Cameron Dicker Talks Chiefs & AFC Implications | LA Chargers

Cameron Dicker Talks Chiefs & AFC Implications | LA Chargers

has a lane 1510. Touchdown Chargers. What’s up guys? Welcome into a brand new episode of Chargers Weekly. We are presented by Splatterero as always joined by the voice of the Chargers, Matt Money Smith, Jalila Adai in the building. And money, I heard a rumor that somebody’s coming out of retirement. We’re starting with Phil. No, this guy right coming out. You going to play? You broke the news, Chris. And you’re a former cult, too. You broke the news. Dang it. Could you go right now? Could you go Sunday against You want to see You want to see a backpedal? Yeah. You want to see a backpedal right now? I don’t want to rip my viori, so I I’ll chill. I’ll chill. I don’t want to see you blow a hammy, so chill. There you go. Coming up, we got Cam Dicker is going to join us. A really awesome interview with Cam. Uh, but let’s rewind. Uh several heroes in a crazy weird Monday Night Football game with a ton of turnovers. Uh not a ton of offense, but in the end, Muddy, they got Let’s start with Jal, man. Defense defense ruled the day. Four interceptions, man. Safeties. Yes. And to Manny, it may have looked boring, but to me it was beautiful because it was a defensive it was a defensive juggernaut, right, on both sides. And uh the Chargers defense ultimately won the game. Most definitely. And you talk about the front and the way that that defensive front played interior tier tart shan han uh tulie the edges Khil Mack and then you talk about uh Dante J like everyone could have got a game ball on the defensive side of the ball like that was probably the most complete that I’ve seen a defense for the Chargers play in a lot of years and I say this because you’re going against a team. Yeah, the Eagles had they they’ve lost two games coming in, but we’re talking Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, Devonte Smith. These guys got weapons. Offensive line all over the place and they made them look below average, right? Um, and it had Jesse Men’s handprint all over it. They were disguising well. He was mixing it up one high, two high. Uh, the DBs were communicating well and like I said, the the the uh defensive front played their best game this season. Yeah. Uh, I mean, just you said it, Jesse Miner and what he was able to draw up. you thought about just the simulated pressures and there was just so much to him, right? It wasn’t just Deshawn and Troy, you know, coming and then backing out, but it’s sending day on from death and it’s just you could tell how much he was muddy in the picture and and how much and look Jaylen Herz guy’s played in two Super Bowls 1-1 and is played at an incredibly high level. It comes in with just two interceptions, 17 touchdowns, and like you said, you can go through the name salad of how good this team is. And man, they just could not get a beat on what they were doing out there. And coaches have to implement it. You know, our defensive coordinator has to implement it, coaches have to coach it, players have to execute it. And at all three levels like that, it happened. And to me, like I was just so excit I don’t know if excited is the right word, but just Yeah. excited when you went back and looked at the interceptions and just saw how well complimentary football was being played, the pass rush, and just everything that went into it. Every single one of those interceptions came Thanks. Well, with the exception of the the first one when Deshawn dropped out and Herz just didn’t see Well, there’s still some pressure there though. But like there’s just pressure in in Jaylen’s lap on all of them. You know, even the one that AJ Brown dropped always shoving Dickerson right into Jaylen right as he lets that thing go. That’s why it sails a little bit high. So, it’s just a really good complimentary defensive effort that that they needed, man. And whoever lost that game was going to feel like crap because both of those defense, you could make a case the Eagles defense was even better. I mean, so without without Jaylen Carter, I mean, that that front is nasty. But, you know, R.J. Mickens had a probably the fifth pick that should have been a pick. He got underneath it. But, you know, there’s so many guys you talked about. I I start with Cam Hart. Like Cam Hart had the interception, but probably the biggest play of the game was the the pass break up on AJ Brown and then obviously the tip to Tony at the end. um to see a young guy like that kind of come into his home, come into his own on a big stage. What was like for you to see from a secondary perspective? Well, it was awesome because I I remember coming in and I was doing the coaching internship when he was a rookie and obviously he has all the physical tools just being a really big corner. And this is kind of why Pete Carol kind of implemented that big corner, you know, drafting big corners, right? Not going for a corner if they’re under six feet. And like you said, that outreach ball that he had, he needed every bit of his frame to get to that ball. And I remember when he was a rookie, um, he has really good feet. Um, has really good hips, but I would always tell him, listen, like your advantage is playing with your arms. Use your length. Make it a fight at the line of scrimmage. Make it a fight. Whenever you’re playing, you’re fighting through the ball, right? When there’s a completion, you’re fighting them to the ground. That’s what he did against AJ Brown. So, it obviously the credit’s not for me. It’s just for me to say that I it’s awesome to see him grow in that space. Um, and he’s played really well all season long. He’s a physical tackler. He’s actually a really big hitter, right? He can cover tight ends. He can cover your number one. And it’s really remarkable to see the way that he played. Um because when you look at that interception, he was in they were in cover two, right? And what Cam did was he played from depth. So Jaylen really didn’t know what he was in. So when Gddard went to the flat, he Cam kind of stepped to the flat. Khil Mack is pressuring him. So he thinks, “Oh, young young corner. He stepped to the flat. It’s covered two. The shots behind him.” So he steps to the flat and and right after that opens his hips up. And at that time, it’s too late. Jaylen already makes his his mind up and then there you go with the tip pick. Man, it was it was he baited him. People don’t understand he baited him. He knew what coverage he was. He disguised it well and then he executed at a high level. Yeah, that’s was open. That’s a touchdown. He was open. That’s that’s a touchdown. You know, he’s he’s got the angle and you know, Tony’s just a step behind. But, you know, and like to me the big thing with with Cam on those two plays you talked about the PBU in the end zone where he gets his hand in there and his interception is he got beat. Yeah. And he’s not stopping. Yeah. And it’s like that’s you always talk about it Jal. You got to have a short memory. Not just onto the next play, but in the middle of the play, you know, he AJ gets that slant and he’s got two yards and he’s wide open and he’s got an angle and he’s going to take that thing. He’s going to get it. It’s going to be an explosive. And what’s Cam do? He keeps his eyes up, tips and overthrows and he’s there waiting for that interception. And again on that that, you know, at the end of regulation where they had to settle for the field goal, he gets beat and and look, AJ’s one of the three, four best receivers in the league. You’re going to get beat by AJ Brown. He is a pain in the ass. I mean, the guy’s 220 pounds. So, to be able to stick with him and realize, okay, pass might be completed, get that hand in there, and see if I can force the incompletion. Like, for a secondyear guy, man, that’s that’s fiveyear veteran savvy stuff to be able to shake that off and not freak out that you got beat on the release or you got beat, you know, on a double move or the guy’s got leverage on you like to and just to kind of stay in that frame and make a play. Yeah. Mentally, right? Right. And we were talking to Cameron Dicker about his mental fortitude and how he goes about it and how you know he he talks stays calm in the moment, right? And for many people at home and that ball’s in the air and Cam’s back is to the quarterback. As a DB, you just see the receivers’s eyes getting big and you hear the roar of the crowd, right? You don’t know where the the where the trajectory of the ball is. You just they call it playing through the basket. Once a receiver shoots his hands, you shoot his hands and you play through the bread basket. That’s what coach calls it. and Cam, that’s gonna be on every high school, every college, every NFL teach tape on how to play through the bread basket in a high pressure situation and get it done. You know, last week we talked about the Raiders victory and how much stock we could really put into it. Like now you’re playing the Eagles and you ratted off all the names. This is a a team that that won the Super Bowl last year. Jaylen Herz outplayed Patrick Mahomes in both of those Super Bowls. Like people forget that Jaylen Herz takes care of the football. Um he makes the right decision. their offense has been a little uneven this year, but you you list off the names, you know, outside that Saquon Barkley 52 