Chargers at Raiders Pre-Game Discussion (Week 18)

[Fouts2herbert]

Vikings have 76m of cap space. They have plenty of money to sign Darnold for one year. They can franchise him like you said. Personally, I think I only go at most two years on Darnold anyway.

As for the Raiders - they have the cap space to do something big for Darnold -- next two years, nobody has more combined space than the Raiders

Why on earth would Sam Darnold want to go to Las Vegas, the last two years he's gotten a taste for what a decently run organization looks like, coming from the Jets and Panthers, his time with the 49ers clearly allowed him to hit the reset button on his career and we're seeing the rebirth of the potential he came out of USC with when he got drafted...Darnold is not going to take a big old shit on all that to go play for yet another completely dysfunctional franchise...if he flops in Minnesota next year then he might be desperate to go to a place like Las Vegas, but right now, after the success he's had this year, Hell No!

[Fouts2herbert]

Well, the NE result -- the win -- was not a surprise. How the Chargers did it, was a surprise. The offense has found another gear. Harbaugh wants 11 wins. The Raiders have won 2 in a row. I have to think that Harbaugh and the team's goal of 11 wins gets them across the finish line. This game will be much closer than the NE game. Maybe less than a TD. 27 - 21 Chargers. The Chargers reach 11 wins -- 3 more than I expected in Harbaugh's first year. A meaningful game in January? Heck yes!

there is no question that something happened after that embarrassing loss to Tampa...I don't want to speculate what that is because the change is so drastic some conspiracy theories have already started that Roman is no longer calling the offense and that Harbaugh has taken a larger role...I'm calling bullshit on all that...did Harbaugh maybe tell Roman it was time to open up the playbook a bit? that might be possible that he spoke to his OC and told him to start spreading the ball around more and being less predictable, who knows and it doesn't matter, if Roman keeps calling games like he has since the second half of the Bronco come back win then we have a shot to win a playoff game and you'll hear no Roman complaints from me, that's all I wanted for him to trust his personnel more and use them better, right now that is happening and I'm happy...

[Fouts2herbert]

I’m in the rest as many starters as possible camp. They haven’t had a week off since the week 5 bye. We can’t afford another M Will disaster.

There is a real benefit in playing backups besides resting starters. They get valuable game time experience and you can see what they got if you need them for the playoffs.

Another factor is be careful what you wish for. If the Chargers play Houston and lose it will be a bigger failure than losing to Baltimore. Reverse is more rewarding.

Let’s kick LaMarr’s ass and revenge Jim’s earlier loss to John. Don’t be so fearful of Ravens. It’s unbecoming and shows no confidence in your team.

if the Steelers lose they won't rest anyone until the lead is as big as the one in NE...

[Fouts2herbert]

From the post-game celebration? That was before him knowing that he could be playing for nothing. I accept anything he does, but realistically, he should be planning for the worst case situation of having to play against the Ravens.

this team doesn't have the depth and overall talent to compete with the Ravens or the Bills, because of our familiarity with KC I'd actually feel more comfortable seeing them in the playoffs...so it's 5th seed or bust IMO, it won't much matter how many people he rests if this team has to face Baltimore, we've already seen the disparity in talent on the two rosters in that last game...

[Fouts2herbert]

Not sure I trust Darnold yet to be honest to give him more than two years - almost like show me again before we really commit!

Ted Nguyen - not sure who he works for but a Raiders fan for sure -- suggested the Raidres offer their FRP to the Vikings for McCarthy - well he threw it out there as a possibility.

Darnold will get another year in Minnesota to prove 2024 wasn't a fluke and he'll have another great season and then the Vikings will have a tough choice to make, either to tag an trade Darnold in 2026 or to sign him long term and trade JJ...

The Vikings would be idiots to make a move before 2026...

[Fouts2herbert]

I love that scenario but I don't believe it.

the Browns are not going to beat the Ravens, the most likely scenario is that we're going to Baltimore, that is the most likely scenario, Pittsburgh just got done playing a brutal part of their schedule, Philly, Baltimore, and KC in like 12 days or something...I find it hard to believe that they'll lose to the Bengals when the Bengals can't stop a damn thing defensively, my hope is that we get to go to Houston, but from a probability standpoint that's a bit less likely than us ending up in Baltimore...

#1 Baltimore as the #6 seed

#2 Houston as the #5 seed

#3 Pittsburgh as the #6 seed

[dmac_bolt]

the Browns are not going to beat the Ravens, the most likely scenario is that we're going to Baltimore, that is the most likely scenario, Pittsburgh just got done playing a brutal part of their schedule, Philly, Baltimore, and KC in like 12 days or something...I find it hard to believe that they'll lose to the Bengals when the Bengals can't stop a damn thing defensively, my hope is that we get to go to Houston, but from a probability standpoint that's a bit less likely than us ending up in Baltimore...

#1 Baltimore as the #6 seed

#2 Houston as the #5 seed

#3 Pittsburgh as the #6 seed

Pitt looks like an offense any playoff caliber team can stop now though. Can their D hold Bengals to 20, is I think the correct question - I would say no but its fair to wonder about both teams.

[northerner]

Wes Chandler was the reason I became a lifelong Charger fan!

i was sad to lose JJ, but the Chandler was a great replacement. awesome WR.

[Fouts2herbert]

Pitt looks like an offense any playoff caliber team can stop now though. Can their D hold Bengals to 20, is I think the correct question - I would say no but it's fair to wonder about both teams.

I'm hopeful, but I honestly don't think the Bengals can beat the Steelers, the whole division rival thing gives me pause tho and that's where the hope comes form...right now, the Steelers are reeling on a 3 game skid because they literally just got done playing 3 of the top 5 teams in the whole NFL...any team in the NFL would look bad under those circumstances, this will be a hard reset and bounce back game for Pittsburgh, they're are going to come out and most probably beat the living shit outta the Bungles...

I hope my hunch is wrong, I would love for us to go to Houston instead...

[Fouts2herbert]

i was sad to lose JJ, but the Chandler was a great replacement. awesome WR.

To this day I'm convinced that I've never seen anyone run with so much grace like Wes Chandler could run with, I've heard that Bambi also ran like that with and effortless style that could almost be described as beautiful...I'm also convinced the Deon Sanders emulated Wes Chandler's style, everything from how he wore his socks to the way he finished runs right before he crossed the goaline with those high steps...

[Bolt4Knob]

Pitt looks like an offense any playoff caliber team can stop now though. Can their D hold Bengals to 20, is I think the correct question - I would say no but its fair to wonder about both teams.

Agree. Can the Pitt defense slow down the Bengals offense

Broncos had a good defense and Bengals drove the ball - pretty much at will. Burrow is pretty much playing QB better than anybody -even Allen and Jackson - in the NFL

Steelers are sliding. I think Bengals win

[FoutsFan]

the Browns are not going to beat the Ravens, the most likely scenario is that we're going to Baltimore, that is the most likely scenario, Pittsburgh just got done playing a brutal part of their schedule, Philly, Baltimore, and KC in like 12 days or something...I find it hard to believe that they'll lose to the Bengals when the Bengals can't stop a damn thing defensively, my hope is that we get to go to Houston, but from a probability standpoint that's a bit less likely than us ending up in Baltimore...

#1 Baltimore as the #6 seed

#2 Houston as the #5 seed

#3 Pittsburgh as the #6 seed

I think the Bengals win. The Stillers are exhausted, their team is not what it was early in the year. The Bengals have to win and that Giants win gave them a shot in the arm for their playoff hopes. Anything can happen but I am on the Bengals camp for this game.