Morning Dump

Sunday Funday! Are you ready for some football!?!?!? We can start it out with the Jets and Broncos both losing and we can end the night by celebrating a beatdown on the Baltimore Ravens in front of a national audience. Sounds like a pretty good plan!

For the Baltimore Ravens, it’s simple. With a win or a tie on Sunday night against the San Diego Chargers, they’ll be in the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

Gaither, released by the Ravens after last season, has started the last two games at left tackle for the Chargers, ably protecting the blind side of quarterback Philip Rivers in victories over Jacksonville and Buffalo. The Chargers signed him after he was cut by Kansas City three weeks ago.

On Sunday night, Baltimore brings that balance to San Diego, which has revitalized itself with two straight wins. While the Chargers (6-7) think they have an outside shot at a playoff berth, the Ravens (10-3) would need a complete collapse to fall short.

Outside linebacker Antwan Barnes was drafted by the Ravens in the fourth round in 2007 and spent three seasons with the team before being shipped to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2010 preseason.

I have a picture in my office from the years I was the “Voice of the Chargers” on the Mighty 690-Radio. It was from a happy moment in San Diego Chargers history; I glance at it often, and remember when the times were good.

The Chargers are fighting for their lives to make the playoffs right now and their toughest test comes Sunday against Baltimore in San Diego. For that game — and the rest of the season — the Chargers are renaming their home field “Snapdragon Stadium.”

The Chargers inside linebacker raised his right hand Friday, clenched it into a tight fist, and suddenly slammed and slammed his knuckles into an open left palm.

San Diego Chargers Assistant Coach Cris Dishman Needs Help Tracking Down Lomas Brown, Doesn’t Like Being Called A “Heavy Drinker”

There is more spring in his step lately; more confidence in his cuts. For the first time in a long time, the archetypal tight end looks like a reasonable facsimile of his former self.