San Diego Chargers

On the Corner, podcast #32: How Vince Young saved the world

This week's edition of the podcast takes a closer look at the resurgence in Tennessee and how Vince Young(notes) is making it happen. To help us out, Jimmy Morris of Titans blog Music City Miracles was nice enough to stop by and shed some light on Tennessee's situation.

The most fascinating thing about it is Vince Young, of course, and how on earth he managed to compile a 3-0 record as starter since taking over. Jimmy tells us what VY does for the offense that Kerry Collins(notes) couldn't do, as well as what else has been clicking for the Titans. We talk about Bud Adams and his mischievous fingers, the disappearance of LenDale White(notes) and why Chris Johnson is the best running back in the NFL.

This edition's Abusive E-mail of the Week again insults my wife, who was able to take the insult in stride, mainly because she doesn't exist. The Hot Routes touch on JaMarcus Russell(notes), Ronnie Brown(notes), Pat White(notes) and Mike Shanahan's chances of being the next coach in Buffalo. Here are the games we call for the Picks Segment, where Danks went 5-0 against the spread last week (home teams in CAPS).

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS -3 vs. Chicago Bears
PITTSBURGH STEELERS -7 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
MINNESOTA VIKINGS -16½ vs. Detroit Lions
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS -2 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS -3 vs. New England Patriots

You can listen right here.

Or download the MP3 right here. MP3, 37:25, 17.5 MB.

• Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:31 am EST
• Shutdown Corner
• By MJD
• 13 Comments

The absurdly premature playoff picture: Week 10

See last week's absurdly premature playoff picture here.

AFC First-Round Byes:
Indianapolis Colts
Cincinnati Bengals

Other AFC Divisional Champions:
New England Patriots
San Diego Chargers

AFC Wild Cards:
Pittsburgh Steelers
Denver Broncos

NFC First-Round Byes:
New Orleans Saints
Minnesota Vikings

Other NFC Divisional Champions:
Dallas Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals

NFC Wild Cards:
Philadelphia Eagles
Green Bay Packers

• As promised, with its win over Pittsburgh, Cincinnati slides into the second first-round bye spot in the AFC. The Bengals thoroughly earned it. They should stay there for a while, too, as their next three games are against three teams that would be playing in the UFL next year if the NFL worked like English soccer: Oakland, Cleveland and Detroit.  

• We also had a change in the divisional champion out west, with San Diego taking over for Denver. As always, this comes with the requisite warning that this could be a homer pick, and if you believe it is, well, fair enough. The good news? Any homerism gets rectified this weekend, as the Chargers and Broncos play for that spot. AFC West Divisional Champion spot ... ON THE LINE.

• I like San Diego in that game, though, which is why I've given the Chargers the nod today. They're a better team today than they were when they played Denver the first time, and I don't know if anyone can say conclusively that the Broncos aren't worse. Especially if Kyle Orton(notes) can't go.

• Over in the NFC, everything stays the same outside of the wild-card spots, which are a mess. There's a gaggle of teams at 5-4: Philadelphia, New York, Green Bay and Atlanta. We've also got a couple of 4-5 teams we can't completely discount yet: Chicago, Carolina and San Francisco. Of those, the 49ers have the most favorable schedule remaining, but their win over the Bears was not exactly the stuff of which legends are made.

• I ended up going with Philadelphia and Green Bay, simply because of the "When in doubt, go with the best quarterbacks" philosophy. Philadelphia put forth a game effort in San Diego; the Eagles shot their feet off in the red zone. If Brian Westbrook(notes) is out for a while (and I've got a hunch he will be), that'll hurt, but the Eagles deserve a chance to show they're prepared for his absence, which they absolutely should be.

• If that defensive performance Green Bay put forth against Dallas was real, I love Green Bay's chances to snag a wild-card spot. The Packers are still far from a perfect team, obviously, but they're the most explosive offense in wild-card contendership, and if the defense can start to match that at all, I like it.

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• Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:44 pm EST
• Shutdown Corner
• By MJD
• 224 Comments

Bolts & Dolts: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos

Bolts & Dolts: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos. Lots of guys as Bolts, not so many Dolts...

• Mon Nov 23, 2009 EST
• Bolts From The Blue
• By John (obviousman)

Chargers Defeat Broncos 32-3, Take Over Division Lead

Chargers Defeat Broncos 32-3, Take Over Division Lead. A dominating performance in all three phases of the game.

• Sun Nov 22, 2009 EST
• Bolts From The Blue
• By John (obviousman)

BFTB Interviews Hall of Fame TE Kellen Winslow

BFTB Interviews Hall of Fame TE Kellen Winslow. We talk current Chargers vs. Air Coryell and the HOF.

• Sat Nov 21, 2009 EST
• Bolts From The Blue
• By John (obviousman)

Week 11 Injury Report: SD @ DEN

Week 11 Injury Report: SD @ DEN. I expect all Chargers to play, with the exception of Nick Hardwick and maybe Jeromey Clary.

• Sat Nov 21, 2009 EST
• Bolts From The Blue
• By John (obviousman)

Game Preview: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos

Game Preview: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos. Is this a different Broncos team than the one we've already seen?

• Fri Nov 20, 2009 EST
• Bolts From The Blue
• By John (obviousman)