:44:10,080 Speaker 1: playoff picture real quick, because the Charges have all but 880 00:44:10,280 --> 00:44:13,160 Speaker 1: locked up the six seed, right so right now, well, 881 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:15,200 Speaker 1: they need one more win to lock up that six right, 882 00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:18,120 Speaker 1: one more, right, one more, it's official, they'll officially it 883 00:44:18,239 --> 00:44:19,920 Speaker 1: be no worse than six if they get one of 884 00:44:19,960 --> 00:44:22,480 Speaker 1: these two. So win against the Rams or the Broncos 885 00:44:22,560 --> 00:44:25,319 Speaker 1: get to the sixth seed, guaranteed the seventh seed. Right now. 886 00:44:25,520 --> 00:44:29,600 Speaker 1: The Miami Dolphins to in concussion protocol, probably not going 887 00:44:29,640 --> 00:44:31,840 Speaker 1: to play this Sunday, may not play again, may not 888 00:44:31,880 --> 00:44:35,879 Speaker 1: play again this year. So they have the Patriots who 889 00:44:35,920 --> 00:44:39,239 Speaker 1: are seven or eight, and the Mike White New York 890 00:44:39,320 --> 00:44:43,360 Speaker 1: Jets could win out and punch their ticket as the 891 00:44:43,440 --> 00:44:46,879 Speaker 1: seventh seed. So that's all interesting, but what's in front 892 00:44:46,880 --> 00:44:49,719 Speaker 1: of the Chargers is more important. Here we talked about 893 00:44:49,800 --> 00:44:53,399 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson if he does come back, who knows, they 894 00:44:53,440 --> 00:44:55,960 Speaker 1: could be the three seed if they went out, and 895 00:44:56,200 --> 00:44:59,399 Speaker 1: who knows, the Chargers could potentially go to Baltimore. So 896 00:44:59,440 --> 00:45:02,680 Speaker 1: that's a like, here's if we're if we're getting into it, Chris, Like, 897 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:08,160 Speaker 1: here is my look. Ideal scenario for me is Bengals 898 00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:11,319 Speaker 1: win out somehow the Chiefs drop one of these final two. 899 00:45:11,440 --> 00:45:13,400 Speaker 1: It's not likely, but like, that's if you want to 900 00:45:13,440 --> 00:45:17,479 Speaker 1: have the best case. There's your best case. Why because 901 00:45:17,520 --> 00:45:20,480 Speaker 1: if that happens, the Bengals become the one seed. The 902 00:45:20,560 --> 00:45:23,160 Speaker 1: Bills and the Chiefs very well, we'll have to play 903 00:45:23,160 --> 00:45:25,520 Speaker 1: each other in the divisional round, and that's what you want. 904 00:45:25,560 --> 00:45:27,880 Speaker 1: Can you get those two teams to play one another 905 00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:30,560 Speaker 1: so you don't have to face them both? I think 906 00:45:30,719 --> 00:45:34,319 Speaker 1: is the is the best case? Right, So if the 907 00:45:34,360 --> 00:45:38,240 Speaker 1: Bengals knock off the Bills, the Bills then slipped to two, 908 00:45:38,600 --> 00:45:41,680 Speaker 1: the Bengals the Bengals. I should say the Bills slipped 909 00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:44,560 Speaker 1: to three, the Bengals go to two, Chiefs go to one. 910 00:45:44,600 --> 00:45:47,080 Speaker 1: But remember the Bengals knocked off the Chiefs in Cincinnati, 911 00:45:47,160 --> 00:45:49,640 Speaker 1: so if there's a hiccup there by the Chiefs now 912 00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:51,360 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, the Bengals go to numbers. So 913 00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:57,280 Speaker 1: that's best case for me. Second best case is the Bengals, 914 00:45:57,320 --> 00:46:01,440 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, lose out again. They lose to the Bills, 915 00:46:01,760 --> 00:46:04,839 Speaker 1: and then they lose to the Ravens. The Ravens end 916 00:46:04,960 --> 00:46:09,320 Speaker 1: up winning the AFC North get to the number three spot. 917 00:46:09,360 --> 00:46:12,200 Speaker 1: The Bengals if the Chargers went out follow me here, 918 00:46:12,640 --> 00:46:16,279 Speaker 1: then slip all the way down to the six. So 919 00:46:16,400 --> 00:46:20,400 Speaker 1: now you have Chargers, Jags, or Titans in the first round, 920 00:46:21,320 --> 00:46:23,359 Speaker 1: and then you will have, for the third time in 921 00:46:23,360 --> 00:46:27,080 Speaker 1: a season, the Ravens and the Bengals play one another. 