Jeff Fisher circled back around yesterday to explain why he opted not to use the timeouts right before the end of regulation on Sunday, and whatdaya know, his explanation sounds a lot like mine (ed.: That may be the greatest indicator yet that he should be fired):

He said his fear was that a tired defense that already blown an 18-point lead might give up a big play down the field. Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne had hit on a 57-yard pass to Brian Hartline on the game-tying drive, although Griffin should have intercepted the ball.

"Our defense had been on the field for two consecutive drives and didn’t stop them. We had a chance to end the game in regulation offensively," Fisher said. "At that point, I was not going to take a chance and force his hand and let him take an opportunity to throw the ball down the field."

 Paul K's gets more good info from ESPN's mysterious stats guys on last Sunday's game, and perhaps shining brightest is this gem:

Young had a passer rating of 143.6 and two of his three touchdown throws against the Dolphins defense when it deployed five or more defensive backs.

 Keith Bulluck is gone for the year, and nobody hates that more than the fine folks here at MCM. but it's time for the young guns to step-up and earn that paycheck because Jamie Winborn shouldn't be counted on for much considering he's only going to get a practice or two before the season is on the line on Friday.

Follow us through the jump for one more link, but it's a good one...

 Here's the transcript from the Chargers' press conference yesterday where Norv Turner, Philip Rivers and Shaun Phillips discuss the Titans, and Shaun Phillips got the closest crying because he apparently wishes he played flag football instead to going off-script:

Does the dislike of the two teams from a few years ago still apply?

"They definitely took a cheap shot on Merriman (ed.: aww come on, it's not like we left his steroid needles out for everyone to see!). They're a physical team, though -- they thought they could punk us, and we obviously aren't going to get punked. We're going to do the same thing. They're a physical football team, and we like to believe we're a physical football team, so it's going to be one of those ones where we are going to punch them in the mouth and they're going to try to punch us back, and that's just how it's going to be. I personally know that Merriman definitely has to be a little heated because I believe that's when he originally hurt his woman part knee. He hurt his knee in that game....

 

Can you clarify what "Punked" means?

"Punked means basically to try and intimidate someone. They're trying to intimidate us. That's Jeff Fisher style of play, that's the type of football he plays. That's how he coaches. He wants tough guys. He wants guys that get out there and get physical and get nasty and get after it and try and intimidate the other opponent.  You have to respect a guy for that.

 

On the physical nature of playing the Titans:

"For me, it's football. I don't even really care. You could cheap shot me all you want. I mean, I'm going to get you back, but I'm not one of those guys. It's football. We're supposed to be warriors; we're supposed to be gladiators. We have to understand that sometimes you're going to get hit in the face, or somebody's going to cheap shot you or do something out of line, but what can you do? You have to keep on playing. You can't cry about it, you can't go punch him in the face because you jeopardize the team.  No, just keep on playing football and you'll get him back when you get a chance.

Man I'm looking forward to this game... I hope Vince jukes Roidiman right out of his Nandrolone-soaked shoes for a little payback on that cheapshot Merriman took on him after a hand-off in 2007.  Then, VY can stand over him and do that profanely annoying 'lights-out dance'.

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