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Los Angeles Chargers · 5-8-0 at Las Vegas Raiders · 5-8-0

1. Stick shift: Can Chargers' offense do anything with Herbert out? Easton Stick earned his first NFL start for this game after replacing an injured Herbert late in the second quarter on Sunday, which was the 28-year-old Stick's first extended regular-season action (and second overall appearance) of his career. The 2019 fifth-rounder has stuck around for five years but rarely has seen the field except for the preseason. Stick played his college ball at North Dakota State, where he did a lot of winning in college, including in his final game with the Bison in 2019, going 49-3 in four seasons there. He's an athletic QB who once briefly was auditioned by the Chargers in 2020 as a Taysom Hill-like weapon before that plan fizzled while Herbert shined as a rookie. Stick struggled early in his relief appearance last week before finding some rhythm in a 13-of-24 passing performance with 179 yards. The highlight was a 57-yard bomb to rookie Quentin Johnston, but Stick was sacked twice for minus-31 yards and fumbled twice, losing one. Stick is set for free agency this spring, so it's a massive opportunity for him. This might also be a spot where seventh-rounder Max Duggan, who was elevated from the practice squad to the QB2 role on the active roster this week, could possibly be showcased with a package of plays as a dual-threat talent. The Chargers badly need a spark offensively, as they've scored a combined 17 points the past three games against the Ravens, Patriots and Broncos.

2. Aidan O'Connell needs a good game. There has been a growing sense that Garoppolo actually could return down the stretch if the rookie QB's struggles continue. He actually performed well in the Week 13 loss to the Chiefs, but O'Connell regressed in last week's home 3-0 loss to the Vikings, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt, taking four sacks and throwing a brutal interception that all but ended their chances of winning. In his first NFL start against the Chargers, with McDaniels still coaching, O'Connell threw for 238 yards with a rushing TD and was in a position to win the game, but seven sacks, three fumbles and an interception did him and the Raiders in back in Week 4. Had this not been a short week, perhaps Garoppolo would have been back under center. The Raiders have lost three straight, including two in Vegas, and interim head coach Antonio Pierce knows he can't have his offense in dire straits while trying to earn the full-time job. O'Connell has completed 63.8% of his passes, but that number is misleading. According to Next Gen Stats, he has a completion percentage over expected of -2.8%, which is third-lowest in the NFL this season (behind only Matthew Stafford and Bryce Young, among qualifiers).

3. Khalil Mack fueling Chargers defense. The Chargers defense has endured its share of ribbing this season, struggling mightily at times, especially in the early going. But Mack has been a revelation in his age-32 season, racking up 15 sacks, which ties his career high set back in his second season with the Raiders in 2015. Mack has always relished facing his former team, with 10 sacks in five career games against them. Six of those came in the Week 4 matchup, along with two forced fumbles and a pass deflection, as Mack tortured O'Connell and the Raiders' offense for four quarters. He's also been hot lately. Although Mack was held without a sack last week, he had three straight two-sack games prior to that and eight sacks and three forced fumbles in his past six contests. Even without Joey Bosa, the Chargers defense has been good to very good since a 41-38 loss to the Lions, allowing 16.8 points per game the last four. The Raiders feature elite threats in wide receiver Davante Adams and running back Josh Jacobs (who are both questionable to play), but they've combined for only 10 TDs this season and only one between them the past three.

4. Raiders defense will try to take advantage of beat-up Chargers. The Raiders have played pretty good defense under Pierce, holding four of their five opponents to 20 points or fewer. The Chiefs dropped 31 on them in Week 12, but they've otherwise been stout in the five-game span. No shocker that Maxx Crosby has been at the center of it. Despite injuring both knees in recent weeks and being questionable for Thursday, Crosby has played 97% of the Raiders' defensive snaps and has seven games in which he's played every snap, per NGS, and he's supplied 28.2% of the team's pressures. But first-rounder Tyree Wilson has come on lately, with a sack and several pressures Sunday, and Malcolm Koonce also has chipped in. They'll be facing a Chargers offensive line that entered the season as a perceived team strength but were dominated Sunday against the Broncos -- and on the whole, that unit has disappointed in 2023. Offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Trey Pipkins by and large have held their own, with the interior struggling more, although both had their hands full in the first matchup. The Chargers can't seem to get running backs Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley going lately, and the pass game figures to be limited with Stick starting and wide receiver Keenan Allen out with a heel injury, although Joshua Palmer's return from IR should help.

NFL.com

 

I want to know the mechanism of "warning" Toney? Does he run out on the field and whisper in his ear? He was lined up in the slot, not outside.

Officials help the receivers on the outside because they are so far off the ball. Official has down the line view. Slot guys are much closer to the ball, far easier to line up onside.

 

Colts rule out Jonathan Taylor for Saturday vs. Steelers

Jonathan Taylor’s return from a thumb injury will have to wait at least another week.

Via multiple reporters, Colts head coach Shane Steichen ruled Taylor out for Saturday’s game against the Steelers.

The running back has been sidelined since suffering the injury in the Week 12 win over Tampa Bay. He’ll now miss his third consecutive game, which is in line with the initial reported timeline for his return.