922 00:46:27,680 --> 00:46:32,239 Speaker 1: And to me, the best case then is Bengals knock 923 00:46:32,320 --> 00:46:36,640 Speaker 1: off the Ravens as a wild card and they're the 924 00:46:36,680 --> 00:46:39,800 Speaker 1: ones that have to go to Buffalo in the middle 925 00:46:39,840 --> 00:46:43,560 Speaker 1: of January to play that Bills team, while the Chargers 926 00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:45,400 Speaker 1: would then get to go to Kansas City, who will 927 00:46:45,440 --> 00:46:49,480 Speaker 1: have already played a wild card contest against the Dolphins 928 00:46:49,560 --> 00:46:53,240 Speaker 1: or the Patriots or the Jets or whomever is behind 929 00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:56,279 Speaker 1: the Chargers in that and that to me is the 930 00:46:56,400 --> 00:46:59,120 Speaker 1: second best path because now the Chiefs have to beat 931 00:46:59,120 --> 00:47:01,920 Speaker 1: a Chargers team that's been writing all of these games 932 00:47:01,920 --> 00:47:04,879 Speaker 1: with them a third time, which we know is very 933 00:47:04,920 --> 00:47:08,600 Speaker 1: hard to do. So I hope that makes sense. That's 934 00:47:08,680 --> 00:47:11,840 Speaker 1: kind of where, Yeah, I think mapping out all the 935 00:47:11,880 --> 00:47:14,879 Speaker 1: possible outcomes, I don't know where you you know, where 936 00:47:14,880 --> 00:47:17,239 Speaker 1: do you sit? What would you like to see? I 937 00:47:17,320 --> 00:47:19,520 Speaker 1: think I think what I'd like to see is the 938 00:47:19,600 --> 00:47:21,839 Speaker 1: Chargers to win out to get to eleven and six, 939 00:47:22,040 --> 00:47:24,600 Speaker 1: and the Ravens to drop of one to the Steelers 940 00:47:24,760 --> 00:47:28,440 Speaker 1: or the Bengals. In Week eighteen, you go to Jacksonville 941 00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:32,359 Speaker 1: or Tennessee, and then whoever, bring it on, whoever it is, right, Like, 942 00:47:32,440 --> 00:47:35,279 Speaker 1: I think getting to the five seed and having a 943 00:47:35,320 --> 00:47:39,319 Speaker 1: revenge game against Jacksonville or a game against Tennessee and 944 00:47:39,360 --> 00:47:42,600 Speaker 1: Malik Willis on the road can really kind of set 945 00:47:42,680 --> 00:47:45,440 Speaker 1: the tone for the postseason. Either get revenge over the 946 00:47:45,520 --> 00:47:49,160 Speaker 1: Jags or you beat a Titans team. You're feeling good 947 00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:51,799 Speaker 1: going into whatever cold city that's in front of you, 948 00:47:51,920 --> 00:47:55,040 Speaker 1: Like that's I think the most likely scenario to me, 949 00:47:55,120 --> 00:47:58,120 Speaker 1: I think the Chargers are capable of just beating the Rams, 950 00:47:58,120 --> 00:48:01,480 Speaker 1: beating the Broncos, playing the winner of that uh that 951 00:48:01,600 --> 00:48:04,719 Speaker 1: AFC South contest in Week eighteen, which is so weird because, like, 952 00:48:05,960 --> 00:48:08,680 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's one thing to like, uh, rest 953 00:48:08,719 --> 00:48:11,120 Speaker 1: your guys right before a game, but like the Titans 954 00:48:11,120 --> 00:48:14,080 Speaker 1: and Jags are in this really unique situation where whatever 955 00:48:14,120 --> 00:48:17,200 Speaker 1: they do this week has no bearing on Week eighteen 956 00:48:17,239 --> 00:48:19,560 Speaker 1: and getting into the postseason. So like you're seeing the Titans, 957 00:48:19,680 --> 00:48:22,040 Speaker 1: they're resting a bunch of dudes. I mean, they really 958 00:48:22,080 --> 00:48:25,719 Speaker 1: can't rest guys that guys hurt. But um, Dallas is 959 00:48:25,760 --> 00:48:29,280 Speaker 1: going to get a very watered down Titans team on Thursday. 