yard rush, you know, a couple of AJ Brown receptions, you know, he’s going to make plays throughout the course of a four quarter game. But, um, Julia, what have you seen from this defense when you compare it to what we saw in Jacksonville three weeks ago before the buy? Yeah, you make a good point because Jaylen Herz is someone who takes care of the ball. He’s one of the few quarterbacks since Tom Brady who will take the check down over and over and over again, right? And be patient. And that’s what the frustration was coming with from Philadelphia is, hey, we’re not taking enough shots. And on Monday night, there was some checkdowns that I seen that he didn’t take, right? He was trying to force it. And that’s what the Chargers defense makes you do, right? They make you try to go for the big play, go for the juggernaut. And to answer your question, Chris, it was a defensive front, man. They put they created a new line of scrimmage. They played in Philadelphia’s backfield all day long. The running game wasn’t there. So they listen they were on the what 10 10 yard line about to score when Tony picked it and they didn’t even run the ball with Saquon. It was first and 10 and they decided to pass the ball. So that just goes to show you that the offensive coordinator didn’t have enough like what word am I looking for? He didn’t have enough confidence. Yes. And calling the run, right? When you have one of the best running backs and offensive MVP last year and it just goes to show when you look at Dante Jackson’s interception, right? He sat on a route of a guy who’s known to be the most explosive receiver in the NFL. Devonte Dvonte Smith, right? He’s a burner. He’s known the the the the scouting is, hey, look, he’s going to take you deep. He sat. He didn’t backpedal. But what he was doing was he p he’s pattern reading, right? So Jesse Manner is teaching them a good job of saying, “Hey, number two went to the flat. He’s not running deep. Number two’s running to the flat to clear out this zone. He’s hooking up. Dante just sat on. He seen two go to the flat. Sat on it. Looked like another 26 that I know from my passing Casey Hayward.” Some good coaching though, right? And Khalil got in his lap, too. Khalil was right. I mean, he was hitting Jaylen. is that ball exactly was getting let go. And I mean, you watch it. Dante didn’t even look at Devonte. He’s just locked in on Jaylen Herz. He knows exactly he had the answers to the test like he and it’s it’s you know, we’ve talked about it for, you know, look, coach Harbaugh is incredible, right? The guy’s won everywhere he’s gone, but man, he has put together a staff and just what Jesse Miner does, what coach Clink has done with these DBs, what co Mike has done with it. We say it every week, man. And you can just see it like you, you know, Adafo putting Lannon Dickerson on skates that led to that interception from Cam. You know, the Khalil Mack swimming underneath and and getting that pressure that gives the Dante Jackson like it’s just all working together. Um, and I think there’s a reason why we’ve talked about defense for the first 10 minutes of this pod because that’s really what it was. I mean, that’s ultimately what this game was. You mentioned Saquon, Chris, and you know, you go back and watch the game and I mean, Khalil wasn’t held. He was tackled like that. That that that should have been a tackle for loss, the 52 yard run. I mean, he got absolutely strangled from behind, hugged, and he had him squared up and ready to tackle. So, you take that out and you’re talking 19 carries for 70 yards. So, like they she’ll take any day with that. Exactly. So, I think it’s, you know, important to kind of remember, yeah, Saquon got loose and he averaged close to six yards per carry and had the explosive, but the explosive should have been a holding call. Uh referees, I was not and they won the game, so I’m not complaining. I but I am complaining like it was not a clean game for them. They missed three face masks and it’s I don’t know how you miss face masks when guys you know and one of them was on you know Dean Leonard where he ripped Britain Cubby’s head backwards and he didn’t get a face m I just it was very confusing the way they were calling uh calling that game and I bring it up because there were just a ton of holds in that game that didn’t get flagged and I have no idea who the officiating crew is going to be in Kansas City. That offensive line holds more than any in the league. And I can only hope that coach plants some seeds and that one saying, “Hey man, our guys are rushing the passer right now.” And your tackles stink. So, let’s make sure we got hands on those yellow flags, you know, and and we’re throwing that thing for holding penalties because we got a feeling that’s going to be something that that I think this this defensive front can get after against the Chiefs. The first thing I asked Tony in the in the locker room is just what allows you to be in the right place at the right time. every time he he said shout out mentor like like you said answers to the test. I I think that the the Chargers secondary and that defense just had a such a sound game plan against the Eagles and and money you said it like whoever was going to lose that game. You’re going to feel terrible, right? And we would be singing probably a different tune right now. We probably would have led with the offense and No doubt we would have led with offensive line. we would have led with the offensive line and um listen December football that defense is going to carry this team, right? And and the offense is just gonna have to make plays and that’s what Justin Herbert did in the fourth quarter. He made plays. Uh I guess we could start with maybe like where how do you diagnose what happened offensively? Offensive line, receivers not separating Justin with playing with one hand and and really not being able to to do much until late. um play calling or the play calling, right? Like like where does the I don’t want to call it blame pie, but like how how do you diagnose kind of the the issues on offense right now? Uh the elephant in the room is the offensive line and I get it the injuries. Um but if you watch, man, there was times where Justin dropped back and linebackers from the level he’s blitzing and no one even blows. No one clo no one’s close. nose tackle and Kobe on two of those. Yeah. Like I mean clean. We talk about the defense and them being very locked in and pad and reading and being on the same page and communicating and the offensive line there was sometimes where they just turned the wrong way and they didn’t pick up anybody and it’s kind of tough to watch especially when you know that Justin’s playing with that hand. You would think that their senses would be heightened like hey we got to protect this guy. And on the other flip side you talk about the receivers didn’t get much I mean look uh Dean was a monster right? his coverage on lad. You just got to give respect. Whereas Cooper Dean, Cooper De was incredible in that. He’s he’s a baller, right? And you know, they have a really good secondary. Both of their corners, Quan Mitchell, their safeties are good. Blanker Ship, EPS, they’re all really good players. The defense, like we said, we could talk about their defense all day long, but we’re not, right? Um Kamani Vadell, um I think right now, although Hampton’s back and he’s the workhorse, he’s in a groove right now. And I think that until Hampton gets his feet back under him, his legs back under him, he’s going to be the guy that they’re going to have to lean on until Hampton comes up to speed. Right. Obviously coming I’ll say like in that past pro, like to me that’s not fair on Hampton, man. You can’t be having Nico Dean rushing full speed with a slow death. Yeah. It’s like that’s that’s not I know he got blown up and it forced the fumble, but that’s not that’s that’s not what he’s supposed to pick up. You know, in that case, you got to have one hand here and you got to have your eyes here to get a hand on him to slow him down. That’s just Marian’s got no chance in that situation against you. And Nico is one of the best freaking players out there. And he is he might be 250 lbs, but he plays like he’s 280. Was he a third round pick? I No, I think he slid to the second because of the injury. Second. Yeah, I think a first round pick out of Georgia. He’s a He’s a dog. Yeah, he’s a dog, man. Uh Justin is always gonna protect the team, protect the offensive line. He said that there were some some instances where he could have he could have checked out of something. And I think that’s right, too. Yeah. And and I I do think he took some sacks. Yeah. He could have got be true, but um there has to be some changes Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Like like this is this is almost like a defining game in in this franchise’s history. Really, you look at this dynasty that the Chiefs have had for the last 10 years. They’re not going to win the AFC West this year. You could really finish it. You could finish it at least end this season. End this season and maybe maybe there’s a new era in the AFC West moving forward, but um if that’s going to happen like offensively like you know Justin is compromised with the hand like money, what do you do the this next month? Like you talked about Kimmani, you got Amarian, but like how how do you kind