1 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to playmakers. Everyone. I'm Haley Ellwood. It's week eleven, and, 2 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: like Carrie Underwood says, we will be waiting all day 3 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: for Sunday Night, as the Los Angeles Chargers will face 4 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh Steelers at home on Sunday Night Football on NBC. 5 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: So joining me to talk about this game is NBC 6 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 1: Sports as Michelle Tafoya. Michelle, thank you so much for 7 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 1: joining me. Oh, thanks for having me. Do you guys 8 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: have covered a lot of very interesting Steelers Chargers matchups 9 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: really in recent history. This game has kind of fallen 10 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: into that category two already, But overall, what are your 11 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: thoughts on this matchup? My thoughts right now as we 12 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: speak are who's going to be playing? You know, we 13 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: have some COVID situations on the Steelers side, we have 14 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: some injury situations on the Chargers side. So honestly, there 15 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: are a lot of question marks, and I feel like 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: until we really know who's in and who's out, it's 17 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 1: hard to dissect this game. I know it's kind of 18 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,639 Speaker 1: funny because we're recording this on a Thursday, which usually 19 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: is almost late for a game week, but in this instance, 20 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: it's feels very very early, right, it does? It does. 21 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: I mean, we don't know about Ben yet Roethlisberger, and 22 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: that is so much of you know the Steelers what 23 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: they do and offensively, and of course your offense dictates 24 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: what your defense does. So I think the one thing 25 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: we might know is that Minca Fitzpatrick will not play. 26 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: And this guy's been playing every snap of every game 27 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: for the Steelers, so that is a big loss for 28 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: them in their secondary. But again, we don't know about 29 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: t J. Watt either. As Mike Tomlin said, he's going 30 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 1: to leave the light on for him, but we just 31 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: don't know yet. Well, let's focus on a couple Chargers 32 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: who will be playing in this game, justin Herbert one 33 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: of them. I believe this is your crew's first opportunity 34 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: really getting to see him. What impresses you most about 35 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: what he's accomplished during such a short time in this 36 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: league already? I think that first part that you just 37 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: said he's accomplished it in a short amount of time, 38 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: that he started out so strong, that he looks really 39 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: poised and confident, and I think it's it's interesting. The 40 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 1: one thing I hear is he's just got to find 41 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: his touch or when to use touch and when to 42 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: use velocity on the football in his throws. But you know, 43 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: the composure, the ability to impact a team so quickly. 44 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: And it's not like his last name was Manning or anything. 45 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: You know, this guy came in, I think a little 46 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: bit as an unknown commodity, and it is very quickly 47 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: made himself unknown commodity. So from newer Chargers to maybe 48 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: some older veterans, Keenan Allen is a guy that you 49 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: have followed for a while. He is the longest tenured 50 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: original Charger on this roster. How does he keep getting 51 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: better even though his years are going up in this league? 52 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: You know, it's interesting. I would love to ask Keenan 53 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: that question directly. I talked to a lot of players 54 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: like Chris Harris, another one of your Chargers, guys who 55 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: are have had long careers, and it seems like forty 56 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: is the new thirty in the NFL, that a lot 57 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: of these guys are trying to play a lot longer 58 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: than they used to in this league. I mean, I think, 59 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: obviously Tom Brady sets sets the bar there, but as 60 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: Chris Harris told me, Tom doesn't get hit quite as 61 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: much as as Chris does. So you know, Chris is 62 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: saying saying it's hard to imagine playing eight more years. 63 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 1: Adrian Peterson told us a week ago he wants to 64 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: play until he's forty and thinks he can. So I 65 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: think there's just been a lot of advancement in terms 66 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: of how these guys take care of themselves. Some of 67 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: the old ways of just saying I'm just gonna pump 68 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: iron until my brains explode, you know, aren't aren't the 69 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: necessary paths anymore. They're looking at nutrition, they're looking at stretching, 70 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: they're looking at pliability, as Brady would say, They're looking 71 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: at all these different things that help keep them fit. 72 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: A lot more recovery I think, recovery time than they 73 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: used to use. And so it's been a really interesting 74 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: thing to watch um players get older and older in 75 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: this league. It makes a lot of sense. And Chris Harris, 76 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: he's a great guy to talk to about that too. 77 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: Like you said, Derwin James is back healthy for this 78 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: Chargers group this year. He made such an impact in 79 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: that first Steelers game. What really you know, what do 80 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: you really like about watching his game and the impact 81 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: that he can make on that field. I just like 82 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: players who are versatile, and he is versatility personified and 83 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: all of his teammates will tell you that. And you 84 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: know the energy that he exudes. He just has a 85 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: massive impact. Some of these players, they have an it factor, right, 86 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: and he's got it. And it's something that you know. 87 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: You can have athletic ability, you can have smarts, you 88 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: can have longevity, you can have a variety of traits, 89 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: but there is something called an it factor, and some 90 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,559 Speaker 1: of these guys just have it, and I think he does. 91 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: Is interesting to hear different descriptions of him from energetic 92 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,679 Speaker 1: to versatile to loving that he's a really love being teammate, 93 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: that he cares about his family and the people around him, 94 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: and so um, yeah, it's I'm eager to see, um 95 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 1: you know how he sparks this defense. And then lastly, 96 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: Michelle will kind of peel away from this game for 97 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: a second, but Super Bowl fifty six is on NBC. 98 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: You will be back at SOFI Stadium. Just from a 99 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: kind of your perspective, how fun is it knowing when 100 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: you go into a season like this that you'll get 101 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 1: to see it through until the end. I think it's 102 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: a really good question because it is different and it's 103 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: it's not like any other season, and so on the 104 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: one hand, you really do pace yourself. The light at 105 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: the end of the tunnel is further out. You know, 106 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: you're not stopping in January. You're going the full length 107 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: of the season, and so you do pace yourself, but 108 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: you do know that and it excites you and you 109 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: kind of just keep that in your in your scope 110 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: of vision the whole season through. We're thrilled that it's 111 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: it's so far. I don't have to tell you how 112 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: beautiful a stadium that is. Is What surprised me a 113 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 1: couple of weeks ago when we had the rams there 114 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: was that it gets chilly in that field. And you know, 115 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: you're surprised because it's it's covered, which is great when 116 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 1: it rains, but there's that open end and a lot 117 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: of that that breeze, that coastal breeze gets in there 118 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: and you find yourself shivering. So I packed a little 119 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 1: differently this week than I did two weeks ago. But 120 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: we're excited. It's such a it feels like that stadium 121 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: feels like a big, big, beautiful stage to have a 122 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: massive celebration and a great game on and so um yeah, 123 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: there's no question we every three years when we get 124 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: that Super Bowl. It gives you a different frame of 125 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: mind from the beginning to the middle to the end 126 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: of the season. It is very theatrical. That's kind of 127 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: a good way of putting it. Michelle, Thank you so 128 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: much for coming on. We look forward to seeing you 129 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: on the sidelines on Sunday. Should be a good matchup 130 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: whoever is on the field. Thanks again for having me. 131 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: I appreciate it.