960 00:48:29,320 --> 00:48:30,600 Speaker 1: I don't know what the Jags are going to do 961 00:48:30,640 --> 00:48:33,920 Speaker 1: against the Texans, but um, I just want I want 962 00:48:33,920 --> 00:48:35,439 Speaker 1: to see the Chargers move up to the five seed, 963 00:48:35,640 --> 00:48:37,120 Speaker 1: and I think the best path is to have the 964 00:48:37,200 --> 00:48:39,640 Speaker 1: Ravens drop one of these two. I think it makes sense. Yeah, 965 00:48:39,960 --> 00:48:41,840 Speaker 1: Ravens either lose to the Steelers or the Bengals to 966 00:48:41,840 --> 00:48:44,200 Speaker 1: close out the season, Chargers went out. One of the 967 00:48:44,239 --> 00:48:48,319 Speaker 1: great things, um, that that I like about the way 968 00:48:48,320 --> 00:48:51,759 Speaker 1: the season is mapped out for the Chargers is week 969 00:48:51,800 --> 00:48:55,359 Speaker 1: eighteen and Denver. So we know that Denver has been 970 00:48:55,400 --> 00:49:00,640 Speaker 1: dealing with some serious weather, um crazy you know, luctuations 971 00:49:00,640 --> 00:49:04,880 Speaker 1: in temperature. It's been down to you know, ten fifteen below. So, like, 972 00:49:04,960 --> 00:49:07,839 Speaker 1: I love the idea of a game that you know 973 00:49:08,040 --> 00:49:12,000 Speaker 1: doesn't have playoff you know, it doesn't have playoff consequences 974 00:49:12,040 --> 00:49:15,160 Speaker 1: attached to it. Playing the cold, you know, to get 975 00:49:15,200 --> 00:49:18,000 Speaker 1: that get that rep before. If you got to go 976 00:49:18,040 --> 00:49:20,440 Speaker 1: to Buffalo, you'll have it fresh, you know, from two 977 00:49:20,480 --> 00:49:22,880 Speaker 1: weeks prior. It's just how you know, this is the 978 00:49:23,000 --> 00:49:25,520 Speaker 1: style of game we played, This is what it felt like. 979 00:49:25,760 --> 00:49:27,600 Speaker 1: This is how you have to prepare your body for 980 00:49:27,719 --> 00:49:32,120 Speaker 1: extreme cold, you know, and get yourself ready now. You know, 981 00:49:32,160 --> 00:49:34,839 Speaker 1: I think anybody that's ever played, you know, or done 982 00:49:34,840 --> 00:49:38,600 Speaker 1: anything competitively knows the role that adrenaline plays. It's it 983 00:49:38,920 --> 00:49:42,280 Speaker 1: really is an incredible thing to have coursing through your body, 984 00:49:42,360 --> 00:49:44,480 Speaker 1: you know, and how it does allow you to to 985 00:49:44,920 --> 00:49:48,960 Speaker 1: compartmentalize and not have external effects really kind of come 986 00:49:48,960 --> 00:49:51,600 Speaker 1: into play as much as you would think they they do. 987 00:49:51,719 --> 00:49:54,160 Speaker 1: But I do think there's something to that. Being able 988 00:49:54,200 --> 00:49:56,719 Speaker 1: to play outdoors in Denver in the first week of 989 00:49:56,800 --> 00:49:59,960 Speaker 1: January before you may have to go to Buffalo or Kansas, 990 00:50:00,360 --> 00:50:04,319 Speaker 1: or Cincinnati or Baltimore. In those elements, I think it's 991 00:50:04,320 --> 00:50:07,080 Speaker 1: going to end up going a long way for this 992 00:50:07,120 --> 00:50:10,640 Speaker 1: team before we get out of here. So the big 993 00:50:10,680 --> 00:50:14,480 Speaker 1: three in the AFC. You know, when I saw Miami 994 00:50:14,560 --> 00:50:16,920 Speaker 1: go into Buffalo a week after the Chargers beat them 995 00:50:17,080 --> 00:50:19,520 Speaker 1: and go to for toe and to see the Jets 996 00:50:19,560 --> 00:50:22,080 Speaker 1: go to for toe with with with the Bills, to 997 00:50:22,080 --> 00:50:25,000 Speaker 1: see the Minnesota Vikings go in there and beat them 998 00:50:25,800 --> 00:50:28,640 Speaker 1: leads me to believe the Chargers have every opportunity to 999 00:50:28,680 --> 00:50:31,960 Speaker 1: go in there and beat the Bills. They beat Cincinnati 1000 00:50:32,080 --> 00:50:35,000 Speaker 1: last year in December, cold weather, up twenty four nothing. 1001 00:50:35,880 --> 00:50:38,640 Speaker 1: They have played the Chiefs in Arrowhead as tough as 1002 00:50:38,719 --> 00:50:41,239 Speaker 1: any team in the NFL. They beat them last year 1003 00:50:41,280 --> 00:50:44,080 Speaker 1: in Arrowhead. So I think a lot of the guys 1004 00:50:44,080 --> 00:50:49,239 Speaker 1: on this roster have experienced beating premium teams, whether it's 1005 00:50:49,280 --> 00:50:52,760 Speaker 1: in the cold, whether it's in their home or visiting stadium. 