of mask some of the things offensive linewise and with with Justin’s hand moving forward? I mean, I look, I say this and I I would rather Jal say it because I have no business saying it, but they just they have to be better. Like the guys just have to be better. That’s really what it comes down to. And it’s not easy. You know, the Philadelphia defensive front is gnarly, man. They’re good. Uh but so are the Chiefs. you know, you’re dealing with Chris Jones, best defensive tackle in the league, and they just have to be better. Like, it’s that simple. Like, they are, you know, you go back and you watch, and I’m not going to say any individual names. I’ll let the people listening try to figure it out for themselves, but I mean, you got you got guys out there that that are getting beat like that, like that. And it’s just, you know, I think that portion of it, it’s got to get fixed. And then this portion, you can help. I think you could do a little bit better to help out. You know, I I feel like we only saw Will Dley chip, you know, in pass pro like three times and it’s we know how good he is at at at blocking. So, I think Well, your guy tucker fist. We didn’t really talk about that. He out. He’s on IR. So, like, but Will’s good. Will can block, man. And if Will’s out there, like, get that help. So, now you can get Will helping out Bobby Hart. You know, you can just plan him there and let’s put one less person out in the route and it’s, you know, I think you can help out there. Um, Jamar, I thought played okay. I thought Jamari was was okay in that in that game. So, I think that’s that’s where it starts. Kemani still fantastic in pass pro. He had some really good I you were getting there Julia when I jumped when I jumped you with the Omaran thing, but um yeah, I think there’s there’s ways you can try to mitigate it and we saw him do that against the Raiders and do a pretty darn good job. Like it’s it’s I thought the Raider game was Bradley’s best game of the year and I think against the Eagles it’s not like I’m not breaking any news. It was their worst game of It’s probably the worst offensive line game that I’ve seen in in years. I mean, I don’t know how else you classify something that’s 70% pass rush win rate. Like, I don’t know. I don’t know what else to say, which is wild. I mean, no, Mon, you’re not wrong. And then there’s times where, okay, there’s one-on- ones and they’re just getting whooped, right? Just whooped on one off the snap. Then there’s times where they’re only rushing four, we’re sliding to the left, and the pressure is coming from the right. So, I don’t know if that’s what Justin was talking about. Maybe he directed them to go the wrong way. He miked the wrong person. Maybe. I don’t know. I’m not in the huddle. I’m not We don’t know. It’s not miked up. We don’t know. But it just looked like there was no one. They weren’t in sync. There was a lack of communication. And I can understand if they blitz five, right? And it’s one-on-one. Everyone has a one-on-one and you get beat. But there’s a what Vic does. No, he not does. No, it was they’re rushing with four. And they were winning their one-on-one battles and then there was time where the interior could help each other. They were going the wrong way. Yeah. Right. So, I mean, it’s not a secret. You can see it on film, but the offensive line dude, and I know it’s like we sound like a broken record because we offensive line, offensive line, injuries, injuries, but let’s call a spade a spade, and that’s what it is right now, right? And they got to play better. Um, and I know they know that. I know they know that. I know they’re working at it. I know that it’s it’s a priority for the organization. It’s priority for them. Obviously, as a position, you never want to be the position that doesn’t pull your weight. There you go. Right. And I remember coach be always saying in meetings, hey, we’re not going to be the group, right? You don’t want to be the group that your teammates are looking at, the front office is looking at, your coaches are looking at, and they’re like, they’re not holding up their end of the bargain, right? So, I think there just has to be a little bit more sense of urgency, a little bit more sense of pride there. Especially, listen, Justin’s out there with a broken hand, stiff arming people with that same hand. Like, yeah, his stats weren’t good. A lot of balls sailed, a few balls sailed on him, right? wasn’t his best game, but his will to win was more impressive than any numbers that he could have put up this season, right, in that situation when he needed to be his best. Right. They said that he pulled the ball on a design run that wasn’t even supposed to be pulled to go get the first down and on the last drive. Yeah. And that made it a 46 yder for Cam, I think, instead of a 56 y. That that pull I to put it into overtime, right? 46 yard field goal. That goes to my point that we talked about a couple weeks ago with just the designed runs. Like Justin’s the one doing at the end. Like I I I I truly believe that he’s safer running than just being like back there and and getting hit. Like how much more should they emphasize him running the ball with I think it’s more boots I think is what you’re talking about. Like let’s not keep him in the pocket. Just I felt like I was watching one sevenstep drop after another and it’s like let’s boot this thing man. Let’s get him on the move. Let’s look for but also running. But I think the the ball security is the concern there, Chris, with the with the you know he’s got to put that thing in his left hand. He put it on the ground a lot. Yeah, he put on the ground a lot. To me typically do that. Yeah, it’s more quick game boots screens like just get I felt like I kept watching you know sevenst step drops and these guys are trying to get downfield and it’s like man Cooper De and Quinion are as good as it gets man. and you were going to you’re not going to find and I think when you talk about sailing you know some people that were taking you know some issue with the passing game and and you know Herbert’s kind of letting I think it’s 69% pass rush win rate for the defense like you got a busted hand that’s going to get in your head you know and you’re going to probably your operation’s going to be sped up a little bit it’s going to get a little bit loose and so I think that’s kind of you know what we saw and look I think we say all this and you made a great point Chris you know Austin being the warrior that he is, as coach Harbaugh called him, a superhero, he’s not like he’s taken that punishment for three yards. He’s taking that punishment for four yards. Like those, you look at their like if I go into their um if I go into their scoring drives, let’s go into their scoring drives, right? These field goals. Seven plays 30 yards. 16 plays 51 yards. Seven plays 22 yards. 11 plays 43 yds. Six plays 34 yards. No explosives. That’s that’s Herbert just taking shot after shot after shot to get three four yard to grind out these first downs, man. To get into Camdor field goal range. It was I mean it was incredible to watch. It wasn’t pretty. Yeah. But it was pretty but it but it was wild to see the the amount of punishment that guy was willing to take for those three points on each of those drives. And I and it’s like it’s crazy because the main like big time media always talks about him willing the team to win, right? And the numbers weren’t pretty, but he’s getting praised for doing just that, right? Willing the team to win, everyone knowing the short week that he had, having surgery on his hand, and then coming out there against a physical defense like the Philadelphia Eagles. And then we talk about like how how can they help him a little bit more. I would like to see Aron Gaskin get back into the game plan a little bit more. Right. He came on really strong the last few weeks. And a tight end is a quarterback’s best friend, right? He’s his security blanket. He’s his outlet. I would like to see some quick games of him. Spot him over the ball. That’s the check down for Justin. He can get rid of the ball quickly. Um I think that’s something that they need to implement in the game plan. Um that will do them justice moving forward. You know, as as we get into December and eventually the playoffs, Coach Harwell made a great point, too. It’s like I’m I don’t really care about the stats. I care about the result. And the result is a win. Uh, I remember in 18 when you guys played with no linebackers, like you just you find ways to win football games down the stretch by by any means necessary. Jaylen Phillips. Is that who it was? Uh, Adrian Adrien Phillips. Adrian Phillips. Adrian Phillips. Adrian Phillips playing linebacker. Yes. Mike linebacker. Playing Mike linebacker and and stifling the the Ravens and Lamar Jackson. That that was how they were that game. And that was I think that was a Michael Badge that had like five field goals like Cam had on Monday. Um, but as we get into Chiefs week, um, and we’ll get to Cam Dicker in just a second, but, um, the offensive game plan moving forward, you said it, you got to just play better. Um, but as Amarian gets legs under him, Kimmani, I I you can’t say enough about what Kemani has done from that 60 yard uh, reception to start the game to the to the pass protection to kind of getting better as as the game goes on with um, running