Right tackle Braden Smith has also been ruled out and he’ll miss his second consecutive game. Smith, who has been dealing with injuries all season, has started eight contests in 2023.

Via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan, Steichen noted Smith is “progressing well.”

Steichen added that he’s expecting cornerback JuJu Brents and linebacker E.J. Speed to play on Saturday.

The Colts’ full injury report with game statuses will be released later on Thursday.

NBC

 

Thursday Night Football: Raiders roll over Chargers 63-21



The Raiders scored the most points in a game in their history. The Chargers gave up the most points in a game in their history.

The Raiders’ 63-21 victory over the Chargers on Thursday Night Football left only one question: Do the Chargers fire coach Brandon Staley on Friday?

The Raiders improved to 6-8 in scoring more points tonight than in their past four games combined (46). The Chargers fell to 5-9, dropping Staley’s record to 24-24 in his three seasons.

The Raiders became the fourth team in NFL history to have eight players score a touchdown in a single game. It is the first time it’s happened since the 1950 Rams accomplished the feat.

Running backs Zamir White and Brandon Bolden, receivers Tre Tucker, Jakobi Meyers and Davante Adams, tight end Michael Mayer, cornerback Jack Jones and defensive tackle John Jenkins all had touchdowns. The Raiders scored 35 points off the Chargers’ five turnovers.

Chargers quarterback Easton Stick threw an interception and lost two fumbles and Joshua Kelley and Derius Davis also each lost a fumble.

The Raiders had a chance to tie or break the NFL record of 73 points in a single game. They led 42-0 at halftime, 56-7 at the end of the third quarter and got to 63 only 29 seconds into the fourth quarter. But the Raiders punted on their final four drives of the game, with three three-and-outs.

Aidan O’Connell went 20-of-34 for 248 yards and four touchdowns. Meyers had a 22-yard touchdown reception and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Adams, who caught eight passes for 101 yards. It was his first 100-yard game since Week 3.

Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce had three tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

NBC

 

I didnt see this game last night. Did Al Michaels call the game? Heard he got dumped from calling post-season games by NBC because he was 'lame and boring'... just curious if he was calling the game, if he was boring and too low-key? I believe he is keeping the TNF Prime games.

By the way NBC - Al Michaels is a legend broadcaster, he deserved better. And if NBC thinks Mike Tirico and Chris Collinsworth (post-season) are a huge upgrade, your on drugs!

 

Al called it. As usual, he was great in a very boring game.

 

It’s wild they paid him all that money to do games based on his name and reputation but are also annoyed that a dude pushing 80 isn’t all hyped up after 11:00 PM

 

Exactly... he's 79 and OK by me. Not a fan of people yelling on camera anyways. I watched some highlights and thought he did well. I am a 'let the music do the talkin' kinda guy anyway.

Now if he was snoring and drooling all over himself, that would be a different story.

 

I don’t watch games to hear the announcers. I watch it to get some entertainment and the announcers can’t change that

 

Well, back in the day, Cossell and company were really good at the entertainment part, especially during a blowout and a 5th of Scotch.

 

Chargers fire the coach and GM. Figured that was coming.

 

Chargers fire the coach and GM. Figured that was coming.



......

 

I agree on, my entertainment value comes from the game and not the announcers, but the announcers can change the value. If you ever get a chance, watch some college ball with the hometown announcers doing the commentary. Unless you are a fan of the team playing, they change the outlook of the game, even if you are non-bias to the two teams playing. It can get really annoying. I also get annoyed when former players try to talk too much and really aren't good on camera, but they think they are.

 

This post game comment cost Myles Garret, $25,000.

“The officiating was a travesty today,” Garrett said during his post-game press conference. “It was honestly awful. And the fact that they’re letting them get away with hands to the face, holding, false starting — I know they called a couple, but damn, they could have called it all game. And [there was] the one that cost us down on the 2-yard line.

“I mean, respect to those guys, it’s a hard job, but hell, we have a hard job as well. You can’t make it harder by throwing holding and hands to the face out the rulebook. And like I said, I got a lot of respect for those guys, but we get scrutinized for the plays that we don’t make. So someone has to hold them accountable for the plays or the calls they don’t make. And they need to be under the same kind of microscope as we are every single play.”

“This ‘Hack-a-Shaq’ crap has got to stop,” Garrett said. “This, ‘Y’all are as dominant as we’ve seen, and we are going to let him get away with pretty much anything’ — it’s ridiculous. You can’t just let a guy put his fingers in your face mask and push your head up or grab you around the back of your collar, or when he’s out of position, so he’s going to snatch you from the front — all that stuff we see, but we try to promote the offensive game. It’s got to be called fair both ways. I don’t care about any of that — offense, defense has to be held to the same standard in more ways than one.”

 

Game 1 of Saturdays tripleheader...Final in OT

 

Sorry Wille. Steelers blew a two TD lead too.

 

Hasnt been the best of days. Steelers and Vikings still have shots, but its getting real tough real fast.

 

Andy Reid got popped for $100,000 and Mahomes got tagged for $50,000

NFL raking it in this week (per usual).