The Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast

#BoltUp! Another absolute fizzer for the Bolts Offense at SoFi Stadium. Despite Joe Alt’s brilliant return anchoring a clean pass-blocking performance, the Chargers collapse to 0-7 following a lifeless 24-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. With the Offense now sitting dead last across nearly every major statistical category and having gone nine straight quarters without a touchdown, the disconnect between Jim Harbaugh's conservative game management and Mike McDaniel's chaotic playcalling has reached a breaking point.

Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we break down the wreckage, hand out our weekly awards, and ask how this se...

#BoltUp! At 0-6, the Chargers return home to SoFi Stadium for the "Battle of Los Angeles" against Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and the 3-4 Rams. With the Offense sitting 32nd in EPA per play and scoring just 15 points per game, the pressure on Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel has reached a boiling point. Is this his final chance to save his job and get Los Angeles into the win column, or will Sean McVay’s squad hand the Bolts another agonising loss? Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, Alister and Andy break down every angle of this Week 8 showdown.

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#BoltUp! An utter, non-competitive disaster at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chargers crash to a 22-6 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs, dropping to 0-6 for the first time since 2000—when Jim Harbaugh was the starting quarterback. With a season-low 6 points, a 0-for-3 red zone failure, and 4 sacks allowed, the frustration has boiled over. Postgame, Jim Harbaugh refused to publicly commit to offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, declaring that "everything needs to be addressed."

Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we speak through our silence, demand total accountability, and enter the bye week looking for answers.

What we co...

#BoltUp! Sitting at 0-5 and heading straight into a hostile environment at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chargers face their ultimate test against a 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs squad. With Andy Reid returning off a bye and Patrick Mahomes rolling, can Jack and Alister find any path to a miraculous divisional upset, or is this where the season officially hits rock bottom? Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we break down every angle of this daunting Week 6 showdown.

What we cover today:

The Arrowhead Challenge: Breaking down Kansas City's high-powered attack, containing the run game, and navigating...

#BoltUp! A catastrophic fourth-quarter collapse leaves the Chargers sitting at an agonising 0-5. Up 17-10 heading into the final frame, Jim Harbaugh’s aggressive—and reckless—4th & 1 gamble in Chargers territory failed, flipping game momentum, handing Denver a short field, and triggering a total operational meltdown. Per Pro Football Reference, this marks the Chargers’ first 0-5 start to a season since 2003.

Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we channel the rage, break down the coaching negligence, and ask if there is anything left to play for this season.

What we cover today:

Broncos Recap...

#BoltUp! At 0-4, the Chargers return home to SoFi Stadium for a high-stakes AFC West clash against Sean Payton, Bo Nix, and the 2-2 Denver Broncos. With an Offensive Line decimated by injuries and facing Vance Joseph’s aggressive pressure scheme, can Mike McDaniel and Justin Herbert find answers to save the season? Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we break down the path to victory.

What we cover today:

The Central Tension: Can a beat-up Chargers offensive line hold up against Denver's top-tier blitzing Defense to give Herbert time, and can LA exploit the Br...

#BoltUp! An agonising, penalty-filled nightmare at Lumen Field. Despite 30 total penalties called in the game—the most in a single NFL game since 2003—and a heroic late-game push from a battered Justin Herbert, the Chargers fall 30-23 to the Seattle Seahawks. Sitting at 0-4 with an injured roster and four rookies forced onto the offensive line, the panic button has been completely smashed. Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we break down the chaos, field your rawest reactions, and analyse what’s left for this season.

What we cover today:

Seahawks Recap & 30-Penalty Chaos: Herbert’s tough...

Episode Description: #BoltUp! At 0-3, the Chargers travel into one of the NFL's most hostile environments at loud Lumen Field to face the 2-1 Seattle Seahawks. With Jim Harbaugh facing off against Mike Macdonald in a high-stakes coaching chess match, can the Bolts execute the upset blueprint and finally get into the win column?

Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we break down every angle of this Week 4 showdown. What we cover today:

Big Picture & Three-Game Sample: Is Seattle's defense truly as dominant as their No. 1 EPA ranking suggests, and which Week 3 performance is more...

#BoltUp! A nightmare scenario at Highmark Stadium. Despite winning the turnover battle 5-1 and leading into the 4th quarter, the Chargers collapse in a 24-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills. At 0-3, the playoff outlook is terrifying, and the anger across Charger Nation has reached a boiling point.

Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we break down where it all went wrong and demand answers from this coaching staff.

What we cover today:

Bills Recap & The 5-Turnover Meltdown: How the Bolts managed to lose a game despite forcing 5 takeaways, and why the Offense...

#BoltUp! Facing an 0-2 start, the Chargers travel to face a red-hot 2-0 Buffalo Bills team in what might be the toughest test of the early season. Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we dive deep into the Week 3 matchup, breaking down how the Bolts can slow down Josh Allen and path a way to a massive road upset.

What we cover today:

Big Picture & Two-Game Sample: Are the 2-0 Bills the AFC’s undisputed juggernaut, and where can this high-variance defense actually be attacked?

Bills Breakdown: How to contain Josh Allen’s expl...

#BoltUp! An absolute disaster at SoFi Stadium in Wk 2 as the Chargers fumbled their way to an embarrassing loss to the rival Las Vegas Raiders. Falling to 0-2 with a brutal schedule ahead, the panic alarm is officially ringing.

Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we channel the fan rage, demand answers, and ask the terrifying question: Is the Harbaugh era already broken?

What we cover today:

Raiders Disaster Recap: 6 credited total fumbles, sloppy penalties, an offensive breakdown, and how the Bolts dropped two “Must-win” games to open the season.

Snakes & Ladd...

#BoltUp! The Chargers are looking to shake off that tough Week 1 outing and bounce back in a huge divisional showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders! Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we dive deep into the Week 2 matchup, breaking down all the key tactical considerations.

What we cover today:

Raiders Week 1 Breakdown & Intel: Analysing Las Vegas' game flow, efficiency stats, Ashton Jeanty's workload share, and how to handle Maxx Crosby's edge pressure.

Keys to Victory & Tactical Matchups: How Justin Herbert performs with and without key targets, protection strategies for the offensive line, and...

#BoltUp! The Chargers dropped a shocker in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, and the Bolt fam is spiralling. Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we channel the fan rage, break down what went horribly wrong, and answer the burning question: Is this just an early-season aberration, or cause for real panic?

What we cover today:

Cardinals Recap: Key takeaways, alarming trends, Herbert’s tough outing, and initial impressions of the new offensive scheme & defensive coordinator debut.

Yeah/Nah & Nah/Yeah Awards: Alister hands out our signature Aussie awards to the standout disaster performance an...

#BoltUp! The regular season is FINALLY here! Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we gear up for Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, dive into the #TDUMailbag, and put our reputations on the line with rapid-fire "Buy, Sell, Hold" season predictions. What we cover today: #TDUMailbag: Answering your burning questions ahead of kickoff. Wk 1 Cardinals Preview: Key matchups, tactical breakdown, and what it will take to start 1-0. Buy, Sell, Hold!: Bold predictions on division winners, individual awards, and overall record. Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast!

#BoltUp! The initial 53-man roster is SET! Today on Thunder Down Under Chargers, we break down Joe Hortiz's roster construction, analye the surprise cuts and trades, and grade every position group ahead of the 2026 season.

What we cover today:

53-Man Roster Reactions: Initial takes, the biggest cut/hold surprise, fringe player trades for draft capital, and who is primed for a bigger role than expected.

Roster Confidence Meter: We tier every single position group into Ready to Contend, Good Enough, Developing, or Needs Help.

Final Offense & Defense Grades: Giving our final...