the football. Um, how much can you can you put on Amari and Kemani’s plate moving forward, money? And I think to me that’s that’s where it starts. Yeah, I think it has to. I mean, unless the offensive line’s going to start to pass protect better. Um, now they have struggled in run blocking, too. You know, that’s that’s been a bit of an issue. So, um, I do think if you can, and look, there are very few people that have ever, you know, schemed up football that that call better run games than Greg Roman. He’s as good as anyone at it. So, I think he’s in his workshop trying to get this thing figured out and how he can get this now that you have two backs where you never take your foot off the gas if you’re the defense. Like you you’re you can get gashed either way for explosives. And I think we saw that in that one run of the left edge by Amario. Man, it was a quick reminder like oo, okay, this guy’s got some get up and and and go and you know, and you saw that between and he’s a guy that like when I was putting together the boards, I for kind of forgot like you looked at his his uh average yards per carry and I think it was four I think it was 43. I wish I could remember. I had it in front of me, but it was 4.1 yards after contact. It’s just a reminder like, yeah, dude, you can’t bring this guy down. So, it’s there, you know, it’s there. And I I think it’s just, you know, executing, man. Executing and and I think trying to get a little more quick game in there. And, you know, to me, like with with Q in that game, um I would when I’m talking about those boots, like it’s just it’s hard to throw against Quin Mitchell and Cooper Dean, like those guys are that good. They’re the the second and I think seventh best corners by either EPA or opponent completion percentage. Um you know, by those metrics. Dory Jackson isn’t. And so I would have liked to have seen just, hey man, let’s take a shot. He’s playing Q one-on-one. Let’s just try to get this thing to breathe a little bit. Let’s let’s run a boot. Let’s dump that thing down there and see if you can get this thing to open up. And I think for the Chiefs, knowing what Spagnolo is probably going to do, and that’s blitz the hell out of this team. Yep. He’s coming. I think you got to try to to get a couple of those. They’re going to play man. Let’s see if you can just get a 50-50 ball. Q’s been really good at those this year. And let’s just kind of get this thing to breathe a little bit, man. And if you don’t connect, you give yourself a chance of a DPI. Right. Right. And that’s that moves the ball down the field. But you have to give yourself opportunity. Like you said, you got to stretch the field. I mean, it just seemed like very the offense was very congested. Like there was a play where Keenan and uh bonked into each other. Keenan and Qed right into each other. Like Q, Keenan, and Lab were like all like a couple yards of each other. That kind of summed up what like the offense felt like um on Monday night, right? So, I think they just got to get back. I mean, listen, they they have the weapons. Offensive line has to play better and they have called really good games this year. Speaking of the coaching staff, they got to figure it out. Like, look, like two three weeks ago, the Jacksonville game, the sky was falling, right? The sky was falling and now we’re back on our high horse. This is what it is. It’s the NFL. It’s a week to week. There’s going to be tough games. There’s going to be bad games. There’s going to be better games, right? So, this next one has to be their best one yet, right? It’s in December, obviously, against the Chiefs, which it’s the Chiefs, right? and you know what you’re going to get on offense and defense. They know the Chiefs know the Chargers. The Chargers know the Chiefs, right? So, it’s now it’s who’s going to execute the game play, who’s going to execute the game plan better, and who’s going to win their one-on-one matchups because that’s what it’s going to come down to. And I’ll tell you, it’s funny like the shoes on the other foot, right? Like every time these late games against the Chiefs, it’s like, “Oh, this is a Chargers playoff game, man. They lose this and they’re not going to win the AFC West, you know, and and you know, they’re coming in and they’re pulling out all the stops.” Well, it’s the other way around now, you know, or at least it’s even, right? Because Chargers win this, you essentially have punched your ticket into the playoffs. You’re you’re in the the the worst you could possibly have in your conference record is seven and five, right? Or seven and four would be your or eight and four, I’m sorry, would be your conference record. That’s with a tiebreaker that’s p you’re in with 10 wins. You lose this game and you’re the Chiefs, you’re out. Like you’re you’re not getting in at nine and eight. You can get in at 10 and seven, you can win it out. You can make get everything to break right. still have that possibility of getting in. Lose this one season’s over. I think it’s so I think there’s two sides to the coin of the people that are talking about the Chargers like, hey, they have the toughest strength of schedule left of any of these teams. If you want to circle a team where you could be like, hey, slow down now. Yeah, they’re the five and they’re nine and four, but you’re talking about four potential play four teams that are still alive for the playoffs. one with the best defense in the league in the Texans, one that has the best record in the AFC in the Broncos, a Chiefs team that’s been to the AFC Championship seven or eight years in a row, whatever it is. Uh, and the Dallas Cowboys that have one of the most explosive offenses. So, that’s one side of the coin. Other side of the coin is no team has a better record against playoff teams than the Chargers. They have a 750 win percentage against current playoff teams right now. So to pull the quote from from coach Harbaugh, guys seem to play their best when their best is demanded or when their best is needed. And they’ve been able to do that. Yeah. Yeah. And this game is going to feel like a play, it’s going to feel like a playoff game. It’s going to be a playoff atmosphere. It’s going to be playoff intensity. Um so it’s going to be it’s going to be a good one to watch at 10 a.m. It’s going to be 20°. It’s going to be very cold. Let’s talk about it on the other side of this interview with Cameron Dicker. Chargers Weekly is presented by Splatero, helping homeowners access their home equity with no monthly payments. Split offers home equity investments. A better way to access the cash you need from your home without getting to go through a bank. Get a lump sum of cash in exchange for a share of your home’s future value. Pay off debt, renovate your home, and better your life. Get your free cash estimate at splitro.com/chargers. All right, guys. as promised. Very pleased to be joined by the nominee for the Walter Payeyton man of the year and one of the heroes from Monday Night Football, Camry Dicker joins us. And Cameron, I have to say this, man. Five field goals against your former team in a win. Um, where does that rank in terms of just like core memories of your NFL career so far? That’s cool. I think that’s uh it’s one that’s like I mean in the moment you’re like, “Okay, cool. You just want a game, but like I I don’t know. I never get too high on things.” Yeah. I think after the season I’ll be like wow what a cool what a cool time but like while I’m doing this it’s like ride through I got to make a kick on Sunday so on to the next one like yeah it’s like it’s cool but doesn’t really matter that much. Yeah. What’s the uh you know cuz you hear it’s a mental position right? So is there is there a secret you have? Is there a way you approach it? Is it your natural demeanor? Cuz we see you during the games you seem like nothing affects you on the sideline. You go out there, you bang kicks, and you’re good. Is that is Are we seeing it right? Is that natural for you? I think naturally I was blessed with the ability to like not care. I used to call it like the I don’t give a f factor of like I don’t really care what’s going on if I miss a kick. Like, okay, who cares? It’s kind of transitioned as I’ve become a Christian to like I understand that it’s because I’m loved. And so having that aspect in my life, like it doesn’t matter how I perform. I’m loved regardless of what happens. I have my close corner around me. I’ve got um that’s going to love me no matter what. So it’s like, okay, go out there, do what I can, but I’ve prepared for the moment. It’s what I’ve prayed for, what I’ve asked for. And so I have all the confidence going out there that it’s going to work out. Cam, I seen the the victory cam on the social media post and you walk by and you had five for five, right? And I loved it. And I’m at home watching the game with my kids and I’ve seen all four of them go in and then there was the last one, the fifth one to send them into No, I think it was the fourth one to send them into overtime. Fourth or fifth one and you just like to attest what money said, you just look so calm like you’re out there like it’s practice, right? And this is big time Monday night football playoff implications on the line like and the camera’s in your eyes and you just look like you just it’s another day in the park. What’s going through your head at