1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, Chris Harry with you on a week seventeen 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,199 Speaker 1: edition of Chargers Weekly. Before we get into our interviews, 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: we're gonna lay out all the probable playoffs scenarios to 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: get you ready for Week seventeen. And of course, the 5 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: scenario everybody's hoping for is a first round buyer for 6 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: the Chargers. Two things need to happen. The Chargers need 7 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: to go to Denver. They need to beat the Denver Broncos. 8 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: Second thing that needs to happen the Raiders, who just 9 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: beat the Broncos on Monday Night Football. They need to 10 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: go to Kansas City in Arrowhead and upset the Chiefs. 11 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: If those two things happen, the Chargers are the number 12 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: one overall seed in the AFCA Playoffs. They get a 13 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: first round by and they will host a playoff game 14 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: from Rocket Field and Stop Up Center. If the Chiefs 15 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: beat the Raiders, the Chargers are locked into the number 16 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: five seed. There's nothing they can do about it, but 17 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: they could play up to five different teams on a 18 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: wild card weekend, starting with the Baltimore Ravens. If the 19 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: Baltimore Ravens beat the Cleveland Browns a week seventeen, they 20 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: are the AFC North Champs. Couple that with a Houston 21 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: win over Jacksonville and Patriots win over the Jets. If 22 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,199 Speaker 1: all three of those things happen, the Chargers are getting 23 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: on a plane. They're going to Baltimore for a rematch 24 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: with the Ravens, Lamar Jackson and that punishing Baltimore defense. 25 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: The next scenario has the Chargers going to Pittsburgh, who 26 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 1: a rematch with the Steelers. Two things need to happen. 27 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: It's very simple. If the Browns upset the Ravens, all 28 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: the Steelers need to do is beat the Cincinnati Bengals 29 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: at home. They become the AFC North Champs. The Chargers 30 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: get on a plane, they go back to Pittsburgh a 31 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: rematch of that Sunday night football game where the Chargers 32 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: beat the Steelers thirty three thirty in early December. There's 33 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: another scenario in which the Chargers would travel to Indianapolis 34 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: or Nashville a wildcard weekend. These three things need to happen. First, 35 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: the Jacksonville Jaguars need to go to Houston and upset 36 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: the Texans. And keep in mind, the Jaguars blanked the 37 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: Colts a few weeks ago, so that's not outside the 38 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: rebel of possibilities. So if Jacksonville beats Houston, Baltimore then 39 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: needs to be Cleveland, and New England needs to be 40 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: the Jets. If those three things happen, the winner of 41 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: Indianapolis Tennessee becomes the AFC South Champs and they will 42 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 1: host the Chargers on Wildcard weekend. And finally, there's even 43 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: a scenario in which the Chargers would go to Foxborough 44 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: on Wildcard Weekend. Tom Brady versus Philip Rivers Chargers Patriots. 45 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: The following three things would need to happen. Young Sam 46 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: Darnold would have to go into Foxborough in week seventeen 47 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: and upset the Patriots. Baltimore would then need to beat Cleveland, 48 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: and Houston would need to beat Jacksonville. If those three 49 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: things happen, the Chargers could be playing the New England 50 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: Patriots on Wildcard Weekend. I know it's a lot to digest, 51 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: and I'll discuss these scenarios a bit later with Jeff 52 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: Miller of the La Times and Ryan O'Halleran at the 53 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: Denver Post. But we'll start with NFL that Works analytics 54 00:02:51,400 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: expert Cynthia Freeland. All Right, and as promised very please 55 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 1: be joined by NFL Network Cynthia Freeland here on Chargers 56 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: Weekly Cynthia, Week seventeen, how are yet? I'm doing well? 57 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: Thank you? Can you believe it? We made it all 58 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: the way here. I can't believe it. I remember seeing 59 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: you a training camp and it's it's flown by so 60 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: Week seventeen NFC a little bit more clear cut than 61 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: the AFC. The AFC is a whole different story before 62 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: we get into some specific matchups. Just overall, Cynthia, what 63 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: intrigues you most about the last week of the regular season? Oh? Well, 64 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: I think for me it has to be can the 65 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: Ravens hold on and make it to the playoffs and 66 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: keep Pittsburgh on the outside looking in? Or will Pittsburgh 67 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: again wide into the playoffs? And I kind of like chaos, 68 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: So I'm you know, it's it's not a fan thing, 69 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: it's just a I like to see a little bit 70 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: of calfs. So I'd like it to come down to 71 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: the wire like this and potentially knock out, you know, Pittsburgh, 72 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: who seems to be always the playoffs for these games 73 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: at the end of the year, Cynthia, are they harder 74 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: to forecast for you because you have the teams that 75 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: are quote unquote playing for Pride, you got a lot 76 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: of younger guys fighting for their jobs. I have to 77 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: imagine it kind of skews things a little bit for 78 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 1: you in week seventeen. Yeah, Week seventeen is not my 79 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: favorite in terms of predicting kind of what's going on 80 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: in game. You can look at coaches histories and you 81 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: can look at kind of trends you've seen. You know, 82 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: there's there's some things that you can look at, like, 83 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: for example, a lot of questions about well the Bears 84 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: rest or not because you know, they get to sort 85 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: of choose their opponent to some degree that assumes that 86 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: the Rams win and then they're you know, if they 87 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: if they beat Minnesota, then they will face the Eagles, 88 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: or if they do not beat Minnesota, then they will 89 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: have a third rematch with the Vikings next week. So 90 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff you can sort of plan out, like, okay, 91 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: what's better for them? And then you can also look 92 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 1: to see who are the younger players need some reps 93 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: or coaches on the hot seat, like Carolina. You know 94 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: the NOTICEA and sing made there yet, so you know, 95 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 1: what are they going to do for Taj especially with 96 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: not even a backup, not even a third you know, 97 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: they sign their fourth quarterback. So it's very tricky. But 98 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 1: you can look at some clues from the past to 99 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,359 Speaker 1: help out, no doubt, and the Chargers they need a 100 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: little help to get that number one overall seed. But 101 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 1: the first part of the equation is they got to 102 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: take care of business. They gotta beat the Broncos. Regardless 103 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: of what happens in Oakland, Kansas City. You want to 104 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: be playing your best football going into the postseason. How 105 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: do you see this one playing out in Denver, Cynthia. Yeah, 106 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: I think it's a nice, solid Chargers win. It's going 107 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: to be for the maybe the goodness of the Chargers 108 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: hearts that I think to be a bit more of 109 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 1: a boring game. And by that I mean I think 110 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: it's to be nice solid drives from the Chargers, not 111 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: a lot of answers from the Broncos. A nice solid 112 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: win and boring in the sense that I think there's 113 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: a lot of focus on the run game. It's not 114 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: going to be some crazy Philip Rivers needing to come 115 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: from behind and throw, you know, in the fourth quarter. 