1006 00:50:53,400 --> 00:50:58,440 Speaker 1: I don't think this this AFC playoff pictures should intimidate 1007 00:50:58,480 --> 00:51:00,880 Speaker 1: the Chargers in any way. Man. I think if they 1008 00:51:00,920 --> 00:51:03,840 Speaker 1: just play who's in front of you, play the defense, 1009 00:51:03,840 --> 00:51:07,160 Speaker 1: you're playing and then you know, I just I truly 1010 00:51:07,160 --> 00:51:11,200 Speaker 1: believe Justin Herbert, he rises to the occasion. And I 1011 00:51:11,239 --> 00:51:13,920 Speaker 1: think that if they can just have everybody messitioned at 1012 00:51:13,960 --> 00:51:17,239 Speaker 1: the right time, this could be a special postseason. Now, 1013 00:51:18,200 --> 00:51:22,680 Speaker 1: at the same token, they may enter January without having 1014 00:51:22,760 --> 00:51:25,719 Speaker 1: beaten a playoff team because there's no playoff teams on 1015 00:51:25,760 --> 00:51:29,480 Speaker 1: their schedule, like the only playoff teams on their schedule Jacksonville, 1016 00:51:29,920 --> 00:51:33,359 Speaker 1: Kansas City, and San Francisco, because if Tennessee drops out, 1017 00:51:33,400 --> 00:51:36,840 Speaker 1: in Miami drops out, those were once playoff teams, not anymore. 1018 00:51:36,960 --> 00:51:40,160 Speaker 1: So what better way to kick it off than like 1019 00:51:40,239 --> 00:51:45,359 Speaker 1: getting revenge on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Right, Yeah, I think 1020 00:51:45,360 --> 00:51:48,279 Speaker 1: we've seen it a million times. You know that the 1021 00:51:48,400 --> 00:51:51,520 Speaker 1: number one seed doesn't end up making the super Bowl, 1022 00:51:51,680 --> 00:51:54,200 Speaker 1: you know there we've seen wildcard teams. You know last 1023 00:51:54,280 --> 00:51:57,560 Speaker 1: year the Bengals, you know, managed to sneak in at 1024 00:51:57,560 --> 00:51:59,560 Speaker 1: the end and they had to win two road games. 1025 00:51:59,600 --> 00:52:01,880 Speaker 1: You know that to win a game, you know it 1026 00:52:02,080 --> 00:52:05,280 Speaker 1: what had Burroke? It's sect nine times. You know, in Tennessee, 1027 00:52:05,280 --> 00:52:07,239 Speaker 1: they win that game, they go to Kansas City, they 1028 00:52:07,239 --> 00:52:10,880 Speaker 1: have a miserable first half, make some adjustments, come alive 1029 00:52:10,880 --> 00:52:13,480 Speaker 1: in the second half, win and overtime in Kansas City. 1030 00:52:13,600 --> 00:52:16,880 Speaker 1: So like it can be done. We've seen it. You know, 1031 00:52:17,000 --> 00:52:20,440 Speaker 1: we saw the Patriots do it right against Patrick Mahomes. Yes, 1032 00:52:20,440 --> 00:52:23,279 Speaker 1: they've been to the AFC Championship game four times, but 1033 00:52:23,320 --> 00:52:25,600 Speaker 1: they lost two of those games in Kansas City, So 1034 00:52:25,719 --> 00:52:29,160 Speaker 1: we've seen them drop. Look, the stats are miss leading 1035 00:52:29,200 --> 00:52:31,960 Speaker 1: in that game against the Bears for Josh Allen. You know, 1036 00:52:32,040 --> 00:52:34,400 Speaker 1: he he did not have a good game. You know, 1037 00:52:34,400 --> 00:52:36,040 Speaker 1: it was the fourth quarter where he was able to 1038 00:52:36,080 --> 00:52:37,680 Speaker 1: have those stats a little bit. You know, he threw 1039 00:52:37,719 --> 00:52:41,200 Speaker 1: bad too bad interceptions. You know, he's kind of been 1040 00:52:41,200 --> 00:52:44,520 Speaker 1: a little hot and cold this season. The defense is 1041 00:52:44,600 --> 00:52:47,719 Speaker 1: really good. But yeah, I'm with you. I don't you know, 1042 00:52:47,760 --> 00:52:50,560 Speaker 1: I don't think there's that There is no elite team. 1043 00:52:50,600 --> 00:52:54,279 Speaker 1: There's no team in either conference, you know, if they're 1044 00:52:54,280 --> 00:52:56,600 Speaker 1: if like if you were to say, hey, of the 1045 00:52:56,680 --> 00:53:00,440 Speaker 1: fourteen team thirteen other teams in the playoffs, are there 1046 00:53:00,480 --> 00:53:04,279 Speaker 1: any that like really concern you? The only one I 1047 00:53:04,320 --> 00:53:07,799 Speaker 1: think I'd probably list is, like, man, that would be 1048 00:53:07,880 --> 00:53:10,400 Speaker 1: really tough is the forty nine ers, just because of 1049 00:53:10,440 --> 00:53:13,759 Speaker 1: how good that defense is. You know, we saw that 1050 00:53:13,840 --> 00:53:16,719 Speaker 1: they shut out the Chargers from basically doing anything in 1051 00:53:16,719 --> 00:53:18,680 Speaker 1: the second half. And they've done that to like every 1052 00:53:18,680 --> 00:53:20,960 Speaker 1: one of their opponents. That's like the only one to 1053 00:53:21,120 --> 00:53:24,439 Speaker 1: me that that And again, they've got an offense where 1054 00:53:24,440 --> 00:53:27,360 Speaker 1: they're playing a rookie quarterback. And we've seen this before, 1055 00:53:28,040 --> 00:53:30,600 Speaker 1: you know, the Gardner Minshoe's story. There's a handful of 