that time? Like, hey, let’s like let me just go through my routine. Let me make sure that I’m I’m straight on. Like what’s going through your head? Actually, let the people at at home know like what’s going through your head. So, like on the sideline leading up to that drive, it was funny cuz we were like, there’s no way we punt, right? We can’t like Jim’s not a guy who it’s fourth and long, he’d still go for it. Like even if we’re back deep. So, we were like, whatever. JK was like, “Let me get a couple just in case. You never know cuz like and for us the worst situations like you’re not ready and then you have to go out.” So, I’m over there tossing to him. I’m just smiling. We’re laughing about stuff and then we get across the 50 and I was like, “Okay, it’s time to shine. Here we go.” Um, but it’s again like I I pray for these every game. I pray for opportunities throughout the game. I pray for the ability in those opportunities. And so just going out there um I’m confident. I’m ready to go. And then out on the field when the three’s thrown up to go kick a field goal. Yeah. It’s just like the second I step on the field everything kind of goes blank. I jog out there. Um, I usually pray when I’m out on the field as I’m walking like taking my steps for the ball. I just say like, “Thank you, God, just for being here.” Um, and then I just remind myself and I probably say it like three times just like, “Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God.” Just like taking my steps through it. And then JK looked up at me as right when I was about to take my steps and he was like, “Love you.” And I was like, “Love you too, JK. Thanks, man.” And so we kind of laugh and then like I don’t know. I’ve never been a big celebrator. So, I just turned and high-fived them and do do it with the guys. It’s it’s what we do and it’s what we’re here to do. Much respect, man. What is that win do for a team? Because it’s it was collective, right? Obviously, we need all five field goals from you. Uh the way Cam Hart played, um the the key PBU on uh AJ Brown and the Tony Jefferson interception and and Justin down the stretch running. Uh what is the locker room like when uh when it’s a true team win like that? Uh it’s awesome. I think there’s areas everybody knows you got to clean up and there’s things that need to happen that are different for everybody. Um but just the ability to kind of battle back and uh be able to rely on each other and understand like hey we’re all here for each other. We’re going to push through this game no matter what uh is huge. And then just again you just see the fun that it brings, right? So being able to enjoy that time with each other, enjoy the locker room is what this whole game’s about. I think everybody when they’re done playing is always like, “Enjoy the locker room.” Like the field stuff’s cool, everything, but the guys in the locker room, you need to enjoy your time there. And so I think this team does a really good job of having fun with each other. Give us an idea of what it’s like. Um, you’re 58 for 61 at Sofi. Um, it’s a bowl, so it’s below ground level. You know, we’re we call the games from on the seventh floor, so we could kind of feel a little bit of wind, but then we’ll look down and and we notice those flags aren’t moving at all on the uprights. Is it is it the best venue to kick in? Do you feel like there’s ever anything you have to adjust for when you’re setting up? I mean, there’s some wind in your face every once in a while or behind you. Um, it’s nice that they didn’t leave the sides open. That would have been kind of annoying if wind was blowing side to side when it was coming through. But the way it’s designed is awesome. We are lucky to live in a place with great weather, too. So, we don’t have to worry about it being too cold really ever. Um, so it’s a huge blessing for sure. Like the Eagles kicker Jake, he was like, “Man, what a place. This is awesome, right?” Cuz their last two games been like 40 mph winds. So, he’s like, “This is awesome. Like, I don’t have to really think about things. I get to go line up and just hit my kicks.” Um, so very blessed to play here. But I mean, at the end of the day, you got to hit the ball on the line you want to whether it’s winner wind or not. And then you got to be able to judge those things. But it’s kind of the same thing. If you mishit a ball here, it’s going to be the same as mishhitting a ball somewhere else. Maybe you get a little lucky because a wind isn’t going to blow it extra. But Right. Yeah. So then if you know, I know this is kind of getting into the weeds a little bit. Are your lines always the same at SoFi? like because there is such a lack of sort of, you know, it seems like there’s just a lack of change in what’s going on down there. Am I reading that wrong? Uh, it depends on the day, depends on what’s going on, how I’m swinging. I think it’s a lot like golf. So, if you go out there and first couple balls, you’re hitting a big draw. You’re going to be like, I’m going to aim this one a little bit to help me out here. So, depends on where I am on the field and what’s going on. Like, I hit a draw a little bit on my field goals. So knowing kind of, hey, where’s a good miss for me here? Where can I line up and like get away with it if I don’t hit this great? Um, and then also if the ball does fly straight, like I need to make sure it stays in. So being able to play that and yeah, so it all just kind of depends. So Dick, you said you’re not a big guy of like celebrations. I’m growing up in Tampa. I grew up watching Martin Grammatica. He’s a big celebration. He was a big celebration guy. They called him automatica. And obviously like Adam Vinitary was a really good kicker. Like when you when you were growing up, right, and you were coming up in the sport, was there anybody you like specifically looked at and said, “Hey, I want to model my game after them. I want to be clutch after them and have that gene that they have and making, you know, those big- time field goals in big time situations.” I didn’t really watch football. Zon. So yeah, like watched a lot of soccer. Um, but like the kickers I knew of that I was like I guess would watch every once in a while, see things about was Justin Tucker. it was like his reign at that time. Um, so seeing kind of what he did, but I never thought about being in this position. This was never like the dream of mine. Um, God just opened doors and I just kind of walked through him and was ready to go. But I would say Justin Tucker’s probably the name. I guess that Texas guy. Yeah, Texas guy. So it helps out. But that’s Yeah, that’s probably the guy. We need some grammatica. You know what? Don’t celebrate. Do keep doing what you’re doing. Listen, he did. He like twisted him or his brother. One of the two. One of the two. If I need to celebrate, it’s going to be because I just made a crazy kick. I don’t feel like I’ve attempted anything. Like if I hit like a 65 plus, there’s a chance I celebrate. Like if I hit like a big kick, I just don’t I don’t know. It’s what you do. It’s what you do. It’s like my job. I’m expecting to make a kick. And like some people say it’s cocky say that. But it’s crazy because I always would say like people like what’s the one position you don’t want to play growing up and playing ball I’m like I don’t want to be a kicker. It’s like because when you miss it everyone hates you and then when you make it it’s like oh that that’s your job that was that’s supposed that’s what you’re supposed to do right and it’s like when when I’m playing DB and I get a PB or interception they’re like that’s your job but I’m I want to show my behind right. So I mean everyone’s different right? and they show different emotions, but um I think it’s just really cool that you have that presence about you to be so calm under pressure um the way you are um be efficient as you are and continue to do what you’re doing at that high level and what you’re the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Correct. That is correct by a wide margin. Tip your hat, my brother. Yeah. U Kev, what’s the biggest difference between kicking a ball at Sofi and doing what you’re going to do on Sunday in Kansas City where it’s like I think it’s like 20° and and it’s cold 19 at kick 19 at kick. Uh week 18 in Denver, who knows? But um kicking in really cold weather, which you guys will probably have to do down the stretch and maybe into the postseason, too. Um you got to handle it better than they do. There’s nothing really like here we can do to prepare. Like I said, we’re in a pretty awesome spot. So, weather is like 70 degrees here and sunny, so it’s awesome for us. Um, but going into those games, it’s like you show up, you got to figure it out on game day. And then, um, yeah, it’s kind of that’s what we get paid to do. You got to do it better than the other guy. Is the ball is it harder to kick in in cold weather? They don’t go as far just because it’s like, uh, firm. It’s a harder ball, so it’s just like kind of a rock. Um, but the ground’s a little different, too. if the ground’s firm. So, you got to be a little smarter on how you’re planting and doing things. But, it’s all things that I’ll work through pregame, see what’s truly affecting me, and um figure it out. Ranges change for sure. But, yeah. Yeah. We’re gonna we’re going to go kick whatever I get sent