Man, The Dope's That There's Still Hope

Sure, it's a Springsteen quote but it's also super applicable. The Chargers, as Chatty Phil once said, are alive. After each of our four losses thus far, I wouldn't have had that perspective.

Who am I kidding, FAITHFUL READER. I never have any perspective. If they don't win this one I won't have perspective either. But if you had told me that we'd lose both Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater for the season, that Omarion Hampton would be out since Week 5 which was the moment he started to heat up...

And then told me Herbert would break a bone in his hand, go into the locker room, come out for the second half, finish and then have surgery the next day...

I would say that there is no way that we'd be in playoff contention in December. Yet, here we are. I get that people get stuck with all the injuries and the what ifs. But who is to say that some team wouldn't already have wrapped up the division already or proven themselves to be unbeatable even with the Bolts at full strength? Look at this tough-as-nails motherfucker. You want to dwell on what could be? Let's focus on what is and what we can make of it. They have five games left against good teams. It starts tonight at home against Philly.

I don't think many people were picking the Chargers as a serious contender even before the injuries, by the way. It's irrelevant. Vidal has been better than anyone could have expected. Without Hampton (I totally forgot about Harris), he's kept us afloat. I have no doubt that the Eagles will come into SoFi looking to save their season, but we're in the same boat. I love that the game is at home and I expect the crowd will get into it like the Steelers game. This and the Texans game are the only regular season games left. Just like the Pittsburgh game, I assume there will also be tons of visiting fans. I really think that stuff doesn't matter beyond the cheering. I don't know what this team will do tonight, but I don't think they will come out and lay an egg. When all the injuries snowballed, I heard people say that this is where Jim Harbaugh matters. So far, so good. Now shit starts to ramp up.

Let's ramp up too.

JIC,

RLW