Bengals at Chargers (-1.5) Pre Game Discussion (Wk 11)

[Velo]

Barring anything tragic, the Chargers will win 10 games and get a wildcard seed. I'm certain of that.

But I'm really hoping for the #5 seed, because that means going to Houston for the 1st playoff round vs going to Pitt, Balt, Buff or KC if they are the #6 or #7 seed.

If they beat both the Bengals and Ravens, they are in the driver's seat for the #5 seed.

If they only beat the Ravens, they will at least have a tie-breaker over Balt.

If they lose both of these next two games, they're still in playoff contention but they will likely finish as the #6 or #7 seed.

[Cdn Bolt]

My dad was British-American, born in Britain during WWI to an American serving in the British army and his English wife. My dad spent his early years in Britain (Manchester) but mostly grew up in the U.S. In 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland he enlisted in the U.S. Army. But inaction in the U.S. after the fall of France, with Hitler seemingly poised to invade England, led him to "desert" the U.S. Army and enlist in the Canadian army, which was in the war and sending troops to England to help fend off a German invasion. The Battle of Britain saved England from invasion, the Canadian troops protecting the South Coast of England were getting restless. My dad had married an English girl he met at a dance in Sept '41. In Aug 1942 the British decided to the mount the raid on Dieppe using Canadian troops. My dad was a Sgt in the Essex Scottish, which was mostly cut down on the beach at Dieppe. He was captured and spent the remainder of the war in various German stalags. His English wife gave birth to their child in Feb 1943 while he was a POW. My dad kept her existence and the fact he had been married during the war a secret from us, his U.S. children. I didn't learn about my half sister until after my father died in 1973 when I was 15. We located her in 2005, I've been over there to visit her a few times. She is 81 and lives in Worthing, directly across the Channel from Dieppe. I've told this story here before, but it's Veterans Day and I wanted to tell it again. I knew almost nothing about my dad when he died, almost everything I know now I've learned in the 50 years since his death. He was a secretive man. The U.S. Army Rangers were formed during WWII. Fifty Rangers tagged a long at the Dieppe Raid, it was the Rangers' baptismal combat. I think two died at Dieppe and the rest returned made it back to England.

That is an amazing story and thanks for sharing that and yesterday was what we call Remembrance Day up here as well. I think there were many marriages between the servicemen and the women in host countries where they were based. Incidentally, my US uncle (WW2 merchant mariner) I mentioned married my British Aunt (both deceased now) and I have cousins in both the US and UK. One cousin served in the US Navy as well then Naval Reserve.

FYI My grandfather's story ( Mother's side) was very interesting and similar to your Dad's. He was born in what is now modern day Ukraine and fought for the Austrian- Hungarian army in WW1, was captured and forced to fight for the Italian army. At the end of the war he was homeless and penniless and made his way across Europe which was ravaged. Many left then and went abroad. Many went out west for work (farming mainly) and he went to Saskatchewan, Canada and found work farming and on the railroads. There are huge Ukrainian communities in Western Canada for this reason or later Stalin's Holodomor. It is interesting hearing stories from the earlier generations. Our generation has had it so easy in comparison.

[Berserker76]

I just hope the Ravens win the AFC North, don't want to see the Steelers win it. Wouldn't want to have to play the Steelers at home in a playoff game. Of course, we could still capture the AFC West, so then all bets are off.

[Velo]

That is an amazing story and thanks for sharing that and yesterday was what we call Remembrance Day up here as well. I think there were many marriages between the servicemen and the women in host countries where they were based. Incidentally, my US uncle (WW2 merchant mariner) I mentioned married my British Aunt (both deceased now) and I have cousins in both the US and UK. One cousin served in the US Navy as well then Naval Reserve.

