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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast…**Note..11am starting time***
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“THURSDAY NITE FOOTBALL-WORTH WATCHING”
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They both need to stop the bleeding.
It’s likely someone is going to get bloodied in Thursday Nite Football.
The Chargers have lost 3-of-4. Minnesota is on their own skid in the NFC-North.
Coach Jim Harbaugh has no answers because injuries have wrecked his offensive line and have taken 3-of the top 4-running backs off the field.
Coach Kevin O’Connell had his young QB-JJ McCarthy for about 15-minutes before he went down with a high ankle sprain.
What’s left behind is a battered Justin Herbert at quarterback for the Bolts and a highly erratic Carson Wentz wearing the Purple for Minnesota as a backup.
Not been pretty at all.
Herbert has thrown 13-TDs already, is over 2,000 yards in 7-games in total offense, but has 6-picks, 16-sacks and been hit a league high 62-times. 1-of these times he is not going to be able to pick himself up off the turf.
The OL has been wrecked by injuries to the top 3-offensive tackles.
The wide receiver group is carrying the offensive load, but scoring TDs has been a challenge with a team ranked 31st in Red Zone production. Think about that, Justin Herbert’s offense is 31st in red zone scoring.
The defense cannot stop the run. Now maybe that changes with the return of the injured LBs-Khalil Mack-Denzel Perryman.
But the secondary has been thinned out, and you need DBs to cover those guys running routes with Vikings colors.
For Minnesota, Carson Wentz makes plays, takes sacks, and turns the ball over. No wonder he has been with so many teams in recent years.
If the Vikings can pound it with ex 49ers RB-Jordan Mason, they have a chance. Otherwise it is take your chances protecting Wentz from the Jessie Minter blitz.
Yes the Vikings have the studs making big plays down the field, with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison both averaging (15YPC) and TJ Hockenson catching lots at TE. But protection is a problem for sure.
The real story is the true storyline on Thursday night.
Justin Herbert-vs-Brian Flores, the QB-vs-Defensive Coordinator.
Somebody should be talking about the Vikes that side of the ball. Giving up just (301YPG) in a league that heaves it all over the place. A Flores-defense that has 16-sacks. And a Minnesota defense that allows opposing QBs a (30%) conversion rate on third downs.
Oh by the way, the Vikings have given up just 8-red zone TDs this year, are #2 in pass defense and #4 in total defense.
Now they will need that in this road game. Oh, maybe I correct that. Bet So Fi Stadium is full of people wearing Purple Jersey’s too rather than just Powder Blues.
Big night. Both need a win. Worth watching this one. Chargers-Vikings. Somebody is going to be in big trouble in the standings by 10-pm on Thursday.
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