1056 00:53:30,600 --> 00:53:33,880 Speaker 1: these in NFL history where these guys come, they catch fire, 1057 00:53:34,440 --> 00:53:36,520 Speaker 1: and then teams start to get a rhythm and a 1058 00:53:36,560 --> 00:53:38,640 Speaker 1: beat on what they're what they like and what they 1059 00:53:38,680 --> 00:53:41,560 Speaker 1: do and where they can attack, and you know, they 1060 00:53:41,680 --> 00:53:44,480 Speaker 1: end up, you know, kind of settling into what perhaps 1061 00:53:44,480 --> 00:53:48,839 Speaker 1: their draft position suggested they should be. So even that's 1062 00:53:48,840 --> 00:53:52,080 Speaker 1: a vulnerability. But I'm with you, I don't think they 1063 00:53:52,120 --> 00:53:55,640 Speaker 1: should fear any of the teams ahead of them. I 1064 00:53:55,680 --> 00:53:58,000 Speaker 1: don't think it matters what the path is. We're just 1065 00:53:58,120 --> 00:54:01,840 Speaker 1: talking about what the preferred path might be. That Jags 1066 00:54:01,840 --> 00:54:04,200 Speaker 1: team will not see the same Chargers team they saw 1067 00:54:04,800 --> 00:54:06,799 Speaker 1: in Week four whatever it was when they saw him. 1068 00:54:06,800 --> 00:54:09,560 Speaker 1: I think it was Week four. It'll be completely different 1069 00:54:09,600 --> 00:54:13,960 Speaker 1: with Rashawn Slater and Joey Bosa and a healthy Justin Herbert, 1070 00:54:14,120 --> 00:54:16,279 Speaker 1: and it's a team that doesn't Yeah, and it's a 1071 00:54:16,280 --> 00:54:20,440 Speaker 1: team that doesn't have experience. You're talking about so much 1072 00:54:20,520 --> 00:54:24,640 Speaker 1: youth and no playoff experience for the great majority of 1073 00:54:24,640 --> 00:54:27,520 Speaker 1: that team out there, you know, whereas the Chargers are 1074 00:54:27,520 --> 00:54:30,000 Speaker 1: going to have Khalil Mack and Kyle van Noy and 1075 00:54:30,120 --> 00:54:33,239 Speaker 1: Sea Bass and Keenan Allen and Mike Way and these 1076 00:54:33,239 --> 00:54:35,399 Speaker 1: guys that have been through it, Todd Gerald evert who've 1077 00:54:35,400 --> 00:54:38,440 Speaker 1: been through it time and time again in the postseason. 1078 00:54:38,600 --> 00:54:41,640 Speaker 1: So I think that gives them a great advantage as 1079 00:54:41,680 --> 00:54:44,839 Speaker 1: well going up against a team like Jacksonville. And just 1080 00:54:44,920 --> 00:54:48,040 Speaker 1: remember too, like remember what this Chargers team went through 1081 00:54:48,120 --> 00:54:52,240 Speaker 1: last year. They went to Philly. It was freezing in Philly. 1082 00:54:53,000 --> 00:54:55,080 Speaker 1: You know. I know Hurts is a bit of a 1083 00:54:55,080 --> 00:54:57,239 Speaker 1: different player now and they added a j. Brown, but 1084 00:54:57,520 --> 00:55:01,120 Speaker 1: Balden hit the ground Justin Herbert. It was awesome in 1085 00:55:01,160 --> 00:55:05,560 Speaker 1: that game, and they won against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial. 1086 00:55:05,760 --> 00:55:07,920 Speaker 1: And I go back to this year too, No Keenan, 1087 00:55:08,520 --> 00:55:12,480 Speaker 1: no Mike in Santa Clara, Justin is hanging with to 1088 00:55:12,640 --> 00:55:15,360 Speaker 1: forty nine ers until the very very end. You lose 1089 00:55:15,600 --> 00:55:18,759 Speaker 1: Christian Covington, you lose Tito a Bonia that game, you 1090 00:55:18,840 --> 00:55:22,880 Speaker 1: are already down, guys, so I want to say that 1091 00:55:22,960 --> 00:55:26,880 Speaker 1: this team over the last two years has been tested 1092 00:55:26,880 --> 00:55:29,480 Speaker 1: by good teams. Even though you may go into the 1093 00:55:29,520 --> 00:55:33,279 Speaker 1: postseason not having beaten a playoff team that's currently in 1094 00:55:33,320 --> 00:55:37,600 Speaker 1: the tournament. Shoot like you, you have been tested this 1095 00:55:37,680 --> 00:55:41,000 Speaker 1: year and you can go back to last year. Largely 1096 00:55:41,000 --> 00:55:43,080 Speaker 1: some of these teams are the same, and the Chargers 1097 00:55:43,080 --> 00:55:47,359 Speaker 1: have delivered. That's all I have to say. I think, Look, 1098 00:55:47,360 --> 00:55:51,040 Speaker 1: I think a lot of times, hey listen to put 1099 00:55:51,080 --> 00:55:52,319 Speaker 1: a rap to put a bow on it for me. 1100 00:55:52,400 --> 00:55:54,520 Speaker 1: I think, you know, we talk about it all the time, 1101 00:55:54,640 --> 00:55:57,160 Speaker 