My grandfather's story ( Mother's side) was very interesting and similar to your Dad's. He was born in what is now modern day Ukraine and fought for the Austrian- Hungarian army in WW1, was captured and forced to fight for the Italian army. At the end of the war he was homeless and penniless and made his way across Europe which was ravaged. Many left then and went abroad. Many went out west for work (farming mainly) and he went to Saskatchewan, Canada and found work farming and on the railroads. There are huge Ukrainian communities in Western Canada. It is interesting hearing stories from the earlier generations. Our generation has had it so easy in comparison.

Wow, your grandfather's story is fascinating! The Austria-Hungary empire and the Hapsburg dynasty ceased to exist after WWI. My grandfather, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, was 21 when the Germans torpedoed the Lusitania in 1915. A few weeks after the sinking, he crossed the Atlantic and enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers at Manchester UK. This was two years before the U.S. joined WWI. While stationed in Manchester before shipping out, he married my grandmother, a local Manchester girl. He saw action at Gallipoli, after the Brits pulled out there he served in the Middle Eastern campaigns against the Ottomans. He cut his finger opening a ration can and his finger had to be amputated. He fibbed and said a German sniper shot it off. My dad was born in Manchester in Feb 1917 while his dad was away fighting. My English grandmother lived to 99, she died in 1996.

The Armistice that ended WWI was signed on Nov. 11 1918. In Canada Nov. 11 is Remembrance Day. In Britain it's Armistice Day. In the U.S. it became Veterans Day, because we already had a Memorial Day for the fallen in May.

[sonorajim]

Barring anything tragic, the Chargers will win 10 games and get a wildcard seed. I'm certain of that.

But I'm really hoping for the #5 seed, because that means going to Houston for the 1st playoff round vs going to Pitt, Balt, Buff or KC if they are the #6 or #7 seed.

If they beat both the Bengals and Ravens, they are in the driver's seat for the #5 seed.

If they only beat the Ravens, they will at least have a tie-breaker over Balt.

If they lose both of these next two games, they're still in playoff contention but they will likely finish as the #6 or #7 seed.

Harbaugh has introduced Chargers fans to a brave new world. One where we win some tough games and play tougher because of it. I don't recall worrying about our playoff seeding for a while.

Cincy's stats are much better in passing offense but I think Herbert & co are coming on.
4-6 Cincy's D allows an avg 26.2 ppg. We do not. 13.1 is half as much, does that make us twice as good? Maybe.
We need to knock their 27 ppg O scoring down some. Take advantage of their weak pass D.

[Velo]

I just hope the Ravens win the AFC North, don't want to see the Steelers win it. Wouldn't want to have to play the Steelers at home in a playoff game. Of course, we could still capture the AFC West, so then all bets are off.

Liking the optimism.

[Cdn Bolt]

I'm gonna throw a rockstar shout out to Triumph, Rush and Loverboy! Lets toss in a random BTO while we're at it to capture all of the "working" for bands. Hailing back to the Joni/Neil era, I give you The Guess Who, leave it to a great Canadian to capture the essence of the American Woman!

For those younger kids, lets call out Sum 41, Barenaked Ladies, Nickelback, and Arcade Fire. eh ... I'm old.

Go Hosers, Rock On!

Hosers lol, Havent heard that term in awhile but good recall of the Mackenzie brothers from the 80s lol! There are many I missed too. The Band (pretty big), Michael Buble, Alanis Morisette ( pretty big), Avril Lavigne, Bryan Adams, Leonard Cohen ( big poet) , Tragically Hip ( pretty big following) Bryan Adams + still many others.

[dmac_bolt]

