Every week, I sit down with NBC 7 Sports Director Jim Laslavic to talk about the Chargers and the latest NFL news.
We look at Sunday’s huge win over the Baltimore Ravens and the upcoming matchup with the conference-leading New England Patriots.
1. Will we look back in a few weeks and see this as the win that saved the Chargers’ season?
Why not us? That has to be the question now for the Chargers. They beat a good Ravens team on the road and became the first West Coast team to beat the Ravens in Baltimore.
The Chargers are good. They had a mid-season hiccup. But like last year, they’ve gotten healthy for the stretch run.
Especially at linebacker. But also with the return of Ryan Mathews. Running the ball is key this time of year. Mathews has carried the ball a total of 25 times over the past two games. He’s fresh and ready to carry the load.
2. Philip Rivers has to be considered one of the most clutch QBs around, no?
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No doubt he needs to be in the conversation. But keep in mind he has all the weapons.
Teams need to account for Antonio Gates. Malcom Floyd at 6-foot-5 creates some mismatches when teams play man coverage. And that leaves Keenan Allen to do his thing.
3. So many penalties on both sides at critical times on Sunday. Are they calling games too tight, or just undisciplined teams?
It’s too bad. Plus so many of the recent rule changes aid the offense. It’s more and more difficult to play defense.
4. What do you expect from the Patriots on Sunday?
They are well coached. So even with the distractions that come from being on the road for a week, they’ll be ready to play.
Since 2009, the Patriots and Chargers are tied for the best record in the month of December at 17-3. That’s a credit to the quarterbacks. And in the case of the Patriots, the head coach.
5. Is Bill Belichick the best coach in the league right now?
If not, who is? Bill has been in the league since 1975 when he was a special assistant with the Baltimore Colts.
He spent the next two years in Detroit as an assistant. I was on the team then. Bill was quite serious about his craft. It’s no accident he’ll one day be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