1: and it's a cliche in the NFL. It's not necessarily 1102 00:55:57,200 --> 00:56:00,920 Speaker 1: always the best team. More often it's the hottest team. 1103 00:56:01,080 --> 00:56:03,080 Speaker 1: And if the Chargers going to the postseason having won 1104 00:56:03,120 --> 00:56:06,240 Speaker 1: five games in a row, sitting at six and six, 1105 00:56:06,719 --> 00:56:10,239 Speaker 1: you know that that sixth win coming off a two 1106 00:56:10,280 --> 00:56:12,480 Speaker 1: point conversion at the very end of the game to 1107 00:56:12,560 --> 00:56:15,360 Speaker 1: kind of set the tone or whatever it was I 1108 00:56:15,360 --> 00:56:17,400 Speaker 1: think it was were they they were five and they 1109 00:56:17,400 --> 00:56:19,120 Speaker 1: were five and five. So yeah, they lost the game 1110 00:56:19,160 --> 00:56:22,640 Speaker 1: to the Raiders, but you know, the game against the Cardinals, 1111 00:56:22,640 --> 00:56:24,640 Speaker 1: like you said, they really kind of kicked this thing off. 1112 00:56:24,680 --> 00:56:26,160 Speaker 1: They have a little bit of a hiccup against the 1113 00:56:26,200 --> 00:56:31,360 Speaker 1: Raiders and then dominate, the Dolphins, dominate, the Titans, dominate, 1114 00:56:31,719 --> 00:56:34,600 Speaker 1: you know, the Colts, and just keep rolling, I think, 1115 00:56:35,320 --> 00:56:39,839 Speaker 1: especially if it's you know, especially if it's a defensive 1116 00:56:39,920 --> 00:56:44,000 Speaker 1: lad you know, just watching that the numbers change so dramatically, 1117 00:56:44,320 --> 00:56:46,759 Speaker 1: you know, the third down numbers, the rushing numbers, the 1118 00:56:46,760 --> 00:56:49,080 Speaker 1: total yards numbers, the points per games, these are all 1119 00:56:49,080 --> 00:56:52,240 Speaker 1: categories that the Chargers were like thirty two, thirty one, thirty, 1120 00:56:52,880 --> 00:56:55,839 Speaker 1: and now you're starting to see twenty four, twenty one, 1121 00:56:56,360 --> 00:56:58,680 Speaker 1: twenty five, and you know it's still bottom half, but 1122 00:56:58,719 --> 00:57:01,000 Speaker 1: it's a reminder of Holy Kyle, this team is playing 1123 00:57:01,000 --> 00:57:02,880 Speaker 1: great and they've been the best defense in football the 1124 00:57:02,960 --> 00:57:06,960 Speaker 1: last three weeks. Points, third downs, against the run, against 1125 00:57:06,960 --> 00:57:09,759 Speaker 1: the pass, yards per play, like across the board, DVOA, 1126 00:57:10,239 --> 00:57:13,799 Speaker 1: defensive EPA, like all of that has been Chargers number one. 1127 00:57:14,040 --> 00:57:17,080 Speaker 1: And again, yes it's the Colts, but it's also the Titans, 1128 00:57:17,240 --> 00:57:21,600 Speaker 1: and it's also the Dolphins, So you know it to 1129 00:57:21,680 --> 00:57:23,560 Speaker 1: do it against the Rams, do it against the Broncos, 1130 00:57:23,720 --> 00:57:28,120 Speaker 1: really go in with momentum feeling like, okay, we're that team, 1131 00:57:28,240 --> 00:57:30,680 Speaker 1: the proverbial team nobody wants to face. Here. We come 1132 00:57:31,400 --> 00:57:33,120 Speaker 1: and you put your opponent on its heels a little 1133 00:57:33,160 --> 00:57:35,160 Speaker 1: bit and allow me if in fact they do get 1134 00:57:35,200 --> 00:57:37,120 Speaker 1: the five, I'll just plant the seed right now before 1135 00:57:37,120 --> 00:57:40,080 Speaker 1: everybody else starts belly aching about it. Yes, they need 1136 00:57:40,080 --> 00:57:42,720 Speaker 1: to change it. They need to change If you win 1137 00:57:42,720 --> 00:57:46,560 Speaker 1: your division, congratulations, you win your division. You're in the postseason. 1138 00:57:47,200 --> 00:57:49,400 Speaker 1: But just because you win your division does not mean 1139 00:57:49,440 --> 00:57:52,240 Speaker 1: you get a home game once you get into the postseason. 