#BoltUp! We are joined today by special guest Sam Monson from Check The Mic! Sam breaks down why he was the lone NFL MVP voter for Justin Herbert in 2025, his outlook on the Chargers’ 2026 season, and overarching NFL trends to watch. Plus, we put Sam to the test with our famous TDU Aussie Quiz. Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of Thunder Down Under Chargers!

#BoltUp! Join us today as we break down the Chargers’ barely competitive Week 2 Preseason loss over the San Francisco 49ers! What we cover today: Injury Strikes! How the season-ending loss of Center Tyler Biadasz impacts the Chargers’ season prospects? Preseason Wk 2 Recap: Standouts & Takeaways from the Chargers' loss vs. 49ers. Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast!

#BoltUp! Join us today as we break down the Chargers’ dominant Week 1 Preseason win over the Houston Texans! What we cover today: Preseason Wk 1 Recap: Standouts & takeaways from the Chargers' win vs. Texans. Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of Thunder Down Under Chargers!

#BoltUp! Preseason football is finally back as the Chargers prepare to take on the Houston Texans. But before kickoff, we're taking a deep dive into the 2026 schedule to explain why the Bolts are set to SWEEP the entire AFC East. From dethroning the Patriots, to handling the Bills, Dolphins and Jets, we deliver a comprehensive breakdown of how the Chargers stack up against the East. What we cover today: Training Camp Takeaways: Latest news, roster trends, and player reports. Texans vs. Chargers: What to look for in the preseason opener. The AFC East Sweep: Our game-by-game breakdown and predictions...

Training Camp is in full flight (or as Harbaugh likes to call it, glide mode). With the first padded practice over in San Diego, it is time to take stock of the week’s action and share our biggest Charger takeaways on TDU. We then move onto our first 2026 Opponent Series segment of the offseason, breaking down the NFC West and the challenges presented by this fearsome division. Don't miss it!

ESPN Chargers reporter Kris Rhim joins the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast to discuss Justin Herbert, Jim Harbaugh and the biggest storylines ahead of Los Angeles Chargers training camp.

We welcomed ESPN’s Chargers beat reporter, Kris Rhim, onto the show today to chat about the Bolts’ offseason and everything fans can expect to see at training camp! We shared our takes and also bombarded Kris with the kinds of hard-hitting questions he’s more accustomed to asking than answering! And, of course, we challenged Kris to our famous TDU Aussie Quiz. Don't miss it!

The Charger players have been working hard at OTAs and Mandatory Minicamp. But have the TDU boys been grinding too during their time off? Or have they been busy following their popstar wives on a global musical tour? Find out today as we bring you our Biggest Chargers Offseason Takeaways to kickstart Season 5 of TDU. Is the Bolt’s Interior OL still a problem? Are McDaniel and Herbert fully in synch (with their footwork and their minds)? Now that the picture is almost complete, how do we grade Joe Hortiz’s roster building efforts? We discuss it all #BoltFam. Don...

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books and the Chargers welcomed 8 new players into the #BoltFam! There were even some trades! Join us today as we break down each player, hand out our draft grades, and present our Draft Edition of “Knife or Spoon”, sharing some winners & losers from around the NFL after a fantastic weekend of action. Don't miss it

With 4 days until the 2026 NFL Draft, we’ve invited “Mr Xs&Os” himself, Ryan Watkins from The Powderkeg Podcast, back on the show for the Chargers’ Ultimate 2026 Draft Guide. Together, Ryan and Al share their views on this class based on 1,000+ hours of All-22 tape evaluation, working through all of the key position groups and the prospects they think best fit the Chargers’ needs. Will there be fierce disagreement between these two, headstrong and passionate, tape dawgs? Listen to find out #BoltFam!