116 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 1: Just two hundred yards or something crazy like that. I 117 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: think it's going to be more of a boring for 118 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 1: not a boring from a fan perspective, but in terms 119 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: of you're not gonna You're not gonna be on pinned 120 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: the needles on this one. By the way, how fun 121 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: is it for you to see Money and DJ called 122 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: these games as a colleague over an NFL network. So 123 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: I love DJ. Obviously, he's wonderful colleague. He is absolutely 124 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 1: the best in terms of scouting reports. His ability to 125 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: look at college players and forecasts their ability in the 126 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: NFL is really unparalleled. But I have to say, Matt 127 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: money Smith is like my big brother. So as much 128 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: as I love DJ, and don't get I'm taking nothing 129 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: away from DJ because it's just absolutely awesome, but like 130 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: I get a tear in my eyes sometimes when I 131 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: hear Money's calls, Like when they do this, you know, 132 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: when we replay them the next day on Fantasy Live 133 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: TV somewhere and they set it to Money's voice, I 134 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,559 Speaker 1: just get all choked up. It's like your big brother, 135 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: you know, just absolutely crushing it. So I get really 136 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: happy about it. It's the best. It's the best. And 137 00:06:57,480 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: by the way, as we're doing this interview. I should 138 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: just tell you guys now download the game Theory and 139 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: Money podcast, our own play by play guy Matt money Smith, 140 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: Cynthia Freeland. They do this every single week. So download 141 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: subscribe to gain Theory and Money. Listen the Raiders they 142 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: go to Arrowhead. Can they beat the Chiefs? Sure? I 143 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: mean the Chiefs defense have shown us how vulnerable they 144 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: can be. It's possible. I don't think it's very likely. 145 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: In fact, I think it's very unlikely to happen. But 146 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: we did see you know, you heard this that you 147 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: heard John Druden at least say that they're trying to win. 148 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: You saw their defense start to get a bit grittier. 149 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: You saw, you know a lot of unfortunately Gary on 150 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: Connley seems to be potentially out with a concussion, but 151 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: you saw some great grits from some of their key 152 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: players like that Carl Joseph as well. So they're starting 153 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: to improve. The hard part whenever you're playing the Chiefs, 154 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: as you Chargers stands, well, no Chargers Incenters know like 155 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: their offense is just really really hard to stop. And 156 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: even if even though we've seen their defense defense be 157 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: really vulnerable. I just don't think that the Raiders have 158 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: enough weapons to overcome what Patrick Mahomes and that offense 159 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: is going to be able to do to a very 160 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: depleted defense. They don't have a pass rusher, you know, 161 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: they don't have someone who is consistently going to bring 162 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: that pressure in a way that would even slow Patrick 163 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: Mahomes down. So I don't think that it happens. I 164 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: think that I think that the Chiefs take care of 165 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: business at home big time. I think it's probably like 166 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: a thirty one seventeen sort of game. But I don't 167 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: think that the Raiders are just lying down. They do. 168 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 1: They do have a chance. I'm not. I'm not, you know, 169 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: all bad news, but I think it's very unlikely. All right. 170 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:39,239 Speaker 1: So if yeah, I want to dive into this Cleveland 171 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: Baltimore game, and you mentioned it at the top, I 172 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: think it's probably the most intriguing game on the slate 173 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: because you got Baker Mayfield going to Baltimore. It's a 174 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 1: game Chargers fans will be watching closely in case they 175 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: are locked into that five seed. How much of a 176 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: chance do you give Baker Mayfield to go into Baltimore 177 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: beat the Ravens and for Baltimore. It's essentially a win 178 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: or go home situation. Absolutely, So I think that Baker 179 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: Mayfield is maybe like best suited to play spoiler. I 180 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: think like this is like the point like something from him. 181 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: So but look, when it comes down to it, we 182 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: put confidence. So I run ten thousand simulations for every 183 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: single game, and you use past models and you find 184 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: like doupplegangers. So you look at defenses that were like, 185 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: look a little bit like what the Ravens defense look 186 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: like this year, and had sort of astributes that were 187 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: similar to the Ravens offense or the Browns offense, and 188 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: you match up those dopplegangers and you see what happened 189 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: in the past. So that's the foundation for creating ten 190 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: thousand simulations for each game. And in this game, about 191 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: fifty nine percent of the time that charge them. Sorry, 192 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: the Ravens came out on top. Part of that is 193 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: because of their defense and their ability to really control 194 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: the clock with the run game. You saw that against 195 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: the Chargers, right, So those two things combined really solidify 196 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 1: the win. But you have a wildcard in Baker Mayfield, 197 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: and especially since Freddie Kitchens has taken over as this 198 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator. You've seen Baker just be really, really efficient, 199 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: and that's that's a huge deal. You know, obviously, this 200 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: is Raven's defense is not really one do you want 201 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: to mess with. It's a very very good defense. But 202 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: Baker Mayfield has has He's progressed a lot. Like every 203 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: rookie you have, you know, obviously you have a little 204 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: bit of adjustment period you have to learn what the 205 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: NFL is like. But also you know, you also have 206 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: a fact that they had different coaches and kind of changes. 207 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: You know, their running back has changed. Nick Chubb is 208 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: now there and they didn't have him really in the 209 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: beginning of the season. So when you look at the 210 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: evolution of the team, you really try to take who 211 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: they are, and especially in these past war games, they 212 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: looked really good. So it's it's a different it's a 213 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: different calculus, if you will, when you're taking to account. 214 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: We don't exactly know what we can get from Baker 215 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: Mayfield yet, we don't know his stealing. So I actually 216 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: think the Browns keep it a lot closer than some 217 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: of the other projections that I've seen from people. So 218 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: I think it's maybe like a one it's one possession 219 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 1: game so you know, maybe it's a touchdown, maybe it's 220 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 1: a field goal, but I think it's it's a lot 221 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: closer than I think other people are forecasting. Yeah, it's 222 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: fascinating because it's it's an unconventional offense and you got 223 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: Mayfield as the wildcard here. Let's just say, for the 224 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: sake of this conversation, Cynthia, that that Baker gets it 225 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 1: done in Baltimore, all the Steelers would need to do 226 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 1: is beat the Bengals in Week seventeen at home. They're 227 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 1: going to be heavy favorites in that game. It almost 228 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: feels as if all the pressure is on Baltimore this week. Yeah, 229 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: I think Baltimore. Like the weird part is is this 230 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,719 Speaker 1: feels like kind of when Baltimore thrives, right, Like, Baltimore's 231 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: the only team in the past ten years, so like 232 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: be a wildcard who win the Super Bowl. Heres like 233 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: that that are kind of in their history and in 234 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: their makeup. I think that, you know, it's kind of 235 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: cool to see that an owner is willing to extend 236 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: a coach a week before a game where they're not 237 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: supposed to win. The Ravens were not favored against the Chargers, 238 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 1: but you know, you see mister Bishoti like an extend 239 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:05,479 Speaker 1: as coach, kind of produce a really like a stabilizing 240 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: force because you know, Azzi and Nuisson's believing he's already 241 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: announced that this this is swan song of a season. 242 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: They already announced that before the season started. So you're 243 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: kind of seeing these things and you're like, well, this 244 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: is kind of like this is what the Ravens do. 245 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 1: You know, they're there, they get a couple great breaks 246 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: on special teams, they get they have this solid defense, 247 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: and then they just run the heck out of the 248 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: ball and that's that's their formulas. So yes, I do 249 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: think from a standpoint of you're right, I don't think 250 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: that Pittsburgh canna have any problems handling the Bengals. But 251 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: I do also think that I don't think the Ravens 252 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: are feeling this pressure. I think they felt it last 253 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: week and look at how they showed up. You know, 254 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: I think last week was probably a more tricky, you know, matchup, 255 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: because the Chargers are really really good. Not to take 256 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 1: anything away from the Browns, but I think last week 257 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: was they were already feeling at thense so nothing's different 258 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: for them this week. Yeah, all great points and it 259 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: would be a fascinating rematch if the Charges go to Baltimore. 