My dad was British-American, born in Britain during WWI to an American serving in the British army and his English wife. My dad spent his early years in Britain (Manchester) but mostly grew up in the U.S. In 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland he enlisted in the U.S. Army. But inaction in the U.S. after the fall of France, with Hitler seemingly poised to invade England, led him to "desert" the U.S. Army and enlist in the Canadian army, which was in the war and sending troops to England to help fend off a German invasion. The Battle of Britain saved England from invasion, the Canadian troops protecting the South Coast of England were getting restless. My dad had married an English girl he met at a dance in Sept '41. In Aug 1942 the British decided to the mount the raid on Dieppe using Canadian troops. My dad was a Sgt in the Essex Scottish, which was mostly cut down on the beach at Dieppe. He was captured and spent the remainder of the war in various German stalags. His English wife gave birth to their child in Feb 1943 while he was a POW. My dad kept her existence and the fact he had been married during the war a secret from us, his U.S. children. I didn't learn about my half sister until after my father died in 1973 when I was 15. We located her in 2005, I've been over there to visit her a few times. She is 81 and lives in Worthing, directly across the Channel from Dieppe. I've told this story here before, but it's Veterans Day and I wanted to tell it again. I knew almost nothing about my dad when he died, almost everything I know now I've learned in the 50 years since his death. He was a secretive man. The U.S. Army Rangers were formed during WWII. Fifty Rangers tagged a long at the Dieppe Raid, it was the Rangers' baptismal combat. I think two died at Dieppe and the rest returned made it back to England.

awesome story, thanks for sharing, V!

[Charge!]

Barring anything tragic, the Chargers will win 10 games and get a wildcard seed. I'm certain of that.

But I'm really hoping for the #5 seed, because that means going to Houston for the 1st playoff round vs going to Pitt, Balt, Buff or KC if they are the #6 or #7 seed.

If they beat both the Bengals and Ravens, they are in the driver's seat for the #5 seed.

If they only beat the Ravens, they will at least have a tie-breaker over Balt.

If they lose both of these next two games, they're still in playoff contention but they will likely finish as the #6 or #7 seed.

agree!

[Cdn Bolt]

Wow, your grandfather's story is fascinating! The Austria-Hungary empire and the Hapsburg dynasty ceased to exist after WWI. My grandfather, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, was 21 when the Germans torpedoed the Lusitania in 1915. A few weeks after the sinking, he crossed the Atlantic and enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers at Manchester UK. This was two years before the U.S. joined WWI. While stationed in Manchester before shipping out, he married my grandmother, a local Manchester girl. He saw action at Gallipoli, after the Brits pulled out there he served in the Middle Eastern campaigns against the Ottomans. He cut his finger opening a ration can and his finger had to be amputated. He fibbed and said a German sniper shot it off. My dad was born in Manchester in Feb 1917 while his dad was away fighting. My English grandmother lived to 99, she died in 1996.

The Armistice that ended WWI was signed on Nov. 11 1918. In Canada Nov. 11 is Remembrance Day. In Britain it's Armistice Day. In the U.S. it became Veterans Day, because we already had a Memorial Day for the fallen in May.

Thanks again for that great story, our elders have some amazing experiences. Good he wasn't in the earlier Gallipoli battles which were disasters for the allies. They made a great movie called ' Gallipoli ' about the battle w Mel Gibson. Many Australians died there.

FYI As an heirloom, my Dad gave me his great uncle's copper penny. It is a large copper piece about 8" in diameter inside a cross (Victorian cross) and was given to all British servicemen in WW1 w the soldier's name inscribed . He fought mainly at the Somme. It is all pretty amazing history.

[Bolt4Knob]

I just hope the Ravens win the AFC North, don't want to see the Steelers win it. Wouldn't want to have to play the Steelers at home in a playoff game. Of course, we could still capture the AFC West, so then all bets are off.

Sign me up today for a game in Pittsburgh. Or Buffalo. Or Houston, Or anywhere. Means the team is in the playoffs.

When it comes to the playoffs -not picky. Just get into the post-season.

I would rather watch shows on ESPN or NFLN that time of year to hear news about a playoff game and not the HC/GM search.

[jamrock]

I just hope the Ravens win the AFC North, don't want to see the Steelers win it. Wouldn't want to have to play the Steelers at home in a playoff game. Of course, we could still capture the AFC West, so then all bets are off.

Chiefs are due for a losing streak. May start this week in Buffalo. No one can be this fortunate for this long, can they?

Whoops, checked their schedule. They've already played most of the good teams they'll face this season.