1140 00:57:52,760 --> 00:57:55,320 Speaker 1: It should lay out by record. It should not lay 1141 00:57:55,360 --> 00:57:58,640 Speaker 1: out by four division winners, three wild cards. It should 1142 00:57:58,680 --> 00:58:01,720 Speaker 1: simply go in order. Um, you win the division, you 1143 00:58:01,720 --> 00:58:04,480 Speaker 1: get into the postseason. That is your reward for winning 1144 00:58:04,480 --> 00:58:07,040 Speaker 1: the division. It does not mean you get slotted ahead 1145 00:58:07,040 --> 00:58:08,840 Speaker 1: of a team that finished with a better record than you. 1146 00:58:09,360 --> 00:58:14,080 Speaker 1: So they go eleven and six and roll into a 1147 00:58:14,560 --> 00:58:18,480 Speaker 1: Jacksonville eight and nine, and people are gonna, you know, 1148 00:58:18,640 --> 00:58:21,280 Speaker 1: they're gonna start again, and I think it's deserved. It 1149 00:58:21,360 --> 00:58:23,520 Speaker 1: does not make sense to allow a team with an 1150 00:58:23,520 --> 00:58:28,040 Speaker 1: eight and nine record to host and eleven and six team. 1151 00:58:28,320 --> 00:58:30,360 Speaker 1: It should be changed. You can get into the playoffs, 1152 00:58:30,560 --> 00:58:33,640 Speaker 1: but you can't host a playoff game. That's what That's 1153 00:58:33,640 --> 00:58:36,800 Speaker 1: what could happen in the NFC too, yeah, Cowboys, they 1154 00:58:36,800 --> 00:58:39,520 Speaker 1: have to go to Carolina or I mean Tampa, I guess. 1155 00:58:39,800 --> 00:58:45,120 Speaker 1: But these these South the South divisions, they may actually 1156 00:58:45,680 --> 00:58:48,000 Speaker 1: lead to change. I hope that happens. Actually, Buddy, that's 1157 00:58:48,000 --> 00:58:50,240 Speaker 1: a good point. Yeah, it doesn't. I don't. I just 1158 00:58:50,240 --> 00:58:52,760 Speaker 1: don't under They're like, well, no, division's got to mean something. 1159 00:58:52,920 --> 00:58:56,160 Speaker 1: It does. You get into the playoff. It does mean something. 1160 00:58:56,200 --> 00:58:58,840 Speaker 1: You have punched your ticket into the tournament by winning 1161 00:58:58,880 --> 00:59:01,760 Speaker 1: your division. But because you have not been as good 1162 00:59:01,760 --> 00:59:04,320 Speaker 1: of a team as the wild card teams behind you 1163 00:59:04,360 --> 00:59:07,520 Speaker 1: through the regular season, you get slotted appropriately. You will 1164 00:59:07,520 --> 00:59:09,600 Speaker 1: be the seventh seat. Every game you play will be 1165 00:59:09,640 --> 00:59:12,320 Speaker 1: on the road because you have the worst record of 1166 00:59:12,360 --> 00:59:15,479 Speaker 1: the tournament teams. And to me, that's I just don't. 1167 00:59:15,600 --> 00:59:18,760 Speaker 1: I can't. I can't figure out what the argument is 1168 00:59:18,800 --> 00:59:23,400 Speaker 1: in favor of keeping them as the you know, as 1169 00:59:23,520 --> 00:59:26,120 Speaker 1: a home team to get a home game in the 1170 00:59:26,120 --> 00:59:27,880 Speaker 1: wild cards just doesn't make any sense to me. I 1171 00:59:27,920 --> 00:59:29,680 Speaker 1: don't know what the position would be. Well, you won 1172 00:59:29,720 --> 00:59:32,840 Speaker 1: your division, Okay, it was a crappy division and you 1173 00:59:33,000 --> 00:59:34,920 Speaker 1: won it, so you got in the playoffs. That's fine. 1174 00:59:35,080 --> 00:59:38,680 Speaker 1: Your record is not as every other tiebreaker, every tiebreaker 1175 00:59:38,720 --> 00:59:42,000 Speaker 1: would see you in the dead last position. So why 1176 00:59:42,040 --> 00:59:45,040 Speaker 1: not honor the tiebreakers? Just just throw that the division 1177 00:59:45,120 --> 00:59:46,880 Speaker 1: crown has got you into the playoffs. Now all the 1178 00:59:46,920 --> 00:59:51,720 Speaker 1: tiebreakers apply. Where do you belong? Slot yourself in? We 1179 00:59:51,880 --> 00:59:55,280 Speaker 1: have a damn there's four teams in the NFC East. 1180 00:59:55,680 --> 00:59:58,320 Speaker 1: They will probably make the playoffs. I mean if if 1181 00:59:58,360 --> 01:00:01,280 Speaker 1: Washington wins out, I think so, and in a Dallas 1182 01:00:01,280 --> 01:00:03,240 Speaker 1: team who may have nothing to play for. In Week eighteen, 1183 01:00:03,800 --> 01:00:06,400 Speaker 1: you can see the Giants, Eagles, the Cowboys, and the 1184 01:00:06,400 --> 01:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Commanders all in the playoffs. And it goes to your point, like, 1185 01:00:09,680 --> 01:00:13,360 Speaker 1: you can't you can't penalize a team just because they're 1186 01:00:13,400 --> 01:00:17,120 Speaker 1: in a really good division. Right, It's very rare to 1187 01:00:17,160 --> 01:00:19,600 Speaker 1: see four teams from a division make the playoffs. And 1188 01:00:19,600 --> 01:00:22,160 Speaker 1: the funny thing is like when the Giants and the 1189 01:00:22,160 --> 01:00:26,720 Speaker 1: Commanders played for that tie, everybody castigated it. They're like, oh, 1190 01:00:26,760 --> 01:00:29,400 Speaker 1: what a stupid move. You gotta win and not and 1191 01:00:29,400 --> 01:00:31,720 Speaker 1: it's like, no, no, look, that's what we'll get both 1192 01:00:31,720 --> 01:00:33,800 Speaker 1: of those teams in the playoffs. I think everybody wants 1193 01:00:33,800 --> 01:00:36,120 Speaker 1: to see the Lions. They're such a great feel good story, 1194 01:00:36,720 --> 01:00:38,880 Speaker 1: you know, rallying here at the close. If they can 1195 01:00:39,280 --> 01:00:41,360 Speaker 1: knock off the Bears, and then you got this, you know, 1196 01:00:41,640 --> 01:00:44,880 Speaker 1: potential win and get in for the Packers and the Lions. 