out to kick. Do you remember uh do you remember all your kicks? Like, do you know what you’ve done at at Arrowhead in the past? No. No clue. I’ve hit I know one kick I hit at Arrowhead. I hit a 55 yard at Arrowhead right middle I think. Yeah. Um that was with Staley. The I just have two for two long. I think that was with Staley. I’ve only had one time at Arrowhead before this. Says you played two games there. Yeah, last year I don’t think it was Last year I hit a ball that landed short of the landing zone. Sick. Um, but no, I mean I don’t really remember too. Like I kind of do, but that’s about it. So you you brought it up the how, you know, with the dynamic kickoff, you know, it seems like you’re you’re really trying to place this thing. Is it hard? Is it like what happens when we see you kind of like bonking out of bounds or it’s short of the landing zone? Are you just trying to drop that in that precise place? And it seems like that’s a lot harder than it used to be. It’s just a little different. Um, made a couple mistakes this year on some kickoffs. Happens. Happens. Um, but it’s like, like I said, I don’t really care. Like, it it sucks, but at the same time, like I know I made the mistake. It’s like, what am I going to do about it now? Um, got to fix it on the next kick. And so, uh, found ways to try to minimize that. And then sometimes it sucks because you’re like, man, I really nailed that. That was perfect. But the guy catches it down low one yard deep and it’s like oh now he’s gonna knee it take a knee and it’s out at 35 when if he caught that at his chest at the two yard line like he’s at the two yard line he’s not taking a knee so it’s like sorry like is that my fault I don’t know. So it’s like finding finding ways to do it because you don’t want to hit it to the 10 yard line where now they’re starting to run at the 10 and you’re like okay we just gave him free 10 yards eight yards. So finding that balance and then letting our guys go attack it. I think we have great guys covering kicks and so I need to make sure I do a great job letting these guys uh do that as we get later in the season and let them show what they can do. But it’s definitely been a weird Yeah. weird change. I love that you have that attitude because I can then ask and and phrase it this way cuz I got a laugh out of it like when you drilled that ball into a boy and he didn’t even flinch. It was kind of hilarious. Turned around and looked at his ankle. Feel you booting a ball right into him. He’s just like what was that? Yeah. He was like, “Huh?” Um, that was pretty funny. I kicked it and I was like, “Oh, man.” I always I always like cover my mouth after that with the with my mouthpiece because I’m like, “Boy, I know I know this is zoomed in on my face right now.” Like we’re just like, damn. Yeah. Obviously that’s not great, but like something I kind of smile about and I’m like, well, out of the next we move on. Yeah. And so far, our defense has been killing it after those moments. And I walk over the coach and I’m like, man, maybe um should do this more often because our defense plays really well with me. They had a tough place to start. Yeah. So, so it’s been uh it’s been funny, but it’s Yeah. Obviously things are clean up, but it’s it’s part of it. I think I got the answer to this question, but I’m going to ask you anyway. Like because your mindset, um, obviously you didn’t grow up around the sport and you said this is a dream definitely come true for you, but now that you’ve been around it for so long, if you didn’t play kicker, right, what position would you play? This is so lame, punter. No, no, no, no. Special teams. No special teams. Special off the table. Special teams are off the table. Off the table. And I’ve been my whole life training it or like you saying like right now I had to go play it. Whole life training it. When you started training for a kicker knowing what you know now being around the sport and it had to be something else. Um so I always have a nightmare that I’m a running back. So I’ll say that just because it’s a hilarious nightmare. I like legit wake up and I’m It’s after I’m in a huddle. I’ve had this multiple times. I don’t know why I’m so afraid of it, but I’m in a huddle and the quarterback, I don’t know who it is, I’m looking at the ground and they’re like giving me a play and it’s just mumbo jumbo in my ear and I’m just like, “What is happening?” And I just line up randomly and he’s like, “No, other side.” And I jump over there and then they just snap the ball and I’m like, “Am I supposed to block? Am I getting a hand off?” So I like fake that I’m getting a hand off because I’m like, “Maybe he’s going to hand it to me.” Never handed to me in my dream. And then I just run around and I wake up. Yeah. Um, so maybe a running back kind of funny. Um, yeah. I feel like I’ve hit my head a little too many times for that too, though. Yeah. So, I don’t know. Yeah, I love the answer. I thought it maybe a DB. Maybe I’m not being biased, but just because DBs have they have a very short memory 100%. And have to make sure that whatever happened before, you forget about it and move on. And that’s the same mentality that a kicker has. So, if I could change my athletic ability, I Yeah, I know. I was going to say I haven’t seen your history. I think there’s some things I’d have to change athletically to be a DB. I’d say you guys are probably the freakiest athletes on the field. I agree with you. I agree with you. But yeah, I think mentally a DB is way more where it’s at. Or I mean quarterback quarterback quarterback and DB for sure. They also have to be like, well, oh shoot, whatever. Yeah. Um but a DB would be a lot of fun. Most definitely. Cameron, I have to admit last week I was get a little glassy eyed watching the video of you. Me too. getting the uh the nominee for Walter Peyton man of the year. Uh second straight year, obviously welld deserved, but but to get the message that you are the nominee in that fashion. Uh how do you reflect on that day? Um that was awesome. It was uh it was crazy to have those kids do that video and just hear what they’ve said. It’s like making me want to cry now. Um, but like hearing them hearing the way they talked about me was really cool and to have that video is really special for me. So for the Chargers to get that put together, they said they didn’t really give them much of a guideline. So it’s really cool on how everybody did it. Um, but it was uh really special to hear that one of the kids just said like just showing up every day and I was like damn like that’s just Yeah. It was uh yeah, very proud moment for me. Um, I got to bring the all the kids in that video to the game, which was really cool, and their families this last week. And so, it was fun to be able to show out and do that for them. And, uh, we had we had a good time talking after the game. I ran over and was talking with them before going to the locker room. And so, I missed a lot of the postgame team celebrations, but it was worth it. How much perspective does that give you? because you know we we were just talking about hey you’re kicking field goals you’re on to the next one and you’re just you’re doing your job but I think sometimes you fail to realize the impact that you have on other people and just hearing some of those kids talk about be like you and um it it it probably maybe makes you take a step back and say okay this is this is actually what it’s all about. Yeah, there’s a lot more than what’s going on on the field, right? Um I think we had a lot of guys on this team who are capable of getting that award this year. A lot of guys do a lot of great things in this community and in other communities back home, wherever it may be. Um but everybody goes through stuff on their own as well in the locker room and that you got to show up to work and not really pretend it’s not going on, but have to like fight through it at work and like it’s a it’s a different place. And a lot of for a lot of guys, it’s their kind of escape. And so for us to be in our position and provide an escape for other people is huge and just try to be a light for somebody. Um so every goal like I started my foundation wholeheartedly because like my interactions I try to be wholeheartedly in them. I want everybody to feel like they’re the only person in the room and that like they are the light right now and so I want to shine uh the light God’s given me as bright as I can and try to be an example for other people to do so. Awesome man. Last one for me Cam. uh World Cup’s going to be here, you know, few months. Uh are you going to go just in LA? Are you going to travel? Um and outside of that, what about uh what what is your team like? Who do you follow? Can you follow teams during the year or do you have to kind of wait till everything’s over before you kind of dig back into that? I’m a Liverpool fan. We kind of suck right now. Yeah, it’s been a bummer. It’s been rough. It’s a bummer. Big bummer. And we might be losing Mo Salah. Another big bummer. Um, but I’m excited. I think the World Cup’s huge. I think Americans are going to see like how big the sport really is. Um, but I also do think it’s a little crazy some of these prices. Yeah, I don’t really want to spend my money on that. And there’s a lot of people that are just to do it, but like I don’t know, man. That’s just little It’s a little