We’ve just released Episode 162 of the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast
Our synopsis is below:
#BoltUp! Another absolute fizzer for the Bolts Offense at SoFi Stadium. Despite Joe Alt’s brilliant return anchoring a clean pass-blocking performance, the Chargers collapse to 0-7 following a lifeless 24-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. With the Offense now sitting dead last across nearly every major statistical category and having gone nine straight quarters without a touchdown, the disconnect between Jim Harbaugh’s conservative game management and Mike McDaniel’s chaotic playcalling has reached a breaking point. Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we break down the wreckage, hand out our weekly awards, and ask how this season went so terribly wrong.
What we cover today:
🐏 Rams Recap & The Offensive Drought: Breaking down the 24-9 defeat, Joe Alt’s masterclass, the return of the run-game/play-action flashes in the first half, and why the Offense completely flat-lined after halftime.
⚖️ The Harbaugh-McDaniel Disconnect: Examining the conservative field-goal decisions, the bizarre running-back rotation (Hampton, Mitchell, and Vidal), and why this coaching marriage is failing on national television.
🤝 Yeah/Nah & Nah/Yeah Awards: Andy and Alister hand out their stock-check awards for who deserves praise and who belongs on the hot seat after an 0-7 start.
🎓 #TeachableMoment: Jack takes to the whiteboard for his weekly Chargers lesson.
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Hope you enjoy the episode! Thanks so much for listening 🙂
Alister (@TDU_Alister)
Long time team fan, podcaster (with Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast), husband to a beautiful wife, friend to all fellow Chargers fanatics, and father-to-be!
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Haven’t listened yet but wanted to drop this here. The Chargers are being led by truly clueless pom-pom bearers.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7752160/2026/11/04/chargers-trade-deadline-khalil-mack-jim-harbaugh/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=12566676&source=dailyemail
Listened today at work. Very funny episode. I love the “fuck off” by Al after his McDaniel rant. I would include Harbaugh and Hortiz in the Yeah/Nah. I think both have run their course, although I think Harbaugh will be back just off his contract. People that think Hortiz will be gone have to remember that he was brought here by Harbaugh. I think they are a package deal. The ties with him and the Harbaugh family run deep, so I do not expect him to be canned if Jim is still here.
Everyone has their breaking point, Erick!
Mine was seeing the Offense not substantially simplify things but expecting that with Ladd/Tre/QJ playing together everything would work just fine.
Well…it didn’t. Herbert’s two turnovers probably end up being the difference in this game. The stats between the teams were nearly identical otherwise. But your main job Mike is to get the best from Herbert, right? What about those 4 hours meetings…
So, enough is enough. You had your chance and you failed. Bon Voyage.
Honestly, I would like to see Hortiz survive this regime and get to work with a different HC. I think the Spanii will always be cheap, and that Hortiz’s scouting staff have the ability to execute that cheapness better than most, with trade downs, identifying decent cheap FAs, and finding Day 3 gold. I don’t want to find out if “Mr New GM” is good at his job. I think Hortiz is fine or better than that.
Hortiz has some good points, but when the roster is arguably worse after 3 years under his watch and we are closer to a rebuild than contending, he also had his shot and failed. The arrogance he has shown also sticks in my craw. I just think this whole Harbaugh experience has run its course. It seems like the cliche’s and platitudes and the bombastic statements have worn thin on the players as well.