1197 01:00:45,240 --> 01:00:47,520 Speaker 1: If the Packers beat the Vikings this week, that could 1198 01:00:47,560 --> 01:00:50,880 Speaker 1: be the Sunday night, you know, punch your ticket, one guy, 1199 01:00:51,000 --> 01:00:54,840 Speaker 1: one team goes, one team goes home instead, like you mentioned, 1200 01:00:55,560 --> 01:00:58,520 Speaker 1: because of that tie, it's gonna end up, you know, 1201 01:00:58,600 --> 01:01:01,280 Speaker 1: the Giants and the Commanders end up as the seven 1202 01:01:01,360 --> 01:01:03,680 Speaker 1: loss and one tie team instead of eight losses that 1203 01:01:03,720 --> 01:01:06,200 Speaker 1: the Lions and the Packers already have, and it will 1204 01:01:06,200 --> 01:01:08,400 Speaker 1: have saved both of their seasons in terms of getting 1205 01:01:08,400 --> 01:01:12,920 Speaker 1: into the playoffs. What a nutty NFL season it is. 1206 01:01:14,280 --> 01:01:17,920 Speaker 1: Chargers nine to six, though, hoping this team wins out, 1207 01:01:18,040 --> 01:01:19,800 Speaker 1: gets to leven, wins plays with a little bit of 1208 01:01:19,800 --> 01:01:22,840 Speaker 1: momentum money. You've been kind enough to join us on 1209 01:01:22,880 --> 01:01:26,960 Speaker 1: your vacation. I'll got new location. The mic sounds fantastic. 1210 01:01:28,160 --> 01:01:29,960 Speaker 1: You know, you look like you're in a very professional 1211 01:01:30,040 --> 01:01:33,760 Speaker 1: set up over there. Yeah, thankfully. My older brother who's 1212 01:01:34,320 --> 01:01:38,680 Speaker 1: here in Hammond, Indiana, is a bit of a media 1213 01:01:38,760 --> 01:01:42,080 Speaker 1: guy himself. While not necessarily as perfe he's a lawyer, 1214 01:01:42,120 --> 01:01:46,480 Speaker 1: but he does some political stuff back here in the region. 1215 01:01:46,680 --> 01:01:48,680 Speaker 1: And they have their own podcasts, so he's got a 1216 01:01:48,720 --> 01:01:51,000 Speaker 1: full on one of my one, two, three freaking four 1217 01:01:51,040 --> 01:01:53,120 Speaker 1: camera shoot, it's what I'm looking at the other side. 1218 01:01:54,600 --> 01:01:57,360 Speaker 1: And here I'll help the people out real quick. It's 1219 01:01:57,440 --> 01:01:59,920 Speaker 1: kind of funny for those that are watching. So here 1220 01:02:00,040 --> 01:02:02,120 Speaker 1: we go here, if you play the Bears next year, 1221 01:02:02,360 --> 01:02:05,400 Speaker 1: can we do this in Chicago next year? Yeah? Right? 1222 01:02:05,440 --> 01:02:06,600 Speaker 1: Oh you know what. As a matter of fact, I 1223 01:02:06,640 --> 01:02:08,240 Speaker 1: can't do it because we're recording, so I won't let 1224 01:02:08,240 --> 01:02:11,400 Speaker 1: me change it. But anyway, yeah, huge thank you to 1225 01:02:10,680 --> 01:02:14,040 Speaker 1: h to the Left of Center podcast with Mayor Tom 1226 01:02:14,080 --> 01:02:16,720 Speaker 1: and Kevin Smith for letting me use their studio today 1227 01:02:16,760 --> 01:02:19,000 Speaker 1: because yeah, it seemed like it sounded pretty dark. Good 1228 01:02:19,960 --> 01:02:22,280 Speaker 1: shout out to Kevin Smith and Mayor Tom. Here we go, 1229 01:02:22,680 --> 01:02:24,640 Speaker 1: all right, money enjoyed bother and I don't know what 1230 01:02:24,640 --> 01:02:28,320 Speaker 1: they got going here, but ring the bell of tequila. 1231 01:02:28,480 --> 01:02:31,280 Speaker 1: I don't if I won't be drinking any Hey, what 1232 01:02:31,360 --> 01:02:35,080 Speaker 1: time is it over the ten? Ten fifteen? Yeah, ten seventeen, 1233 01:02:35,160 --> 01:02:37,360 Speaker 1: right now in the morning? Wait, wait a few hours? 1234 01:02:37,560 --> 01:02:41,680 Speaker 1: Absolutely all right, buddy, for buddy, I'm Chris. This has 1235 01:02:41,680 --> 01:02:54,680 Speaker 1: been Chargers Weekly. We'll see you at SOFI Stadium. On Sunday,