260 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: Also be a fascinating rematch if the Chargers go back 261 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: to Pittsburgh, or a rematch that game on Today and 262 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: Night Football in December Jacksonville Houston. Now, the Chargers can't 263 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: play the Texans on Wildcard weekend, but the result of 264 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: this game could alter who they play. What does your 265 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: model tell you about this game? Because I go back 266 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: to Week thirteen, the Jaguars they blank the Colts six nothing. 267 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 1: They've been up and down this year, largely disappointing, but 268 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: I don't know, I have a weird feeling about this one. Cynthia, Well, 269 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 1: a lot of people I think You're weird feeling is 270 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: probably like, well, you know, you saw that weird Cults 271 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,439 Speaker 1: Jag game, or it was like three to nothing or 272 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: six yeah, six nothing and sixth nothing you and you 273 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:47,839 Speaker 1: think like, wow, if they can do that to the 274 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: Colts and Andrew Lucklick, Deshaun Watson isn't as good as him. 275 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: But my my model and the way that the thing 276 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: that really stands out for me is if you look 277 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 1: at the Texans defensive front in the past three games, 278 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: specifically their sub two rushing yards allowed on first down. 279 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 1: So I know this sounds kind of specific, but think 280 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 1: about like what makes blake Boardle be able to work, 281 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: and that's the read option. Right. So if you have 282 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: if you have an ineffective run game on first down, 283 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: so Leonard Fournette isn't able to get going on first down, 284 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: they're going to want to switch away from from you know, 285 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: the threat of the run, and without the thread of 286 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: the run, the read option doesn't work. So you get 287 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: those eight man boxes, single high safeties, You're getting all 288 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: of these these horribly bad looks for runs, right, and 289 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: then it's going to force them to try to throw. 290 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: And that's not an area where Jacksonville has been good 291 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: this season. We've seen them not be able to produce 292 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: in that department very well at all. Right, I'm trying 293 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: to be nice, but so forcing forcing blake Boarders or 294 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: forty Kessler into obvious passing situations is not a great 295 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: It's not a great situation when you consider the fact 296 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: that you've got you know, look, you've got JJ Watt, 297 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: you've got Whitney Merciless, you've got Jadeveon Clowney, all coming 298 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: from different directions. So that's really what kind of tips 299 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: the scales for me. And also, you're right, the counterpoint 300 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: to that would be that Deshaun Watson under pressure, which 301 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: by the way, he's in sacks fifty four times, the 302 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: most in the NFL. Deshaun Watson under pressure, his passerating 303 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: drops eighty one points, which is the biggest discrepancy in 304 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: the league. But what they've been doing lately, especially you 305 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: have Dante Foreman coming back, they've been using their running 306 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: backs a bit more creatively. So if you look only 307 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 1: over the past three or four weeks, that number's actually 308 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: gotten better. So to me, it's like, Okay, Deshaun Watson's 309 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 1: trending in the right direction at the same time where 310 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: this defensive front has just this huge first down advantage. 311 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: That's what really steals the deal for Houston for me. Finally, Cynthia, 312 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: I think any of the year, we'd skip this game, 313 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: but it could affect the Chargers and you never know. 314 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: In twenty eighteen, Jets page Jets Patriots in Foxborough. Like, listen, 315 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 1: I'm I'm asking you if you think the Jets have 316 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: a chance in Foxborough in week seventeen. But I don't know. 317 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: I just don't know, Sam Donald going into town. What 318 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: do you think, Sam Donald, I don't. I see. Here's 319 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: the thing, because it's gonna sound like I don't like 320 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: the Jets with my answer to this, and I actually 321 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: think it's in terms of what to be excited for 322 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: for the future the Jets have there. You know, there's 323 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: always a team that goes from worse in their division 324 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: to first, and I actually think the Jets to be 325 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: a very good chance of being that team next season, 326 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: depending on you know who their new coaches, how much 327 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: for that huge cap room they spend. But they've got 328 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: a quarterback that's really going to be great for the future. 329 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: It's this isn't the game for that in my model, right, 330 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: Like this is the game where the Patriots they stop 331 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: allowing eight yards for Russia on first down. That's crappy. 332 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: They'd stop doing those things. In a situation where you 333 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: have a very unproven running backs core from the Jets, 334 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: you've got a very fresh you know, I don't even 335 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: think Sam, it's it's kind of unfair, you know. I 336 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: talk about like Baker Mayfield evolving as a rookie, it's 337 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 1: kind of unfair to say Sam Donald's had that same 338 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: opportunity because the old line that he's been standing behind 339 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: has been really scary and it's not given him kind 340 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,679 Speaker 1: of that nice You know, if Baker's at twelve games, 341 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: then I would say Sam Donald's maybe eight from in 342 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 1: terms of learning curve, right, you see what I'm saying, Like, 343 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:25,360 Speaker 1: he hasn't been able to get those quality reps that 344 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 1: make you progress from being able to throw inside the 345 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,719 Speaker 1: numbers to outside the numbers. Make the more difficult paths. 346 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 1: He's enforced into some stuff that's very, very complex, very 347 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: early on. So I like the Jets. I think for 348 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: their future it's great. I just don't think this is 349 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: the game. I think that's you know, as good as 350 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 1: their safeties are, you still have Edelman and Gronk and 351 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: the threat of them in the middle, and even just 352 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 1: that threat opens it out on the outside, the perimeter. 353 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:51,959 Speaker 1: That is where the big difference is made. All right, 354 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,360 Speaker 1: I'm doing my quick math here, right, Chargers win, Chiefs win. 355 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 1: Let's say Ravens win, Patriots win, Texans win, Steelers win. 356 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 1: That means Ravens Chargers the rematch a game you were 357 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: at last Saturday. I saw yet that would be one 358 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: heck of a game a wild card weekend, that would 359 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: be an incredible game. And you know what's even funnier 360 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 1: is like I just don't think Philip Rivers let that 361 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: happen again. Like, if this is my gun, I've I've 362 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: run zero simulations on this. I feel like he's going 363 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: to make those adjustments to the line. He's Melvin Gordon 364 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: being backs and better in Austin Eca, presumably being back 365 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: and being healthily. I think, you know, I still think 366 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:38,920 Speaker 1: that the way you stop a quarterback like Lamar Jackson 367 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 1: is by coming right at him with pressure, like the 368 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: antidote to the read option. It's setting the edge right, 369 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: and nobody does that better than Joey Boson and Melvin Ingram. 370 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: You've got two bookends that just absolutely crushed, but for 371 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 1: two kind of lucky play like that Mark Andrews passed 372 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,679 Speaker 1: that he made that that was insane and kind of 373 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: a misassignment and kind of like there are some there's 374 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: some context there that to me is like more like 375 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: a blown coverage. A lot of presnep penalties too, Cynthia, 376 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,439 Speaker 1: like just a lot of uncharacteristic stuff. Yeah, So I 377 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 1: just don't think that happens again. But again I'm not 378 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: I'm not taking anything away from this Ravens defense. I'm 379 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: just saying what I've seen from the Chargers in their 380 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: offense this season is better than what we saw on 381 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 1: Saturday night, and that was the Fluke to me, Cynthia, 382 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: You're the best. Where can our listeners see you on 383 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 1: NFL Network this weekend? This weekend, I'm on Game Day 384 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: Morning on Sunday morning, and then we'll put a whole 385 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 1: bunch of stuff out on Twitter. But the game reason 386 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: or the show you should watch is Game Day Pick Him, 387 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: which is on Fridays. It's three thirty out here, but 388 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: it's six thirty on the East Coast. It's actually really 389 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 1: fun half an hour and you can DVR it and 390 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 1: it's like twenty minutes and we pick every single game 391 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: and give you reasons why. I actually think it's like 392 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: one of the more fun shows the whole network. Is 393 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: that carrying over into the playoffs, Cynthia, it is. We're 394 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: actually going to a full hour for the playoffs. So 395 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: I'm not sure how we're gonna talk about less games, 396 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 1: but for longer it's gonna be. It's gonna be awesome. 