Whether they were coming from the owners' box remains to be seen.
–On the day, they were outgained 428-to-181, a ratio of almost 2.4-to-1.
The Chargers had 29 1st downs to the Pats 11.
The 3rd down efficiency as 10-of-17 to 2-of-10.
On 4th downs, it was 2-for-2 vs 0-for-3.
In the red zone, it was 2-for-4 to 0-for-0.
The Chargers had the ball for more than two-thirds of the game.
Three times the Chargers started drives inside their own 10, and finished two of them with touchdowns.
Last season the Patriots held LA to 6 points (and still lost).
–I witnessed this … let’s call it adebacle, so you didn’t have to.
And I struggle to describe it.
Or to come up with a proper analogy.
The best I can do is call it a Lovecraftian horror.
When the Chargers lead 17-0, it was the Germans capturing the cargo ship he was on.
When Drake Maye hit Pop Douglas in the end zone, it was him escaping in a lifeboat.
Just with 100% less morphine.
But I’ll do my best.
They’re sharing this.
It’s been a collaboration.
you’re free to say they inherited a bad situation, and be entirely correct.
part of the interview and skip right to “Tell me what accomplishment you’re most proud of.”
Because I’d be a busy man and want to keep it short.
–This Knee Jerk will be a little shorter than most when it comes to the Xs and Os.
Because if you watched this one, you already know the Xs were dreadful and the Os were gruesome.
This one is less about where the chess pieces were moved around the board.
(You kids can either move on from that obscure reference or ask a Boomer to explain.)
And this one was arguably the worst example to date.
Consider the 4th & 2 when they ran this overloaded blitz with Derwin James shooting the B-gap.
–Which is precisely what happened when LA only rushed three.
It’s lack of preparation.
–The trenches were no better on the defensive side of the ball.
Legitimately, the Chargers support staff should do that with Herbert’s uniform.
–It was more of the same in the run game.
The talk that some of the players straight up quit in this one.
That’s not coming from me, who’s never done an honest day’s work in my life.
Not well, but hard.
We’ve yet to hear any of his players badmouthing him, either in public or anonymously.
Which you typically get on a three win team.
But once it starts, there’s usually no coming back from talk about “giving up.”
–And Keion White’s not one to suffer quietly, either.
Through six games, White had 4.0 sacks and 11 QB hits.
In 10 games since, he’s got 1.0 sacks and 5 Hits.
That might very well be on White.
And in his case, it’s not getting done.
Only to give him every rep until deep into the 2nd quarter.
–All Mayo would say about it was “Coaching decision.”
Which is probably a positive step.
Him learning the power of not giving the media anything.
It’s the fact he didn’t tell his players that should bother us all.
–Alex Van Pelt has been getting increasingly good press as the season has worn on.
And for sure he helped his case with two early touchdown drives at Buffalo helped his case.
But then there was his decision to run a sweep to Gibson on a 3rd & 2.
But he’s not off it, either.
Then ended up with Jonathan Jones in single coverage on Ladd McConkey.
And where was he on the following down?
Lined up at defensive end.
Instead of on the sidelines being reminded what a stupid, selfish, costly bit of dumbassery that was.
He’s an a-hole, but he’s the a-hole you want.
–None of which means we’re letting the GM off the hook.
His failure is therefore complete.
That should’ve beenyouraunt in a No.
15 Patriots jersey getting a touchdown ball from him.
Is it just for insurance reasons?
Is it a scam?
We really are the worst!
–This Week’s Applicable Movie Quote: “The world can really kick your ass.
I only have a VAGUE recollection of when it wasn’t kicking mine.”
- Roy Munson,Kingpin
–This has gotten way darker than I intended it to.
So let’s end on a high note.
Drake Maye completing yet another long touchdown throw.
Games like yesterday’s are your past and present.
This throw is your future.
Who’ll be coaching Maye or building a roster around him?
That’s anyone’s guess.
But the decision can’t come soon enough.