steep. It’s a little steep. A little steep to see some not awesome games. So, it’s like what’s the best game in LA? I haven’t even looked if I’m being honest. It’s so far from American pool is pretty weak. I’m not a big planner. Yeah, it’s kind of like the week of when those games come, I’m going to be like, “Excuse me, can somebody help me here? I need to figure this out.” Um, so maybe for the World Cup I’ll plan a little bit, but that’s a postseason thing. Yeah. Um, yeah. But it’s super exciting. I’m pumped. I went to the World Cup like kickoff party that they did here at the Fox Studio lot. That was cool. Good energy around there. So, should be a should be a pretty cool time. Right on. You did it. I I do want to ask. I need one of those hats, bro. I know. I need to get a bunch made. I need one of those hats. I was looking at it while you were talking. A great hat. I was like, that thing’s swaggy. I like it. Sweet. So, I’m going to I’m going to get hats going, get some shirts going, and we’ll we’ll get some stuff out. And there’s some good meaning behind it. Yeah. Let’s get some merch. Keep doing your thing, bro. Keep doing your thing. Okay. Appreciate you as always, man. Thank you guys. I appreciate it. Head to San Francisco and experience the Super Bowl with On Location, the official hospitality provider of the NFL and proud partner of the Los Angeles Chargers. Secure packages that bundle verified tickets with exclusive access to pregame parties featuring renowned entertainment and top-of-the-line food and drinks, plus immersive postgame field celebrations. On Location delivers unforgettable experiences so you can create memories that will last a lifetime. Visit onloationexeexp.comblx or call 877-373-5062 to secure your ticket package today. Well, if you’re going to win against Kansas City Chiefs, uh, pretty good weapon to have in Cameron Dicker, Jalil. Uh, 1,000%. Especially when you’re going to the to Arrowhead, which I hate playing that and it’s going to be 20° like he’s going to have to be an extension of the offense as he has been all season long. Well, just look at their last game. You know, Bucker misses a kick and that’s that changes everything in that game against the Texans. You know, he makes that kick and everything is different at the end of that game. Andy Reid goes for a weird fourth down when his defense had been completely and totally shutting down the Texans. They had nothing going, you know, over their last four or five drives. And for whatever reason, he decides to go for it at his own whatever it was 30 yardd line when his team had not been getting anything done against that defense. It was a very odd decision. So, I think it I think it masks sort of one of the things that I took away as I watched that game back to get ready for this one is that Chief’s defense was humming, man. Spagnolo, as the kids say, was in his bag and he was he was making life hell on on the Texans offense. So, you know, yes, the offense has not been good this year. And I think you can make a case that, you know, Patrick Mahomes has just not been Patrick Mahomes that we were used to for like the last two, three years when it comes to like those deep balls and those explosives, they just haven’t been there. So to your point, Jal, I think you could Yeah, you could look at it as um defense kicking. You know, guess what? If your if your possession ends with a kick or a touchdown, you’re good. You’re good. You’re good%. Any kind of kick and any kind of touchdown and you’re good. Points, especially on the road, you need points. And then talk about But even a punt, no, for sure. Flip the flip the field, but if you can get three, I mean, that’s money. Um, no pun intended. Uh, but no, honestly, when you talked about that decision that um Andy Reid made, there was that’s why you have to look put the analytics away and you got to be in the game and see how the game’s going cuz there was a there was a time when the Chargers played it was like fourth and four and Harbaugh decided to punt it, right? And I remember the commentary saying, well, analytics will say you should go for it here. And I think the crowd even sprayed off some booze, right? They punted the ball, flipped the field, and it ended up being the right decision, right? So, I think like as a coach, I know it’s big on analytics and everyone’s going for it on fourth downs now, but you have to be in the game. You got to see the flow of the game. How’s your defense playing? What’s the possibility of converting it? Um, and then moving forward like that. So, shout out to the, you know, Jim Harbaugh and the coaching staff, you know, not going by what the the metrics are saying and and then being in the game and and doing it the right way. No doubt. You know, before this Eagles game, you looked at the the Chargers final five games and the two that I I circled to say, “Okay, if you’re going to make the postseason, win these two.” It’s the Chiefs and the Texans. like those are the two teams that you’re competing with that you knew the Texans are Chiefs. Somebody was going to lose Sunday. It’s the Chiefs that the Chiefs are on on playoff life support right now. The Texans are coming. I think the Texans are going to make the playoffs. Um Philip Rivers is basically the the the one wild card at all. Like I the Colts are eight and five. They have a game against the Seahawks on Sunday. They play the Niners and then I think they play Texans week 18. Um I think the Jags week 17. So that that schedule is not easy for for any quarterback coming a guy who hadn’t played in 5 years. Um but for the Chargers, I if you beat the Chiefs, like you said, you punched a ticket. You know, a loss that actually puts the Broncos in prime position to win the West before week 18. And who knows who they’re going to play. If if if they have home field at stake, I think they probably play everybody. Oh, no doubt. I mean, you know, there’s only one buy. Yeah. No better way to make the Super Bowl than not having to play an extra playoff game. But money, think of think of all the games that you’ve called at Arrowhead and, you know, for this to be really a defining moment, I think, for both franchises. Like, you know, if you’re the Chargers and you get to 10 wins with a win on the road against Patrick Mahomes, um, essentially ending that dynasty because that that would mean they don’t go to the postseason, right? I mean, like that’s that’s a win that would probably be this. I don’t know if if you could say this is the most important game in the Jim Harbaugh era, but I would say it’s it’s right up there. Yeah. I mean, look, it’s division. It’s a division rival. It’s a division rival that’s that’s beat the snot out of the division since Patrick Mahomes became their starter in 2018. Uh they’ve been to every single AFC Championship game since then. You know, they’ve been to five Super Bowls. They’ve won three of them. And you have a chance to be the team that ends it. you know, that that for all intents and purposes, not officially legitimately, but yeah, ends it. I think that’s exciting. That’s that’s that’s what Coach Harbaugh is all about, man. Like, competitors are welcome. It’s like, you mean to tell me we’re the ones that get this opportunity? This is this is what’s been presented to us. Now, there’s again, to use the same stupid cliche, two sides of that coin is, you know, champions do not go quietly. There’s a reason why they’re champions, you know, and and you’re going to get it all. You are going to get the full Patrick Mahomes experience. you are going to get the the the full Steve Spagnolo. Who knows how many blitzes where it’s coming from. Like it it is it’s basically wounded animal backed into a corner that’s fighting for its life and and I’m sure they’re going to be ready to play against that and will be prepared for it. Which is why I I say I think I have full confidence in this defense based on the way that Jesse Miner had them play and the way they set those edges and they they weren’t too aggressive and they were you know how many times I don’t want to how many times we see a Chargers defensive end that was here for a while just crash thinking he’s going to make that hero play and here comes Patrick Mahomes rolling to his right downfield game over like that Brazil game was like okay here we go just you want to dump that thing in the middle go ahead Go ahead, man. We are not letting you peel out of this pocket. Um, and so to have Khalil and Ooway and Tulie out there to be able to prevent that, uh, I I’ve got full faith in this in this defense to be able to make this a a nightmare for that offense. It’s is the offense ready to to play some complimentary football? Jal, I I always say with this Chiefs team play, it’s like I I need to see triple zeros on the on the scoreboard to know that they are officially dead. Um, from a from a player perspective, playing on Monday night and having all that energy and a physical physical game and then having to go on the road against the Chiefs like how difficult is that for a player to to not get up for it, but just to kind of from a physical perspective, um, I I think you seen I don’t even think they’re in pads this week. So, I think Harbaugh understands the physical toll that they took, right? So, it’s going to be more of a lighter week on the physical side, but the mental side are going to be packed