397 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:04,640 Speaker 1: I love it. I love it, and I mentioned download 398 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: game theory money. You guys have Super Bowl probabilities, So 399 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 1: that's a little teaser. Download and subscribe. Cynthia, thanks so much, 400 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,679 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. All Right, guys, quick break, I 401 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 1: want to tell you that the LA Chargers rely on 402 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 1: Bows QC thirty five headphones two to blackout distractions and 403 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 1: focus on what matters. Boast the same powerful noise canceling 404 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,920 Speaker 1: technology helps you concentrate on your music, your work, maybe 405 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: this podcast, or whatever you're passionate about. Learn more at 406 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 1: bows dot com Slash Chargers Bows the official headphones of 407 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:38,360 Speaker 1: the LA Chargers. All right, to get this week's supposing view, 408 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: we bring in Ryan O'Halleran of the Denver Post, and 409 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 1: Ryan will start with Monday night, perhaps the last game 410 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:48,199 Speaker 1: in Oakland. Raiders beat the Broncos twenty seven fourteen. Not 411 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 1: the performance they were expecting against a divisional opponent in December, 412 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: I imagine. No, it was bad and you know, Bets 413 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:00,640 Speaker 1: Joysaf said after the game that you know he had 414 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 1: a problem with what with what went on and delay 415 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: at game, penalty, twelve men on the field, mis tackles, 416 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: inability to get the run, game going. You know, when 417 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 1: they started three and six, then they won six and six, 418 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: they lost two and roll. You figure, okay, they're going 419 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 1: to have a stinker now that they're out of the playoffs. 420 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: But this really reaked three straight losses to sub five 421 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,640 Speaker 1: hundred teams. It's not something folks in Denver are used 422 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 1: to seeing, especially when you talked about you know, you 423 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 1: beat the Chargers, you beat the Steelers. You think this 424 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: team's turning the corner a little bit. What's been the 425 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 1: biggest reason you think, Ryan for this late season stumble, Well, 426 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: I think they took the Niners lately, and as you said, 427 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: they've played lousy against teams that were supposed to be lousy. 428 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,360 Speaker 1: They go up to San Francisco at six and six, 429 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,959 Speaker 1: having won three straight. They're not in that final playoff 430 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 1: spot yet, but it's sort of in their hands because 431 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:55,440 Speaker 1: those should be favored to win some of these games. 432 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 1: They fall behind twenty nothing. It was a total those 433 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,360 Speaker 1: show in the first half against the Niners, and that's 434 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: going to be a bit. That first half is going 435 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: to be a big part at Dance Joseph's head coaching 436 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: obituary if it ends on Monday. After that, you know 437 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: Cleveland another questionable decision by the head coach, you know, 438 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: down late in the game at the six yard line 439 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: up to kick the field goal instead of going for 440 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 1: the touchdown after he talked all week about playing to went, 441 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: being aggressive, etc. So you know, the Niners game took 442 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 1: a lot out of them. You know, the Browns were 443 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:28,479 Speaker 1: the better team, and on Monday night, you don't want 444 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:30,640 Speaker 1: to say a team laid down, but I'm not sure 445 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 1: their focus was where it should be. Well, now we 446 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:37,440 Speaker 1: hit into week seventeen, Chargers coming to town. The Chargers 447 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,479 Speaker 1: could conceivably get the number one overall. See, they need 448 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: some help from the Oakland Raiders, who you saw on 449 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,679 Speaker 1: Monday night. But what are the Broncos saying about the 450 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 1: Charges coming to town in their regular season finale? Well, 451 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 1: that could be a lot of Chargers questions this week? 452 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:52,879 Speaker 1: Does put it that way? This is all about looking 453 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: ahead to what's going to happen on Monday here Bronco Land, 454 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: and you know there's gonna be a lot. I think 455 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,919 Speaker 1: there's gonna be sweeping changes on the ross the coaching staff. 456 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:04,439 Speaker 1: So I think a major talking point has been Philip Lindsay. 457 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: He was the first undrafted offensive rookie selected to the 458 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl last week, but then he breaks his wrist, 459 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 1: has some ligment damag Jans Oakland, so he's not going 460 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: to play. So that's a that's a you know, a 461 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: a unfortunate capper to a bad season. So you know, 462 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,680 Speaker 1: right now for the Broncos, there are opponents as the Chargers, 463 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 1: but a lot of the talk this week has been, Okay, 464 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,879 Speaker 1: what's next, what's John always next move? What are the players? 465 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 1: Are the players in that same frame of mind or 466 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 1: they you know, because at the end of the day, 467 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:36,920 Speaker 1: these guys they got a job to do. They gonna 468 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: get on the field, and you are playing a divisional opponent. 469 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: I imagine when you get into this time of year, 470 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 1: jobs are on the line too, not just for veterans, 471 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 1: but for for young guys trying to show something good 472 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: on tape going into twenty nineteen. Yeah, I mean, Dave, 473 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 1: but they're they're gonna be playing a ton of young 474 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 1: guys on Sunday and it's their last chance to you know, 475 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: put on tape. Hey, whoever the coach is going to be, 476 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: whoever the offensive coordin defensive coordiner is going to be, 477 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: I should be a part of the regular playing time 478 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: rotation in twenty nineteen. And you know, Courtland Sutton is 479 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: our second round receiver. He's risen up to number one 480 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: sas because of the Demerius Thomas trade and Namanos Sanders injury. 481 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 1: He has four touchdowns. Dave Shawn Hamilton a mid round 482 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: receiver as a rookie, He's come along lately. And Sunday 483 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 1: is going to be a big shot for Royce Freeman, 484 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: another rookie running back who was the starter at the 485 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 1: beginning season before he was overtaken by Lindsay. I think 486 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 1: the Bronco's best chance for the future is just a 487 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 1: guy like Freeman comes out and says I can be 488 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 1: a number one or one in back. Yeah. You know. Defensively, Ryan, 489 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 1: you look at the edge rushers, right, I mean, Von 490 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 1: Miller probably the best in the game. You got Bradley Chubb, 491 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 1: the rookie. On the other side, I look at guys 492 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:51,199 Speaker 1: like Bradley Robiano. Chris Harris Jr. Is not in that 493 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: secondary he was in that first match against the Chargers. 