With only a little more than a week until the 2026 NFL Draft, we run through some different Mock Draft exercises for the #TDUCrew forecasting different possible outcomes for the Chargers this year. Does it matter which position gets taken in Round 1? What does a draft with a ‘trade’ look like? Join us to find out

It’s 3 weeks until the 2026 NFL Draft and what better time to welcome Guilty as Charged’s Steven and Tyler back on Thunder Down Under Chargers! Together we discuss all the recent team news before undertaking a critical off-season exercise: Setting the Chargers’ Big Board! What discussions would GM Joe Hortiz, Assistant GM Chad Alexander and their scouts be having behind closed doors? Which draft prospects are the best fits for the Bolts? What strategy should be applied on Draft Day? We discuss it all so listen to find out!

For a third consecutive free agency, the Chargers have had a deathly quiet start to proceedings and fans have seriously had enough! Armed with the most cap space in the NFL, GM Joe Hortiz has adopted a cautious, targeted approach, staying true to his Baltimore origins. Big names like Odafe Oweh and Zion Johnson have departed. Lesser-known names like Keaton Mitchell, Charlie Kolar, Alec Ingold and Cole Strange have arrived. Are these shrewd football decisions by the Bolts’ top man or is it simply parsimonious tosh?! Is he the best or is he the worst GM in the League?! In...

TDU IS BACK IN TOWN! After a restful break, we return to the airwaves to discuss all the recent Chargers news and the team’s 2026 offseason plan. Oh yes, Hortiz has made his first big move of free agency this morning signing a new starting Center, former Commander Tyler Biadasz, to a 3yr, $30m deal. But there are still so many questions left to answer. Is some Mega Trade on the horizon? Which free agents (internal or external) will Hortiz prioritise applying the most cap space in the NFL towards? We address it all on our first show of TD...

It’s been only three weeks since the Chargers lost in the Wild Card Round but so much has happened! Some of it bittersweet (Coach Minter becoming the new Ravens HC) and some of it incredibly exciting: yes, that’s right #TDUCrew, former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel will be calling the plays for Justin Herbert in 2026 as his new Offensive Coordinator! Today on TDU we go LIVE with our buddies from the PowderKeg Podcast to discuss all the recent team news, share our 2025 Season Takeaways, and enjoy a lightning round of Q&A about the offseason ahead. Oh Chargers, ever...

So, the Chargers lost in the Wild Card Round and Justin Herbert played his worst game of the season. Does that sound familiar, #BoltFam? This is the grim reality now facing the team after its 16-3 loss to New England following which OC Greg Roman and OL Coach Mike Devlin were fired: DC Jesse Minter is almost certainly leaving the team to be a Head Coach somewhere else next season; Justin Herbert is 0-3 in the Playoffs; and he will be asked to learn a 5th offensive system under a new Offensive Coordinator in 2026 (whoever that is). Never have...

The Chargers’ 2025 regular season concluded on Sunday with a “meaningless” game against the Broncos at Mile High, Denver. Most of the team’s important starters were rested ahead of the playoffs, but Harbaugh’s men nevertheless battled manfully – led by QB2 Trey Lance. After a while, the disparity between the Broncos’ starters and Bolts’ back-ups became too great, and the Broncos secured victory 19-3 (also claiming the AFC’s #1 overall seed in the process). Now, Wild Card Round beckons. The moment is almost here. And it is to New England, Massachusetts, that Justin Herbert, Derwin James, Khalil Mack, and the rest of the te...

The Texans snapped the Chargers four game win streak in Wk 17 and, with the 20-16 loss, the AFC West Title is now officially out of reach for Jim Harbaugh’s men. A slow start on Defense left the team in a 14-0 hole and, despite some Justin Herbert heroics in the second half, 5 sacks from the Houston Defense was enough to secure a narrow victory. With a playoff spot confirmed and only Wild Card seeding left to be settled, how should the Bolts approach their Wk 18 trip to Denver? Join us as we recap Sunday’s action and work thro...