heavy, right? And uh that’s the right way to do it in December. Like, I think even in the CBA, there’s only so many pads padded practices you can have. Sure. Right. Um so, they’re going to be fine. Like, this is December football. No one feels good. Everyone’s injured. Everyone’s banged up. The Chiefs are banged up. They don’t feel good. So, it’s going to be one of those games where you go into Arrowhead Stadium and you know you’re hated. You’re going to hear that war chant. You’re going to hear that war chant. They’re going to throw things at the bus when you’re pulling in, right? It’s going to be an atmosphere that you have never been a part of. And it’s I love playing at home, but there’s something special about going into an away stadium when you’re hated. Especially that one, that one with your brand of brothers and coming out with a victory. And I think there would be no better feeling for those guys. They go in there on Sunday afternoon and pull that one out. I mean, look, the the Chiefs got the crap kicked out of them, too. Like that’s the one benefit is Yeah. You got kind of hosed on the short week against one of the most physical teams in football. The opposing defenses that the Chargers the Chiefs face and it’s like well at least the Chiefs played the Texans who beat the crap out of them that whole game. I was just kind of looking at the team stats. They only averaged 4.3 yards per play. Is Big McDuffy. Is McDuffy out? McDuffy is limited this week right now. So I think he’s going to play. He’s he’s going to play. It’s the offensive line. You know, they’re down. They they you know Jawan Taylor I think was back. I don’t I don’t know if he practiced if I remember right but they were down both tackles. Um I do think Trey Smith’s going to be back which is a huge boost for them. I thought PCO ran the ball really well in that game. He you know Kareem Hunt’s physical. He’s a very physical back that’s going to get you a couple every time they hand it to him. But man I’m looking at it and four of 14 on on third down, one of three on fourth down. They had 13 drives and only got 274 yards. Like they got beat. Is Rice still in uh concussion protocol? No, he was limited. So, and I don’t think you’re not limited. That hit on that piece you laid on. That’s my brand of football, baby. Right. Goodness. Yeah. Yeah. But like that’s the thing is is look, she’s a good player, man. Um, but like they keep drafting or signing these small fast guys and it’s same same and it’s just not working for him, you know? It’s like I think they forgot like yeah Tyreek is a 42 but he’s thick man. He’s a bully and he’s just a unicorn. It’s different. and you can go out and get Taekquin Thornton and Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy and these 4-2 guys and it’s just they can get knocked off their line or if they’re not, you know, like Rashe can really run routes, man. Like he’s he’s a handful, but like to me I think there’s opportunities there for for this to be more of a fair fight than we’ve had in the past. Yeah, but because Mahomes remind me of Josh Allen where most of his not it’s not really timing with him, right? It’s more scramble, get open, backyard football. Kelsey plants his foot, goes left, plants his foot, goes right. Xavier Worthy goes deep. Right. It’s not a timing offense, right? And it’s similar to the Buffalo Bills. So, it’s we have the defensive line to take care of that, right? And you seen what it looked like in week one. Yeah. Then I’m pretty sure that’s the film that they’re watching right now. Obviously, the last four games is what you’re scouting, but you’re going to look at how they tried to attack you in Brazil, what worked, what didn’t work, right? And adjust your game plan off of that. Um, but I’m excited. It’s it’s a it’s a place where I’m very familiar with. I know the atmosphere that is that is that’s going to be taking place there. I know what the players are feeling like right now in December. And right now from this game on, I mean Monday night it’s playoff football, right? This is playoff football. These are four playoff football games. Physical aspect of it, the mental aspect of it. And people are going to start running faster. They’re going to start hitting harder. And it’s going to get into crunch. It’s going to be crunch time, right? So it’s uh if you’re a football fan, uh this is the best time of the year. Jim Harbaugh’s 8-2 against the AFC West in two years. The two losses came to the Chiefs last year. One was you’re you’re a dink field goal and a a limited Justin Herbert on basically one leg in week three to from from being 10 and0 against this division. U these division games from your perspective, Jalil, like it seems like it’s it’s a big difference between playing the Philadelphia Eagles you see once every like four years and and a team that you’re so comfortable with like you know what they’re going to do. they know what you’re going to do. Um, is that maybe a little bit of an advantage for the Chargers knowing that, hey, it’s a short week, but we know who these guys are. Yeah, it’s you know what, you know what, and not only do you know what they’re going to do, you’ve been against these guys. You know their body type, you know their strength, you know their speed, you know their quickness, you know what it feels like to get hands on. You know that, oh, I tried to do this. I tried to do this technique and it didn’t work against them. Right? A lot of times you you get a one shot and you’re done to play against a guy, right? These are guys who you’re familiar with. You see them year in year out. You’ve seen them twice during the year. So, it’s an advantage for them, but it’s also an advantage for the Chiefs, right? That’s why division games are always close. That’s why they’re always nailbiters because they know each other, right? And that’s what makes it so beautiful and it’s it’s heightened because they know that the playoff implications really matter when you’re playing in your division. Yeah, I think just, you know, I’d wrap it on just they played each other already. You know, Herbert threw for three 300 plus and three touchdowns. Q had two. You know, Lad had 70 yards. There was no Orande Gadston. He was inactive for those first couple games. I know Jo was out there and that’s a huge difference. Um they didn’t have Rashi. They didn’t have Rashi Rice or or Worthy. Worthy went out early, too. Right. Exactly. Yeah. Worthy got knocked out by Kelsey. So, it’s a little bit of a different game. But I do think, you know, you saw them in this tight game where things always would go the Chief’s way and in this game when they had to have it, Herbert sees Chris Jones crash and he’s like, “See you later.” Peeled out, you know, 22 yards, game over. Um, and so I think it’s it’s going to look like like the Chiefs and the Chargers have never blown each other out in these games. They’re always tight. So, it’s going to be tight again. It’s going to come down to execution. And I think for both teams, it’s probably come going to come down to their offensive lines. You know, Patrick Mahomes does not operate anywhere near as well when he’s under pressure and under duress. doesn’t like it, you know, and who would? But like there is just a dramatic difference in Mahomes performance when when he’s under a lot of pressure throughout the course of a game. And to me, I think it’s one of those jump on them early. If you can jump on them early, I think you can lean on this team. If if you can if you can get ahead, if this defense can create a turnover like they did against the Eagles and the offense can cash it in. If you can get up 10 nothing, something like that, 173, like I feel like you can really lean on this team. I just feel like we’ve seen that all season against them. It’s a M Tulie game. Most defin it’s Listen, it’s a all 22 game. Yeah, no doubt. It’s a all 22 plus plus Cameron Dicker game, man. We’re going to definitely need his leg um in this weather and and it’s going to be two stifling defenses, two explosive offenses that can get going at a drop of a hat. So, hey, I got my popcorn ready. You know, the fact that it’s a a 10:00 a.m. game, you you look at the slate this week, like you got you got Bills, Patriots, this AFC West or AFC playoff picture is going to start to take shape. Uh Broncos, Packers in the late window, too. If the if the Broncos drop that to Green Bay and the Chargers win, like we’re talking about, okay, now it’s getting really real for maybe the AFC West. So, uh, a lot at stake on Sunday, guys. No doubt. Yeah. All right, for Money and Jal, I’m Chris. This has been Chargers Weekly presented by Split.

On this episode of Chargers Weekly, Bolts radio play-by-play announcer Matt “Money” Smith, host Chris Hayre, and former Chargers safety Jahleel Addae recap the latest news involving LA and the entire NFL. The hosts are joined by kicker Cameron Dicker, who talks about his five-field-goal game on Monday night vs the Eagles, his appreciation for being selected as the Bolts’ Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Nominee, and the playoff implications of the Chargers’ crucial AFC West matchup against Patrick Mahomes & the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Presented by Splitero.

1:00 Eagles Game Recap
29:00 Cameron Dicker Interview
50:00 Chiefs Game Preview

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