494 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: What's been the biggest disappointment on defense? When when you 495 00:24:57,280 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: talk about some of these guys that were a part 496 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 1: of that Super Bowl D defense. There are some pieces there, 497 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,360 Speaker 1: but like you said, during the latter part of this year, 498 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 1: these sub five hundred teams they got jumped on. Yeah, 499 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,680 Speaker 1: Robi has been a total disappointment. I mean they traded 500 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:13,640 Speaker 1: a keep to leave to open up that number two 501 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: spot for Robie, former first round pick. They picked up 502 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 1: his fifth year option, so he's playing on that basically 503 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: a one year deal. He had sixteen chances, he has 504 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 1: fifteen so far to prove that he's worth a long 505 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:30,400 Speaker 1: term contract. He has not proven that. He's missed ten tackles, 506 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: he's given up six touchdowns, and he's not been that guy, 507 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 1: which has forced the Broncos this year to play Chris 508 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 1: Harris on the best receiver no matter where he is 509 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 1: on the field. Harris is out with a broken leg. 510 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 1: So if you look at this defense, yeah, you have 511 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: Von Miller and Bradley chap you have a pretty good 512 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: defensive line, but you need to really retool this secondary 513 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:53,159 Speaker 1: because I don't expect Dary and Stewart. It's safe to 514 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 1: be back, maybe multiple cornerbacks to play behind Harris. So 515 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: y'all people want people will try to prefer that as 516 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 1: the North flies on, well, it's actually been the frequent 517 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 1: flies on this year. Yeah, it seems like Sunday is 518 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: really not the lead in Denver. It's is what's going 519 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,439 Speaker 1: to happen in twenty nineteen. Let me just ask you 520 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: from a general playoff perspective, because you have a very 521 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: unique perspective and that you cover the Jags last year, 522 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: you cover the Jaguars for a number eight years, you 523 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,160 Speaker 1: were in New England. I'm sure for that AFC Championship 524 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 1: game last season. You've seen the Broncos play the AFC West. 525 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: You saw him play the Steelers, the Ravens, the Texans. 526 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 1: How would you forecast these AFC playoffs as someone who 527 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: has seen all of these teams up close? Well, the 528 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,160 Speaker 1: Chiefs have the best, best offense, but can they stop 529 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 1: anybody in the playoffs? And as a lot of Charger 530 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: fans know, the Chiefs have been home field in the 531 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:52,040 Speaker 1: playoffs has not been anything lately. So if the Chargers 532 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: can find a way to get that number one seed, 533 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: I think they should be the favorite because they are 534 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:00,359 Speaker 1: a balanced team. If they're the fifth seed, can they 535 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 1: win three straight rail games? Sure, but that makes the 536 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 1: sledding a lot tougher. If the Chargers aren't the number 537 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 1: one seed. I like New England because they'll have to 538 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: win one road game, and if they go to Kansas City, 539 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:15,679 Speaker 1: I would like their chances there. You know, Baltimore has 540 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 1: that number one defense, but you know Lamar Jackson can 541 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: he can he win you a game on the road 542 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:23,960 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. So if I do do my power 543 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:26,720 Speaker 1: rankings right now, you know, aside from seeding, I'd go 544 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 1: Chargers want Patriots two, Chiefs three, Baltimore four, Houston five, 545 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:33,920 Speaker 1: and then I think Indianapolis will be Tennessee to get 546 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 1: that sixth spot. But a really wide open conference. Right, 547 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 1: let me ask you this, because you just saw this 548 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: Raiders team up close and personal. Are they frisky enough 549 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: to get a win in Arrowhead on Sunday against Kansas 550 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,639 Speaker 1: City Chiefs knowing that the Chiefs all they need to 551 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 1: do is win to get a first round by at 552 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 1: least I think they. I think they're competitive enough to 553 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 1: make it close. But I think Kansas City is going 554 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:01,639 Speaker 1: to be treating us like a playoff game and realizing 555 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:03,360 Speaker 1: what's at stake. I mean, this is not a difference 556 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 1: between a five seed and a three where he still 557 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 1: got to play three games to get to the super Bowl. 558 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:10,400 Speaker 1: This is a difference between three road games and two 559 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 1: home games. That's a huge difference. And it's rare that 560 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 1: you see a situation like this where the seedings are 561 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 1: so different based on one game. So yeah, I think 562 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: the Raiders will play hard to get a little momentum 563 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,160 Speaker 1: off their short week, but I think the Chiefs will 564 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:26,119 Speaker 1: win at home. Ryan, final thing for me if you 565 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 1: could name some of these younger guys that maybe Chargers 566 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,879 Speaker 1: fans should have their eyes on. Like you said, it's 567 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: not going to be a typical game and that you 568 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: got a full complement of guys, a lot of younger 569 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: guys trying to get on tape for twenty nineteen in Denver. Yeah. Well, 570 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: on offense, we talked about roystreemanute running back, Courtland Sutton 571 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: and day SHAWNA. Hamilton at receiver. I gotta watch he 572 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 1: wasn't that involved in the offense when the team's first 573 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 1: play back a week ten is Tim Patrick number eighty one. 574 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: He's done some good things. He's averaging fourteen yards to 575 00:28:57,400 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 1: catch and you know, he had a good game against 576 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 1: Evel and working against some you know, non number one corners. 577 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: And on defense, Bradley Chubbs at twelve sacks, he still 578 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:10,960 Speaker 1: has that NFL rookie sack record in his sights. He 579 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 1: needs one and a half to tie that. Josie Jewel 580 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 1: is a draft pick rookie. He'll start at inside linebacker 581 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 1: in the base defense, and then Isaac Yattam is a 582 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 1: rookie corner. He'll probably be their numbers three on Sunday, 583 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:26,640 Speaker 1: behind Robie and Tremaine Brock. So they're playing a lot 584 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: of young guys, so because they're just better, and others 585 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: because it's out of necessity. But the Broncos are hoping 586 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,719 Speaker 1: that all of the snaps they're getting in eighteen are 587 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 1: going to allow them to flourish in nineteen. Well, right, 588 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:40,840 Speaker 1: it's always strange in Week seventeen when you have a 589 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 1: team that doesn't have much to play for, and you know, 590 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: the Chargers are kind of at the mercy of another 591 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: team to get the number one overall seed. But regardless, 592 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 1: I look forward to seeing you in Denver and I 593 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 1: always appreciate your time. Sure. And one last thing about 594 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 1: the Chargers is I think they I think it's important 595 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 1: for them to play well to get some mo going 596 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 1: into the playoffs. Last year, the Jaguars lost at Tennessee 597 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: in the season finally as a game they had nothing 598 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: to play for, but they had a stinker the week before, 599 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 1: they played the Titans hard. They went into that wildcard 600 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 1: game against Buffalo feeling a little bit better about themselves. 601 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 1: So if I'm a Charger fan, I sort of would 602 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: want my frontline guys to play and play well. Well said, 603 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 1: and that's what Coach Lynn said. He's like, we're not 604 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: resting anybody. We are trying to win the game. And 605 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: I think it's important in Week seventeen, especially like you 606 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 1: said last year, you have to have a little bit 607 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 1: of momentum, especially coming off a loss the way the 608 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: Chargers lost to the Ravens. You want to be playing 609 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 1: your best football going into January, absolutely, because you know 610 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 1: you can't just slip the switch. We've seen that before. No, 611 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:46,000 Speaker 1: it doesn't happen. Ryan, you're the best man. Thank you 612 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:48,320 Speaker 1: so much for your time. All right, see Sunday. Thanks 613 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 1: all right, before we close the show with Jeff Miller, 614 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:53,000 Speaker 1: a quick break to let you know that this season 615 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 1: we've taken Chargers Weekly to the next level. That's because 616 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:59,200 Speaker 1: I'm using bows quiet comfort. Thirty five headphones two on 617 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 1: air now. Powerful noise canceling technology helps me blackout distractions 618 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 1: and brings you the latest news on the LA Chargers. 619 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:08,880 Speaker 1: Visit Bows dot com Slash Chargers to learn more about 620 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 1: the most powerful Bows headphones yet. Bows the official headphones 621 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:16,760 Speaker 1: of the NFL. All right, he's back by popular demand, 622 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:19,920 Speaker 1: Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times. Jeff, what's up, buddy. I 623 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:21,600 Speaker 1: don't know how popular it was, but I'm glad to 624 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 1: be back. It's great to have you, man. We were 625 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 1: just talking. It's week seventeen. It's kind of a strange week, 626 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 1: right because we know the Chargers are going to the playoffs. 627 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:34,680 Speaker 1: There's a chance, there's a chance that they could be 628 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: the number one overall seed if the Raiders beat the 629 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 1: Chiefs and the Chargers take care of business in Denver. 