Game thoughts after the ugly but needed win over the Bengals

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  • Bolt-O
    Administrator
    • Jun 2013
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    Game thoughts after the ugly but needed win over the Bengals

    Come on. This was a chance to get some rest, keep fans calm and ready for Thursday Night Football. Offense was flat, Defense showed huge holes, but the Money Badger was nails and set a team record 59 yd FG... which was needed.

    I think the Chargers did over look the Bengals, but all teams in the NFL can't be overlooked. The Steelers and Broncos were burned by 2-10 teams, and they were looking for playoff spots.

    At least this game got the teams attention... we hope.
  • NoMoreChillies
    Outback Goon
    • Sep 2018
    • 1608
    • Australia
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    #2
    a win is a win

    did just enough to win without exposing too much tape for opponents come playoffs. Lynn Whiz and GusD all playing 4d chess my friends.

    be happy 10-3 is glorious.

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    • SDFan
      Woober Goober
      • Jun 2013
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      • Dolores, CO
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      #3
      I didn't get to watch the game, but curious about the flat offense and running game in particular. How were the carries divided up between Ekeler, Jackson and whoever else at RB? Did Ek start the game as the primary RB again?
      Life is too short to drink cheap beer :beer:

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      • Bolt-O
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        • Jun 2013
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        #4
        Yes they did start Ekeler, and early he was effective, but the Bengals figured it out. The Run game disappeared in the 2nd quarter, and Philip was also poor there... 3 straight, 3 and outs.

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        • SDFan
          Woober Goober
          • Jun 2013
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          #5
          there you go. I had it in the Friday predictions thread that if they started Ek again the game would be closer than anyone wanted or expected. It's not a case of just executing better in the run game for him- it's that he's so heavily involved as the complimentary guy and in STs and there's nobody else to plug in to replace him there and you lose a big chunk of the offense starting him. Not sure why the coaches can't figure that out, but it bites them every time going back to NOrv and Sproles.
          Life is too short to drink cheap beer :beer:

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          • blueman
            Registered Charger Fan
            • Jun 2013
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            #6

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            • Heatmiser
              HarbaughHarrisonHeatMiser
              • Jun 2013
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              #7
              Being pinned back killed the offense in the second quarter. By the way, Williams caught that pass. He had one foot down and then the knee on the other leg hit. Am I only one who saw it?

              TG
              Like, how am I a traitor? Your team are traitors.

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              • RTPbolt
                Charger Fan till the end
                • Jun 2013
                • 2570
                • North Carolina
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                #8

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                • JupiterBolt
                  ~ Charger Fan ~
                  • Sep 2018
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                  #9

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                  • Bolt-O
                    Administrator
                    • Jun 2013
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                    #10
                    jay paris:

                    The Chargers can finally look at something they never put behind them: the Kansas City Chiefs.

                    "We can talk about Kansas City now, yes we can,'' Los Angeles coach Anthony Lynn said.

                    His squad at last will focus on the Chiefs after surviving a spirited tussle with the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-21, on Sunday.

                    But it's Thursday which has the Chargers attention and it can't get here soon enough.

                    Scratch that thought.

                    The Chargers (10-3) are eager to play the Chiefs (12-2), looking to avenge that opening-week loss and catch them for the AFC West lead. But nothing's more critical than having your most important players available. On that count, the visiting Chargers could be in jeopardy on a short week.



                    Running back Melvin Gordon (knee) hasn't taken a snap in two games and there's no guarantee he goes this week, especially with it being an early date. Versatile backup Austin Ekeler, who had a touchdown in Sunday's win, was staggered by a late helmet-to-helmet hit and he's no cinch to be ready.

                    Brandon Mebane, the veteran and massive defensive tackle, skipped his third straight game. His newborn daughter has serious health issues and his status, rightly so, is uncertain. That's combined with Denzel Perryman (knee), who's out for the year, and he was the unit's best run-stuffing linebacker.



                    But the long line of Chargers kickers might have reached an end. That roar of "Hallelujah!" ricocheting around the StubHub Center likely generated from Lynn's office.

                    Since Lynn took over in 2017, the Chargers have cycled through seven kickers. With Michael Badgley being No. 7, just maybe LA is in heaven.

                    Badgley had four field goals against the Bengals, with his 59-yard effort setting a team mark. For a franchise which has featured John Carney and Rolf Benirschke, that's pretty impressive.

                    It's nearly as keen as Badgley's accuracy as the undrafted rookie free agent from Miami has converted on 14 of 15 attempts.

                    "It's good to have a kicker with leg strength,'' said Lynn, who has seen numerous victories dissolve over the team's kicking woes.

                    Where the Chargers showed their brawn against the Bengals was with between their ears. After notching a dramatic win over the Steelers in the previous game -- "I still had people coming up to me on Friday saying what a great game that was,'' Philip Rivers said -- and the Chiefs on-deck, Sunday's outing came with all but a false floor.

                    "It probably was a trap this week and no disrespect to the Cincinnati Bengals,'' Rivers added. "But it's every week that something can happen. We are not more deserving than anybody else so you got to kick it off and see what happens.''

                    The Chargers, winners of 10 games for the first time since 2009, started fast with a 14-0 jolt. But from there drives stalled, execution was so-so and in a soccer stadium not far from downtown LA, the Chargers kept turning to their newfound attribute.

                    "Badgley was huge,'' Rivers said.

                    He had to be in what Rivers describes as a "close-game league." Save Badgley's performance, the Chargers might have been kicking themselves for allowing the Bengals to snap a four-game losing streak.

                    Instead the Chargers sprinted off the turf and many went immediately into an ice bath. There's no time for backslaps with the Chiefs looming on Thursday.

                    "We've got to shift gears in a hurry,'' Rivers said.

                    Just maybe that leads to a finishing-kick for the Chargers, thanks to finally having a kicker.

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                    • Bolt-O
                      Administrator
                      • Jun 2013
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                      #11
                      Union-Tribune columnist Nick Canepa issues his grades for the Chargers after Sunday's 26-21 victory over Cincinnati.

                      Quarterbacks: D+


                      On a day when seat manufacturers got free advertising at Carson High, Philip Rivers played the NFLRunning backs: C


                      Injured Melvin Gordon is a starter for a reason. Austin Ekeler, who averaged 12 yards a carry on the first drive, had a 5-yard TD run, then also found the swamp. Justin Jackson can run and catch.

                      Receivers: C+


                      Mike Williams had a wonderful sideline catch and then a huge one later. Antonio Gates remains an NFL tight end. Keenan Allen caught a TD, and had a big fourth-quarter catch. Tyrell Williams had his first catch since November.

                      Offensive line: D


                      Not their finest 60 minutes after first two series. Mike Pouncey, who is very good, got beat for an early sack. Sam Tevi did not make the honor roll.

                      Defensive line: C-


                      Darius Philon had huge sack on two-point try near the end, but pass rush can be found in San Pedro. Joey Bosa, very active, had his fourth sack in four games. Melvin Ingram seems allergic to QBs. The middle misses Corey Liuget and Brandon Mebane. Damion Square got a paw on a pass. Ingram had an inexcusable offside.

                      Linebackers: DSecondary: C-


                      With little help from rush, trouble covering second-teamers. Casey Haywood, a Pro Bowler, not having a Pro BowlSpecial teams: A-Donnie JonesCoaching: LBengals a TD.

                      Next opportunity (at Kansas City): FChiefs

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                      • Fleet
                        TPB Founder
                        • Jun 2013
                        • 14162
                        • Cardiff - Poipu
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                        #12
                        Everything needed to be dark....so that our new kicker would stand out....and shine bright like a diamond. lol

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