Christmas is just around the corner and the #BoltFam can REJOICE following a comfortable 34-17 win by the team in Dallas, the Chargers’ fourth consecutive victory. With a Broncos loss in Wk 16 and the AFC West well and truly alive, join us on TDU today as we recap the Bolts’ trip to Jerrah World, read through Santa’s Naughty and Nice List for Season 2025, and share our score predictions for a big Wk 17 match-up against the Texans. Don’t miss it!

The conditions were frigid and the crowd was frosty at Arrowhead on Sunday, but nothing could stop the Harbaugh-led Bolts from bringing their best when their best was needed against the Kansas City Chiefs. In their first season sweep of Big Red's Big Babies since 2013, the Chargers were rugged, ruthless and showed dogged determination, winning the turnover battle, and ultimately the game, 16-13. It wasn't pretty but it was enough to get the job done and the #BoltFam rejoiced. Join us today for a special episode of TDU recorded LIVE after the game. Don't miss the Victory Pod!

In one of the craziest games of the season, the Chargers defeated the reigning Super Bowl Champions on Monday Night Football in a seesaw-ing Overtime affair featuring 8 total turnovers! Nursing a broken hand, Herbert showed courage all night and willed his team to victory. The Defense came to play and ultimately sealed the game with their fourth interception of Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, a tip from CB Cam Hart landing in the waiting arms of veteran S Tony Jefferson by the shadow of the Chargers’ own Endzone in OT. Now boasting a 9-4 record, the Bolts schedule doesn’t get...

The Los Angeles Chargers completed a 2025 sweep of the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi on Sunday, winning comfortably by three scores and improving their season record to 8-4. RB Kimani Vidal’s stellar 126-yard performance on the ground made him the first Bolts Back since Melvin Gordon (in 2018) to exceed the 100-yard rushing mark 3x in a single season. However, the biggest story emerging from the game was QB Justin Herbert’s broken left hand – suffered on a missed tackle attempt in the open field – which required surgery on Monday and put his status for Wk 14 MNF against the Eagles i...

Fresh off Bye Week, the Chargers will be seeking to improve their 7-4 record against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, at home. Today – on a special TDU YouTube Live show – we welcome our buddy, Ryan Watkins from the PowderKeg Podcast. Together, we share our biggest lessons and takeaways from the season so far, enjoy some lightning Q&A, and answer questions from our #BoltFam audience. Don’t miss it!

It was déjà vu for the #BoltFam on Sunday, as the Chargers strolled into Jacksonville in Wk 11 with a quiet confidence, but left knowing they’d experienced a seismic season-shifting loss. The Jags 35-6 Bolt Beatdown was the most lopsided time of possession imbalance of any game in Coach Harbaugh’s NFL Career. Not wanting his Coach to suffer the ignominy of a career low statistical mark alone, Herbert also passed for his lowest career yardage total in a game (81). As the team now enters their bye week, admittedly their chances of making the playoffs remain high. Their overal...

On Sunday Night Football in Wk 10, the Chargers showed the world they have what it takes – even with Joe Alt out for the season – to challenge the very best teams in 2025. It was a night where Keenan Allen surpassed Antonio Gates as the All-Time Franchise Receptions Leader, and the #BoltFam were treated to a special team performance. In an absolute beatdown of the Steelers, Jesse Minter’s Defense held Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Offense to 3 total points until junk time in Q4. The Chargers Offense, relying on Justin Herbert and the rush Offense, did just enough to keep the St...

Every week presents a different challenge in the NFL. In Wk 9, the Chargers were confronted by a plucky Titans team who punched above their weight class early at Nissan Stadium, scoring 14 points in Q1 courtesy of a pick-six and a 67 yd punt return TD. Adding injury to insult, the Chargers lost Offensive Tackles Bobby Hart (for the day) and Joe Alt (sadly, for the season) before half-time. However, in a gritty second half performance, the Bolts stuck together and clawed their way to victory; a fitting tribute to their starting LB Daiyan Henley whose older brother sadly passed away...