630 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 1: But you're looking at that five seed and that could 631 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 1: be maybe the more likely situation. It sure feels that way, 632 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,280 Speaker 1: doesn't it. This is the weirdest week we've had in 633 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: a while, and we've had a nice stretch of weeks 634 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 1: where the games were real important, so we had all 635 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 1: that to focus on, and we didn't have to focus on, 636 00:31:57,680 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 1: you know, in Denver. Now, they're focusing on what's who's 637 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: gonna beyond the team, who is going to be the 638 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:03,440 Speaker 1: coach of the jobs and all that stuff. We don't 639 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:06,280 Speaker 1: have to worry about that covering this team. So that's 640 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 1: that's been nice. But we've had a nice stretch of 641 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: these games are huge, so now they gotta here's how 642 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 1: the game breaks down. This week is very strange because 643 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,320 Speaker 1: this could be the biggest game yet or at the 644 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 1: end of the day, it may not even matter what 645 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 1: they do because of it all, what happens in Kansas 646 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,080 Speaker 1: City is what really matters to more than more than 647 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 1: just the Chiefs. Um So, it is a strange week, 648 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: and uh, it's it's it's a really weird idea of 649 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:35,200 Speaker 1: how to how do you sort of advance this game 650 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:36,840 Speaker 1: and what do you what do people want to know? 651 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,400 Speaker 1: Um So, it is a strange week, but it um uh, 652 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 1: it's gonna be a really interesting afternoon no matter what's happening, 653 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:45,920 Speaker 1: and we'll, like everybody, we'll be watching, you know, two 654 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 1: games at one time. Probably you go you go around 655 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: the league and you hear some of these coaches talk 656 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: about are they gonna be scoreboard watching based on what 657 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:56,040 Speaker 1: happens in other games. And one thing I thought was 658 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:59,480 Speaker 1: interesting that Anthony Lynn said at its press conference at 659 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 1: the beginning of the week, because like, that's a distraction. 660 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 1: We got to focus on the task at hand. And 661 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:06,560 Speaker 1: I think that's the mentality, right, Jeff, you probably have 662 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 1: to have, right you want to be playing your best 663 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 1: football going into January. Sure, And I think that's that 664 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:17,560 Speaker 1: that's a very football mentality, very coachman. But it's it 665 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 1: has to be that way because you can't in this 666 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:22,720 Speaker 1: league especially, you can't look past anybody and you can't 667 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:25,239 Speaker 1: be focused on two games at once. I mean it's 668 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:27,080 Speaker 1: hard enough to do that watching red zone or whatever 669 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:29,040 Speaker 1: at home, right, And so I have trouble with that. Yeah, 670 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:31,080 Speaker 1: so it's gonna be on the sideline and trying to 671 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 1: trying to run one of the teams. And but obviously 672 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: they're gonna you know, they're gonna see the score. The 673 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:39,080 Speaker 1: score is gonna be running and they're and I'm sure 674 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 1: they're gonna be uh, they'll be providing highlights during timeouts 675 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 1: and stuff like that, because people are gonna want to know, 676 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 1: you know, if they're not on their phones and they're 677 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 1: in the stadium, they're gonna want to know what these 678 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:51,720 Speaker 1: you know, just Denver has some sophisticated NFL fans, so 679 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 1: they're gonna kind of want to know. Yeah, and as 680 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:57,160 Speaker 1: we know, the FC is completely on its head, right 681 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 1: nobody knows nothing set so which is really strange with 682 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 1: with one week to go that there's nothing is for sure. 683 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 1: And I mean, you think about it, this team could 684 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,960 Speaker 1: play any you know, any of these playoff contenders. This 685 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 1: team could play right now. It's other than the Chiefs, 686 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 1: right that's the only team that we know. They can't 687 00:34:13,080 --> 00:34:15,080 Speaker 1: play the Chiefs of the first round exactly. Other than that, 688 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 1: they could play any of these teams. They could and 689 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:18,359 Speaker 1: they could be on the road, or they could still 690 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:20,880 Speaker 1: could be at home. So it's a really it's a 691 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:25,000 Speaker 1: really weird scenario that way too. But you have to 692 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,640 Speaker 1: focus on your game. Each of these teams has to. 693 00:34:27,719 --> 00:34:30,440 Speaker 1: But at the same time, you know they're gonna have 694 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:32,520 Speaker 1: an idea of what's going on in these other games. 695 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:35,239 Speaker 1: They just it's human nature and you want to know, 696 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:37,880 Speaker 1: you know, you get toward the end if you know 697 00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:41,520 Speaker 1: you could influence you know, if you know the Chiefs 698 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 1: are four touchdowns ahead, they may say, hey, okay, let's 699 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 1: maybe sure, maybe we're not gonna Maybe it's a good 700 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:49,279 Speaker 1: idea to pull some of these guys right now just 701 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:51,799 Speaker 1: in case. But by the same talking, if it's a 702 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 1: three point game in Kansas City, you're gonna keep saying 703 00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:57,960 Speaker 1: we're right there, we gotta this is still alive. So 704 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:00,360 Speaker 1: there's definitely gonna be some of that going on. We 705 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 1: talked about this at the top of the program. Charges 706 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:05,200 Speaker 1: could be the number one overall sea in the AFC. 707 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:08,879 Speaker 1: They could play in five different cities potentially all wild 708 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:12,719 Speaker 1: Card weekend. One of them could be Baltimore, and we 709 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 1: can rewind a little bit just looking at that game 710 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:19,080 Speaker 1: against the Ravens Jeff twenty two to ten. What did 711 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 1: you take from that? What lessons do you think the 712 00:35:21,160 --> 00:35:23,759 Speaker 1: Chargers should have taken from that loss. I think the 713 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:27,640 Speaker 1: one thing they're gonna be looking at especially, I'm sure 714 00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:29,440 Speaker 1: they're looking at it this week and that they have 715 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:32,960 Speaker 1: to play them again, is the pressure that the Ravens 716 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:36,960 Speaker 1: are able to get on Philip and the offense never 717 00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:40,879 Speaker 1: got comfortable, never looked, and sank. It was a really 718 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,960 Speaker 1: strange game in that this team has played so well 719 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:46,600 Speaker 1: for a long stretch. Yeah, and you wonder if that's 720 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:49,399 Speaker 1: Is that an anomaly because they have scored twenty points 721 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:51,319 Speaker 1: in every game this year except for that one? Or 722 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:54,360 Speaker 1: was it just you know that Ravens defense is as advertised. 723 00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:57,040 Speaker 1: I think the Ravens are really good. I think there's 724 00:35:57,080 --> 00:35:59,439 Speaker 1: no question about that. You look at the stats over 725 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:03,040 Speaker 1: the course of sixteen weeks. Now they're they're defensively, their 726 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:05,240 Speaker 1: stats are really good, and I think they played really well. 727 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:09,640 Speaker 1: What was weird Grotchet game? Prisons? They never were so 728 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:13,080 Speaker 1: used to the Chargers this year, they've they've somehow figured 729 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:15,120 Speaker 1: it out as the game goes along. We've seen this 730 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:18,160 Speaker 1: before where a defense maybe they get gash for a 731 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:19,879 Speaker 1: bunch of yards early and then all of a sudden 732 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:22,319 Speaker 1: they tightened up, and we've seen it don't break, you know, 733 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:25,320 Speaker 1: and and we've seen that with the offense, the same 734 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:29,759 Speaker 1: thing working. And last week they never really figured out 735 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:32,279 Speaker 1: what how to handle that that that rush and that 736 00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:36,280 Speaker 1: pressure and you know, like I said, Rivers never really 737 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:40,680 Speaker 1: looked like himself. And they they didn't gain any yards, 738 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:42,799 Speaker 1: they didn't score any points. They I mean, they're one there. 