Rocky Landing

There are two kinds of bounce in football-- lucky ones, and unlucky ones.

I was there too. It is a gorgeous stadium. I think we can agree that the Chargers' fan base was pathetic, though. Pretty embarrassing when the opposing team (from 2,500 miles away) has a louder fan base than the home team. I also didn't much care for the way the Chargers' production team directs the game day experience. They try to go for this young, nightclub vibe, with Esther Anaya as their deejay, and all the very loud house music. Very different, I thought, from the Rams games at SoFi.

There's been a lot of complaining about Martin on these pages recently, and I don't get it. He was certainly solid yesterday, including booming a 60 yarder out of the end zone. Tough to do.

Gabe Davis also had a great game.

I liked hearing Oliver talk about Poona. I was at the game, and I didn't even realize that he had gotten that sack-- I thought it was Oliver. The emcee at SoFi literally did not even mention a single Bills player's name once. It will be interesting to see how my perceptions at the stadium match up to what was presented on TV.

I just got home from watching the game live at SoFi. A few observations from the stands: Not a good showing for offense or defense, IMO. They both allowed a crappy Chargers team to stay in the game. What's up with Diggs? Has it been a few weeks now that he just seems off? Gabe Davis looked like the best player on the field tonight. Last week I was impressed with how well Joe Brady play-called. He found things that worked, and stuck with them. In this game, he found things that didn't work, and stuck with them anyway. That frikkin' jumbo package with Edwards in as a sixth OL-- always announced as an eligible receiver-- hand-off to the RB in whichever direction Edwards was taking up space for around two yards. It was infuriating. By the middle of the second quarter, I said to my 13yo, "they gotta stop running that play..." And they never did. Every time we'd hear the ref say over his mic, "number 76 has reported as an eligible receiver," my son, and I would look at each other in exasperation. Having both Phillips, and Epenesa out was huge. Daquan Jones can't come back soon enough. One thing that was pretty incredible, that I was not expecting: Bills fans literally outnumbered the Chargers fans, and were literally twice as loud. The players must have noticed this.

Oh yeah, absolutely. I’m at SoFi stadium now, and I’ve seen several. It’s actually a very frigid 65 degrees here in Inglewood. All the LA natives are wearing their puffy North Face jackets.

I think you’re giving Chargers fans a little too much credit.

My 13-year-old on why Bills fans seem to be outnumbering the Chargers fans: “the Chargers aren’t even an LA team— they just rent.”

Got to the stadium early. Maybe the Chargers fans are planning on being fashionably late, but so far, Bills fans actually outnumber the Chargers fans… like, significantly.

Leaving in a couple hours to get down to the stadium early. Considering how the Chargers' season has shaped up, I wonder if there's going to be a bunch of empty seats?

First world problems sure have gotten complicated...

In fact, I think the flopping is downright necessary. It's often the case with physical QBs that they just aren't protected as much as the Tuas of the league. I remember when Michael Vick was in his prime, he wouldn't draw an unnecessary roughness flag ever. It's probably less of an issue now than it used to be, but think back to the egregious horse collar Josh got in the Eagles game, with a ref, about four yards away, staring right at him. If Josh gets fouled, he's gotta let them know.

I wish I had known when I got mine! But, considering the current state of the Chargers (and their fans), I imagine there's going to be a lot of tickets on sale...

I'll be there with my 13 year old. We'll get there early for the tailgating. The last time the Bills played at SoFi (against the Rams), in the season opener, we were maybe 20% of the crowd, but we matched them in volume. I think at this game, we will easily drown out the Chargers fans.

You never fail to entertain. Maybe he'll bring Mac & Cheese Jones-- just to punish him for ruining his legacy in NE.

Bill Belichick* on his way to Los Angeles...

As lost as Belichick* seems to have been since Brady*'s departure, one could argue that the loss of legendary O-line coach Dante Scarnecchia was almost equally significant. It's near certainty that "Scar" would have their current, crappy O-line playing at a much higher level. It all starts in the trenches, as they say.

It'll be interesting to see how the Chiefs do when they have to play an away game in the playoffs.

I will say it was nice seeing those two TE sets we were promised coming to fruition, with Knox and Kincaid both blocking, and making receptions. It was also nice seeing Cook used in the way everyone said he could be, including lining up like a wideout.

Corey Bojorquez just boomed a 70 yard punt. His problem is consistency, but man that guy has a leg.

Pats* fans had talked themselves into believing their team was tanking, and were fully expecting, and hoping foe a loss. Now they're apoplectic over a win. Never thought I'd experience schadenfreude over a Patriots* win.

Fun drinking game: Every time they show Mac & Cheese pouting on the sideline, slam a shot of Old Grandad.

Well, at least we know they'll probably never get separated.

Legette sounds exactly like the kind of pick Beane/McDermott go for. They love drafting for potential, over polish, or those who are "NFL-ready." And I quite like that approach, honestly. It has garnered mixed results, of course. Allen was a home run obviously, but Groot, and Spencer Brown also fit that description. Of course, so does Tremaine Edmunds, and Kaiir Elam...