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We’ve just released Episode 98 of the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast.
Our synopsis for Episode 98 is below:
The Los Angeles Chargers faced off against the Baltimore Ravens in an intense Harbaugh Bowl clash on Monday Night Football. After a strong 10-0 start in Q2, the Chargers couldn’t maintain their momentum as the Ravens fought back to claim a 30-23 victory. Now at 7-4, the Bolts gear up for a pivotal December stretch, aiming to secure a Wild Card Playoff spot. Join the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast as we break down MNF highlights, key plays, and what’s next as the Chargers prepare for a Week 13 showdown against the 6-5 Atlanta Falcons. Tune in for in-depth analysis, playoff predictions, and more! Don’t miss it!
You can also listen on Spotify below (or download on audio wherever you like to listen to podcasts):
As always, you can support us by doing any or all of the following:
– Rec’ing this post and leaving any thoughts/feedback you have in the comments section below.
– Following us on Twitter (and ‘liking’ our tweets) at @TDU_Chargers, or individually, at @TDU_Alister, @TDU_Jack and @TDU_Andy.
– ‘Subscribing’ to our YouTube channel, clicking the ‘Like’ button for today’s episode, and engaging with us in the comments section.
– Giving us a rating and leaving a review on the Thunder Down Under Podcast page on Apple Podcasts (and ‘subscribing’).
– Spreading the good word to all of your awesome Chargers friends and family and encouraging them to listen to our show (and engage with us on social media).
Hope you enjoy the episode! Thanks so much for listening 
Alister (@TDU_Alister)
Posting the Coach’s Film clips from the Ravens game that I thought were important or interesting:
Clip #1: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861649000715428345 (see Tweet comments for additional Herbert clip)
Clip #2: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861653465648218215
Clip #3: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861656201651728711
Clip #4: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861663544489713881
Clip #5: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861664958829711576
Clip #6: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861670641990279242
Clip #7: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861694882118529326
Clip #8: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861883714617127154
Clip #9: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861891192083890176
Clip #10: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861893262216417564
Clip #11: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861953619412635697
Clip #12: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861956006919496183
Clip #13: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1861968151166304332
Listened to the pod while getting ready for a busy Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for a lot of things this year, including very good Chargers content. Your stuff is OK too… 😉
Offense:
- I don’t think WR is the issue with this offense. If I could upgrade a position group with an above-average NFL player, I would prioritize:
- Center
- TE
- RG
- WR
- This is the second shitty game for QJ in a row. QJ caught 2 of 8 passes against the Bengals. While he did have a TD, he missed some very catchable passes. Over the last two weeks, he’s caught 2 of his 13 targets for 48 yards and a TD. Not good enough.
- I know everyone is wondering why Reagor is seeing the field over Chark, but I think I would sit QJ for a week and play Chark. Reagor brings a YAC ability that Chark does not have (and he can catch the fucking football). Again, former 1st round pick with talent.
- I agree with evaluating Roman at the end of the year. The frustrating thing for me is the lack of adjustments/success in the 2nd half. This offensive coaching staff has some TALENTED coaches with a ton of experience. They should be better prepared to make adjustments and win the 2nd half
- I thought Pipkins looked pretty bad (PFF had him as the lowest graded OLineman). In addition to missing the stunt Al pointed out below, he got pushed around a lot. My opinion is that Salyer is a better guard and should be playing. Pipkins does not have the strength to play on the interior. At 28 years old, we’re watching peak-Pipkins. Trey needs to go play for the Raiders.
Defense:
- Against physical offenses, I would rather see more Poona (hearing Jack say his name in my head right now…) and Tart. What I don’t need to see is Matlock getting knocked 8 yards down the field on every play. Start Poona and Tart, with Ogbonnia and maybe even Okoye rotating in. It was also not a good game for Fox. Minter needed to play the big, fat, ugly guys in the middle.
- Agree that Perryman was missed, but I thought Niemann played pretty well. This issue was that Henry was not getting hit in the backfield and the DL was getting blown up, giving Derrick a lane. Being the first guy to hit Henry after he’s got that huge body moving is not going to end well for most LBs/DBs.
Overall, I do not think this was a good game for this coaching staff. Bad plans on both sides of the ball. I do agree that the Ravens roster is better and the Chargers hung in there, but there were some bad decisions that led to the Chargers physically getting their asses kicked.
I WILL be at next weeks game in ATL. We’re sitting in my friends field level box seats, right behind the Chargers bench. The Chargers are 2-0 in Atlanta games I attend (our last game was Dicker’s first game, which he won with a late FG). The Falcons are a team I think this Chargers team can and should beat.
Forgot to say thanks for the shout-out. Fun fact: Atlanta is on the western edge of the Eastern Time Zone. It’s definitely a hike from LA and it’s starting 3 hours earlier, but as far as east coast trips, it’s much easier than going to Miami, DC, Boston or NY.
@kevdiego Happy Thanksgiving mate (and I wish the same to any other US Stormcloud user reading this!). Hope it’s an awesome day with family, lots of food and football!
I thought Minter tried almost everything along the DL (other than making Okoye active!) but you’re right, I think, that the lack of push against the likes of Mekari, Linderbaum and Faalale was significant in the outcome, especially in the second half. I still don’t agree with Minter making Tito the primary starter > Tart. But maybe Minter knows something about Tart’s aerobic capacity that I don’t. Tito is definitely a fit, athletic, guy. And so is Matlock. I agree though that Matlock played too many snaps.
Interestingly, Eboigbe played the most snaps of the year with 10. Against the run I thought he looked solid. Against the pass, not so much.
Fox generally struggled on Monday, I agree.
Pipkins needs to go play for the Raiders 😆 😆 😆
Looking forward to reading your insights from attending the Falcons game in person. Please let us know who does (and doesn’t looked) committed when you eyeball them on the sidelines 😉
Absolutely. In the last game, the Jaimes was the guy who seemed to be very focused on contributing any way he could. That was the year Salyer was playing LT – Jamis was always sitting next to him reviewing film. Clapp, on the other hand, was always fucking around. Glad that guy is gone.
I took a bunch of pictures of Telesco and J Spanos hanging out prior to the game. I felt like yelling something sarcastic at them, but thought better of it. If I see John this year, I’ll thank him for hiring Harbaugh and giving the gift of Telesco to the Raiders.
Thanks for the well wishes – I hope everyone is having a great day. Off to my second gathering now.
I think all three of you acknowledged the different positions of the Ravens and Chargers in this first building year. Not that they can’t win, but that they have less solid infrastructure than the Ravens, so the margins are tough.
While I like Ladd, he cannot be our #1 WR based on type, measurables and skillset. We lack that, as well as the TE threat. I love that Disley has performed well, but other teams have at least two of those types of TEs.
Don’t blame our O-line, we are much better off than the majority of teams. Can’t wait to exploit KC if we can go in full-strength on the line.
Dobbins to IR. 🫤
Even worse, Pipkins isn’t.
(But Alohi is, too. I’m worried about Atlanta’s running game, especially with Perryman down. Herbert’s going to have to have a monster game.)
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