739 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:45,440 Speaker 1: One touchdown drive they had was a short field because 740 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:49,640 Speaker 1: of the turnover, so um he kept waiting for them 741 00:36:49,640 --> 00:36:51,360 Speaker 1: to Okay, now they're gonna get this figured out, and 742 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:54,359 Speaker 1: maybe that last drive, if Gates doesn't fumble, maybe that's 743 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:56,520 Speaker 1: where they were gonna. I was gonna just say, as 744 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:59,400 Speaker 1: poorly as the game was developing for the Chargers, still 745 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,600 Speaker 1: there's three minutes to go Ravens thirty nine yard line. 746 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:05,520 Speaker 1: When Gates fumbles down six, you have a chance to 747 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:08,040 Speaker 1: still win the game despite all of what happened with 748 00:37:08,080 --> 00:37:11,359 Speaker 1: the offense. Exactly, and I think Rivers said it when 749 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:15,040 Speaker 1: he talked last week this week, is that he they 750 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 1: got to the fourth quarter and sort of said, wow, 751 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:18,560 Speaker 1: this has been a really bad game, but we still 752 00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:20,480 Speaker 1: can win. So let's now go win in which they 753 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:22,239 Speaker 1: we've seen him do a bunch of times this year 754 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:25,160 Speaker 1: and it just didn't work out that time. But it 755 00:37:25,239 --> 00:37:27,160 Speaker 1: was that was the thing that I was struck by, 756 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:29,440 Speaker 1: is how they just did not seem to have an 757 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:31,800 Speaker 1: answer and they never were able over that course of 758 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:35,040 Speaker 1: sixty minutes to figure out how do we how do 759 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:38,799 Speaker 1: we exploit this this defense, and how do we you know, 760 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:42,160 Speaker 1: take advantage of rather than you know, they're they're flying 761 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:44,600 Speaker 1: at us with these blitzes, how do we exploit that, 762 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:48,120 Speaker 1: and they never quite either without either because of scheme 763 00:37:48,239 --> 00:37:50,879 Speaker 1: or execution. They never quite got there and figured it out. 764 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:53,560 Speaker 1: I think one of the things that you're gonna want 765 00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:57,880 Speaker 1: to see this Chargers team execute Sunday, But more importantly 766 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:00,480 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, they got to get off to a start. 767 00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:03,600 Speaker 1: Their last six wins, the opponent has scored first and 768 00:38:03,719 --> 00:38:05,960 Speaker 1: five of them, so you're playing from behind it And 769 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:08,080 Speaker 1: that's what it kind of felt like in that that 770 00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:11,520 Speaker 1: Ravens game, is that, Hey, they play from behind, they 771 00:38:11,560 --> 00:38:14,239 Speaker 1: can sneak out and win it at the end, but 772 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:15,920 Speaker 1: you got to take the pressure off your defense a 773 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:17,920 Speaker 1: little bit, give them a little bit of a cushion, 774 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:20,279 Speaker 1: play from a head like you did in Buffalo and 775 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:24,200 Speaker 1: Cleveland places like that. Yeah, they some of them talked 776 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:26,360 Speaker 1: about that last week going into that game, the importance 777 00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:29,879 Speaker 1: of like of that exact thing. We've got to get 778 00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:32,080 Speaker 1: ahead early. I mean Mike Pouncey I talked to during 779 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:34,120 Speaker 1: the week and he said, hey, it's great to be 780 00:38:34,160 --> 00:38:35,680 Speaker 1: able to do this, but it'd be nice one of 781 00:38:35,719 --> 00:38:38,320 Speaker 1: these games to be able to get ahead and to 782 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:40,640 Speaker 1: play with the lead. And Anthony Lynn talked about it, 783 00:38:41,040 --> 00:38:43,000 Speaker 1: same idea of like I'd like to see us play 784 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 1: with the lead for once and then they go out 785 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:49,680 Speaker 1: in the first plays an interception, so and the moment 786 00:38:50,040 --> 00:38:52,120 Speaker 1: that didn't start well and they then the course, the 787 00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:54,160 Speaker 1: defense rose up and they did hold them for to 788 00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:57,000 Speaker 1: a field goal, but then they're behind again. So yeah, 789 00:38:57,200 --> 00:39:00,439 Speaker 1: it's it's great to be able to come back. You can't, 790 00:39:00,560 --> 00:39:02,440 Speaker 1: especially in this league. You can't do it every week. 791 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:04,279 Speaker 1: You're not gonna be able to. Eventually, it's gonna catch 792 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:05,560 Speaker 1: up to you. And it get caught up to him 793 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:08,920 Speaker 1: against a really good team and a really good defense, 794 00:39:09,080 --> 00:39:12,160 Speaker 1: and so that that's a great thing to have in 795 00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:14,480 Speaker 1: your pocket, but you can't keep going to it over 796 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:17,560 Speaker 1: and over, and it's it's not gonna work in the playoffs. 797 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:20,200 Speaker 1: I mean, they're gonna have to get they can't. They're 798 00:39:20,239 --> 00:39:22,200 Speaker 1: not gonna be able to come back from double digits 799 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:24,759 Speaker 1: down like they've done a bunch of times in the playoffs. 800 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:28,120 Speaker 1: And you're right, I mean they have to. They have 801 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:30,920 Speaker 1: They absolutely have to avoid that happening again. I think 802 00:39:30,920 --> 00:39:33,400 Speaker 1: in January two, Jeff, you want to be able to 803 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:35,799 Speaker 1: pack a pass rush, but you also need to be 804 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:39,279 Speaker 1: able to defend a pass rush. And Philip has been 805 00:39:39,320 --> 00:39:42,520 Speaker 1: sacked nine times the last two weeks against some pretty 806 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:45,080 Speaker 1: good defensive lines in the Ravens. And you know, we 807 00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:47,360 Speaker 1: talked about Chris Jones. He was a kind of a 808 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:49,399 Speaker 1: one man wrecking crew. He's kind of done that all year, 809 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:52,960 Speaker 1: Bradley Chubb. If von Miller kind of a nice primer 810 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:56,719 Speaker 1: for the playoffs when you talk about protecting seventeen, Yeah, 811 00:39:56,920 --> 00:40:01,120 Speaker 1: it certainly is. And with Vaughan Miller especially, I mean 812 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:03,120 Speaker 1: he and Philip have played against each other a bunch. 813 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:04,680 Speaker 1: There's a lot of cat and mouse. We saw that 814 00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:08,439 Speaker 1: last game where you know, Miller pick and he kind 815 00:40:08,440 --> 00:40:12,000 Speaker 1: of took a step in and of course Philip throws 816 00:40:12,040 --> 00:40:14,759 Speaker 1: the screen pass and it's intercepted, and then we all 817 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:18,320 Speaker 1: know where the game went from there. So yeah, it's 818 00:40:18,360 --> 00:40:21,120 Speaker 1: this is definitely a good primer. As you said it, 819 00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:23,560 Speaker 1: that's a that's a good word for it. But they 820 00:40:23,560 --> 00:40:25,680 Speaker 1: are going to have to protect Philip and he. I 821 00:40:25,719 --> 00:40:30,040 Speaker 1: thought it's interesting a few times now I've asked Anthony 822 00:40:30,080 --> 00:40:32,759 Speaker 1: Lynn about this and he has both times made a 823 00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:35,520 Speaker 1: point to mention that, you know, if there were a 824 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:36,920 Speaker 1: couple of times Philip could have got rid of the 825 00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:40,319 Speaker 1: ball too. Last week against the Ravens and he didn't. So, uh, 826 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:43,200 Speaker 1: it's as he said it was. It wasn't just one guy. 827 00:40:43,239 --> 00:40:45,040 Speaker 1: It wasn't just one guy in the line. It wasn't 828 00:40:45,040 --> 00:40:48,720 Speaker 1: just one back. It was everybody. And he also included 829 00:40:48,719 --> 00:40:50,680 Speaker 1: Philip in there. So I think they all sort of 830 00:40:52,040 --> 00:40:53,960 Speaker 1: this week are being reminded of, Hey, this is a 831 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:55,520 Speaker 1: team effort, and we all got it. We all got 832 00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:58,040 Speaker 1: to work together and avoiding these sacks. And it's so 833 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:00,400 Speaker 1: it's not just an easy fixture you say, Okay, it's 834 00:41:00,400 --> 00:41:03,279 Speaker 1: this one guy on the line. They've got to help out, 835 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:05,239 Speaker 1: and that's all it is. It's it's a bunch of 836 00:41:05,280 --> 00:41:07,560 Speaker 1: different things. I know there was a play where Justin 837 00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:10,320 Speaker 1: Jackson last week kind of messed up and the resulted 838 00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:13,919 Speaker 1: in Philip, you know, getting hit, and and so it's 839 00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:16,840 Speaker 1: not it's not as easy as like this guy on 840 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:19,400 Speaker 1: this guy or these two guys on on the offensive 841 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:22,880 Speaker 1: front are messing up. It's it's the whole operation and 842 00:41:23,680 --> 00:41:26,200 Speaker 1: that and that's another thing like falling behind that can't continue. 843 00:41:26,239 --> 00:41:28,640 Speaker 1: I mean, we know, I mean, Phillip's not he's a 844 00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:31,120 Speaker 1: lot of things, but he's not elusive. So if he 845 00:41:31,120 --> 00:41:32,960 Speaker 1: he's got to have time back there, and he's got 846 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:34,600 Speaker 1: to be able to you know, he's got to have 847 00:41:34,640 --> 00:41:36,359 Speaker 1: the It doesn't take he doesn't need a lot of time, 848 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:38,080 Speaker 1: but he needs enough to make a decision and make 849 00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:40,880 Speaker 1: a quick throw. And if when that's disrupted, like we 850 00:41:40,880 --> 00:41:43,720 Speaker 1: saw last week, this team, this offense can really bog 851 00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:46,520 Speaker 1: down in a hurry. The more we talk about this JEF, 852 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:50,360 Speaker 1: the more just seems like Sunday, regardless of what happens 853 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:53,879 Speaker 1: on the outside with with Kansas City and Oakland. It's 854 00:41:53,920 --> 00:41:57,040 Speaker 1: these little things. It's it's playing from a head. It 855 00:41:57,239 --> 00:42:01,120 Speaker 1: is penalties. Last time these two teams played, the Chargers 856 00:42:01,160 --> 00:42:03,680 Speaker 1: had fourteen penalties and two turnovers. That was a big 857 00:42:03,719 --> 00:42:05,719 Speaker 1: reason why they lost, and they didn't get the case scheme. 858 00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:07,759 Speaker 1: They didn't sack him once the only time this year. 859 00:42:08,200 --> 00:42:11,359 Speaker 1: So just these little things. I was talking to Ryan 860 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:14,880 Speaker 1: O'Halleran from the Denver Post and he's got a unique 861 00:42:14,880 --> 00:42:17,759 Speaker 1: perspective because he covered the Jaguars last year and he said, 862 00:42:18,000 --> 00:42:21,040 Speaker 1: you know that that Week seventeen game, if it doesn't 863 00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:23,720 Speaker 1: mean anything in the stat sheet, it still means something 864 00:42:23,760 --> 00:42:26,600 Speaker 1: to the guys in terms of momentum and just playing 865 00:42:26,920 --> 00:42:29,680 Speaker 1: the right way before you get to the playoffs. Yeah, 866 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:32,800 Speaker 1: I think with the Chargers it's even more important based 867 00:42:32,840 --> 00:42:34,839 Speaker 1: on what just happened to them. They need to feel 868 00:42:34,880 --> 00:42:36,960 Speaker 1: good about themselves again. And maybe that's maybe it ends 869 00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:39,160 Speaker 1: up being a positive too, losing to the Ravens because 870 00:42:39,320 --> 00:42:42,120 Speaker 1: you learn from it and you can build on it. Absolutely, 871 00:42:42,440 --> 00:42:44,680 Speaker 1: and these guys have you know, they've they've bounced back 872 00:42:44,719 --> 00:42:47,040 Speaker 1: every time they've been beating. They've bounced back every time 873 00:42:47,080 --> 00:42:50,759 Speaker 1: they've they've they've struggled, they've come back in a good way. 874 00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:55,080 Speaker 1: So this may I mean this this week they if 875 00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:57,560 Speaker 1: they can bounce back, the offense can get going again. 876 00:42:58,320 --> 00:43:01,880 Speaker 1: I think that it helps them. It does make you know, 877 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:04,640 Speaker 1: they can feel better about themselves, feel more confident, they 878 00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:07,080 Speaker 1: can kind of get back to the idea of okay, 879 00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:10,080 Speaker 1: that was that was just a one week where we 880 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:13,279 Speaker 1: struggle and it gets a really good defense and now 881 00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:15,560 Speaker 1: we've got a rolling again. And then they go into 882 00:43:15,560 --> 00:43:18,520 Speaker 1: the playoffs and they're gonna need if they're looking at 883 00:43:18,560 --> 00:43:20,640 Speaker 1: playing all these games on the road in the playoffs, 884 00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:23,360 Speaker 1: they're gonna need as much confidence and a much momentum 885 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:25,040 Speaker 1: and as much as that feel good as you can 886 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:27,839 Speaker 1: as they can add because it's they have a tough 887 00:43:27,960 --> 00:43:30,760 Speaker 1: road in front of them depending on what happens Sunday, 888 00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:33,360 Speaker 1: But if it goes the way that logic tells you 889 00:43:33,400 --> 00:43:35,279 Speaker 1: it's going to go, they do have a tough road 890 00:43:35,600 --> 00:43:38,120 Speaker 1: and they're gonna have to feel good and confident going 891 00:43:38,120 --> 00:43:40,640 Speaker 1: into that first playoff game. Feather and you cap you 892 00:43:40,680 --> 00:43:44,360 Speaker 1: haven't beaten the Broncos in Denver since twenty thirteen, and 893 00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:47,759 Speaker 1: just your point about bouncing back, they haven't lost two 894 00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:50,279 Speaker 1: straight games since last year Weeks eight and ten. They 895 00:43:50,280 --> 00:43:53,239 Speaker 1: had a bye week in Week nine, So they've done 896 00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:56,080 Speaker 1: a great job of responding to adversity this year. And 897 00:43:56,120 --> 00:43:58,640 Speaker 1: I think that's one of the whole marks of Coach 898 00:43:58,760 --> 00:44:02,400 Speaker 1: Lynn's tenure to charge is just the ability win or lose, 899 00:44:02,960 --> 00:44:05,840 Speaker 1: to kind of put the week before in a rearview 900 00:44:05,880 --> 00:44:07,920 Speaker 1: and just focus on the task at hand. And I 901 00:44:07,960 --> 00:44:10,520 Speaker 1: think that is a positive sun when you talk about 902 00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:13,000 Speaker 1: going into January, Yeah, and they have been really good 903 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:15,200 Speaker 1: good at that, and I think that has to be 904 00:44:15,200 --> 00:44:18,040 Speaker 1: considered a positive with this team and with this whole 905 00:44:18,040 --> 00:44:20,120 Speaker 1: operation in the last two years, is they have had 906 00:44:20,160 --> 00:44:24,440 Speaker 1: that ability to not not let one game affect the 907 00:44:24,440 --> 00:44:26,160 Speaker 1: way they play the next game. And this is a 908 00:44:26,680 --> 00:44:29,520 Speaker 1: This week will be another another look at that same 909 00:44:29,560 --> 00:44:32,600 Speaker 1: thing and another sort of test and that same of 910 00:44:32,640 --> 00:44:36,520 Speaker 1: that same mindset. Philip said, you know yesterday when he 911 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:41,360 Speaker 1: spoke about the mental strength of this team and the toughness, 912 00:44:41,880 --> 00:44:43,680 Speaker 1: and I think there's something to that. I mean a 913 00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:45,239 Speaker 1: lot of times you hear players say that and you 914 00:44:45,320 --> 00:44:48,279 Speaker 1: kind of want to roll your eyes. Every team says that, 915 00:44:48,360 --> 00:44:51,120 Speaker 1: oh we're mentally tough. Yeah, well they are mentally tough. 916 00:44:51,160 --> 00:44:52,719 Speaker 1: I mean, they wouldn't be in the NFL if they were. 917 00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:55,279 Speaker 1: They weren't. But I think there is something too that. 918 00:44:55,360 --> 00:44:59,399 Speaker 1: I think they believe that and that's that can only 919 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:03,320 Speaker 1: help them, especially given what they could be face facing 920 00:45:03,360 --> 00:45:05,960 Speaker 1: here in January. They're going to need all of that 921 00:45:06,040 --> 00:45:10,239 Speaker 1: and so um yeah, I think, uh, there there is 922 00:45:10,560 --> 00:45:13,040 Speaker 1: there is that to it. There's this week also. I 923 00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:17,040 Speaker 1: mean Anthony Lynn, he's one and two against the Bronch 924 00:45:17,280 --> 00:45:19,960 Speaker 1: you mentioned it, you know, in his tenure as the 925 00:45:19,960 --> 00:45:21,839 Speaker 1: head coach, there's only three games when he's lost two 926 00:45:21,880 --> 00:45:24,319 Speaker 1: of them. So yeah, and you know he knows that 927 00:45:24,360 --> 00:45:26,680 Speaker 1: team and that franchise really well. So I'm sure he 928 00:45:27,560 --> 00:45:29,759 Speaker 1: personally would love to go there. And even even that 929 00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:32,719 Speaker 1: score and and uh, there's there's something to that too. 930 00:45:32,800 --> 00:45:35,239 Speaker 1: So there's a there's a lot to play for. There's 931 00:45:35,280 --> 00:45:37,520 Speaker 1: a lot, uh a lot of things to look at 932 00:45:37,520 --> 00:45:39,239 Speaker 1: this weekend and a lot of things that are important 933 00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:43,640 Speaker 1: about this weekend as it as it advances into the 934 00:45:43,719 --> 00:45:46,719 Speaker 1: into the postseason. So uh, all those things are going 935 00:45:46,800 --> 00:45:49,480 Speaker 1: to be worth watching. And uh, you know this is 936 00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:53,760 Speaker 1: it could ultimately not mean a whole lot what happens, 937 00:45:53,800 --> 00:45:56,840 Speaker 1: but it's how they play is going to be important. 938 00:45:56,880 --> 00:45:59,560 Speaker 1: I think quickly we'll we'll get you out here on 939 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:03,560 Speaker 1: this just the AFC in general and all these other 940 00:46:03,600 --> 00:46:06,200 Speaker 1: games of note, what do you think happens? What do 941 00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:10,560 Speaker 1: you think happens in Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati. There's even 942 00:46:10,640 --> 00:46:14,680 Speaker 1: a scenario, Jeff, where Sam Darnold could decide whether or 943 00:46:14,719 --> 00:46:17,640 Speaker 1: not the Chargers play the Patriots all Wild Car weekend. 944 00:46:17,640 --> 00:46:19,840 Speaker 1: There's a lot of different scenarios. And how does that 945 00:46:19,920 --> 00:46:23,680 Speaker 1: make Charger fans feel? I mean, Sam Donald might be 946 00:46:23,680 --> 00:46:26,280 Speaker 1: all he might be a Hall of Fame quarterback someday, 947 00:46:26,320 --> 00:46:29,800 Speaker 1: he's not right now. Yeah, yeah, So yeah, that's probably 948 00:46:29,800 --> 00:46:33,480 Speaker 1: not the most greatest feeling in the world for fans 949 00:46:33,719 --> 00:46:36,759 Speaker 1: rooting for that to happen. But the thing I look 950 00:46:36,800 --> 00:46:41,120 Speaker 1: at is Chargers are favored by roughly a touchdown, the 951 00:46:41,200 --> 00:46:45,040 Speaker 1: Chiefs are favored by almost two touchdowns. The Ravens are 952 00:46:45,080 --> 00:46:47,359 Speaker 1: favored by six I think last time I look, so 953 00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:50,960 Speaker 1: you think all three of those things, this is the NFL. 954 00:46:51,040 --> 00:46:53,240 Speaker 1: There's a good chance one of those three isn't gonna happen, 955 00:46:53,400 --> 00:46:55,279 Speaker 1: just because this is the NFL. I don't know which 956 00:46:55,280 --> 00:46:58,120 Speaker 1: one of those three. And don't forget about Jacksonville Houston. 957 00:46:58,280 --> 00:47:00,399 Speaker 1: I don't think there's a scenario which the just could 958 00:47:00,440 --> 00:47:04,280 Speaker 1: play the Texans. But if the Jaguars beat the Texans, 959 00:47:04,480 --> 00:47:06,680 Speaker 1: and I think if the Ravens beat the Browns, the 960 00:47:06,719 --> 00:47:09,440 Speaker 1: winner of that game on Sunday night we'll host the Chargers, 961 00:47:09,480 --> 00:47:12,000 Speaker 1: and yeah, which snow and sud no. I was thinking 962 00:47:12,000 --> 00:47:14,520 Speaker 1: about that a few days ago. But yeah, it's crazy, 963 00:47:14,560 --> 00:47:18,839 Speaker 1: and I don't know, it just seems so unlikely. Even 964 00:47:18,880 --> 00:47:21,000 Speaker 1: when you have these games where we're talking about these 965 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:22,880 Speaker 1: games where one team has everything to play for, the 966 00:47:22,880 --> 00:47:25,600 Speaker 1: other team has nothing to play for. It seems like 967 00:47:25,760 --> 00:47:27,960 Speaker 1: this is the NFL. There's not a lot of difference 968 00:47:27,960 --> 00:47:29,719 Speaker 1: between these teams. A lot of these games come down 969 00:47:29,760 --> 00:47:32,960 Speaker 1: to a couple of plays, and I you know that 970 00:47:33,080 --> 00:47:35,880 Speaker 1: one of these things that everyone is assuming is going 971 00:47:35,960 --> 00:47:37,600 Speaker 1: to happen is not going to happen just because it's 972 00:47:37,640 --> 00:47:41,759 Speaker 1: the NFL, and and maybe that topples everything. Maybe that 973 00:47:41,800 --> 00:47:43,640 Speaker 1: just means the difference between one team getting in and 974 00:47:43,680 --> 00:47:47,080 Speaker 1: not getting in. I guess we'll see, But I would 975 00:47:47,120 --> 00:47:49,880 Speaker 1: not want to be betting on most of these games 976 00:47:49,920 --> 00:47:52,279 Speaker 1: just because it's it's gonna be. It's just too hard 977 00:47:52,320 --> 00:47:56,000 Speaker 1: to gauge. The playing for pride thing can go two 978 00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:58,080 Speaker 1: different ways. You can get a team that just lies 979 00:47:58,120 --> 00:48:00,560 Speaker 1: down and wants to get on with their vacation in 980 00:48:00,600 --> 00:48:03,200 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, or you get a team I tell you, 981 00:48:03,239 --> 00:48:04,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if you saw the micd up of 982 00:48:04,480 --> 00:48:07,360 Speaker 1: John Gruden after the game talking about how much he 983 00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:10,400 Speaker 1: dislikes the Kansas City Chiefs. When you have a team 984 00:48:10,440 --> 00:48:12,600 Speaker 1: that's playing with a lot of energy, a lot of 985 00:48:12,640 --> 00:48:14,839 Speaker 1: young guys, you never know how it's gonna shake out 986 00:48:14,960 --> 00:48:16,680 Speaker 1: well exactly. And I think that's part of the reason 987 00:48:16,719 --> 00:48:20,480 Speaker 1: they these division games the in Week seventeen. Part of 988 00:48:20,480 --> 00:48:23,040 Speaker 1: it was you'd have games, you'd have games that have 989 00:48:23,160 --> 00:48:24,880 Speaker 1: meaning because you're playing teams you're on the division The 990 00:48:24,920 --> 00:48:27,319 Speaker 1: other part of it is you have these rivals. I mean, 991 00:48:27,320 --> 00:48:30,000 Speaker 1: the Chiefs and Raiders have never gotten along, and so 992 00:48:30,040 --> 00:48:31,960 Speaker 1: that's a you know, that's a big game, no matter 993 00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:34,200 Speaker 1: what the records are and all that stuff. And you know, 994 00:48:34,239 --> 00:48:38,359 Speaker 1: the Chargers and Broncos aren't exactly best buddies, so there 995 00:48:38,760 --> 00:48:40,920 Speaker 1: is that rivalry thing. I mean, you know, the Broncos 996 00:48:40,920 --> 00:48:43,640 Speaker 1: are not. It's not like, you know, the Broncos are 997 00:48:43,680 --> 00:48:46,160 Speaker 1: playing the Jets this weekend or somebody. I mean, they're 998 00:48:46,160 --> 00:48:48,719 Speaker 1: playing a team they know really well. They play every 999 00:48:48,840 --> 00:48:50,840 Speaker 1: twice every year. A lot of those you know, we 1000 00:48:50,880 --> 00:48:53,640 Speaker 1: mentioned von Miller, He's played the Chargers how many times? 1001 00:48:54,040 --> 00:48:56,000 Speaker 1: So there's a lot of familiarity. There's a lot of 1002 00:48:56,040 --> 00:48:59,239 Speaker 1: there's that whole common opponent thing in the NFL that 1003 00:48:59,239 --> 00:49:03,719 Speaker 1: that sort of you know, this venom between teams. So 1004 00:49:04,040 --> 00:49:06,360 Speaker 1: there's a lot of that going on, and it's it 1005 00:49:06,440 --> 00:49:08,640 Speaker 1: just adds to the intrigue of it, and it just 1006 00:49:08,680 --> 00:49:11,879 Speaker 1: adds to the uncertainty and how one of the one 1007 00:49:12,000 --> 00:49:15,040 Speaker 1: or multiple of these games is gonna end up going sideways, 1008 00:49:15,080 --> 00:49:17,239 Speaker 1: and it's it's gonna be really interesting to spend fun 1009 00:49:17,280 --> 00:49:19,160 Speaker 1: to watch. We don't know how it's gonna shake out, 1010 00:49:19,200 --> 00:49:20,840 Speaker 1: but I do know I will see you in the 1011 00:49:20,920 --> 00:49:24,600 Speaker 1: press box. Thanks Jeff, absolutely, thanks, and that's gonna do it. 1012 00:49:24,680 --> 00:49:28,000 Speaker 1: My thanks to Jeff Miller, Ryan O'Halloran, and Cynthia Freeland 1013 00:49:28,000 --> 00:49:30,000 Speaker 1: for joining me, and of course thanks to you all 1014 00:49:30,080 --> 00:49:32,640 Speaker 1: for listening. Don't forget. If you like what you hear, 1015 00:49:32,760 --> 00:49:34,560 Speaker 1: be sure to give us a rating and review on 1016 00:49:34,640 --> 00:49:38,319 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts. Please help spread the word. Enjoy the game 1017 00:49:38,360 --> 00:49:45,640 Speaker 1: on Sunday, and until next time, I'm Chris Hayrey.