Claim OwnershipThe Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast
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Three Aussies. One passion: American Football Join best mates Andy (@TDU_Andy), Jack (@TDU_Jack), and Alister (@TDU_ Alister) as they use data, analysis, and humour to work through their feelings about the Los Angeles Chargers and the NFL. If you love the Chargers and the NFL, you'll love The Thunder Down Under. Follow us on Twitter at @TDU_Chargers Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheThunderDownUnderPodcast Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever else you get your favourite podcasts
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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 Steelers fearsome pass rush at bay. The final score (25-10) flattered the visiting team and the Chargers’ victory took their season record to an impressive 7-3. With only a trip to Jacksonville standing between the Bolts and their bye week, are fans now feeling confident that a deep playoff push is on horizon? Or do doubts still linger? Join us on another episode of TDU to hear our views on all of the Chargery topics. Don’t miss it!
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 earlier in the week. The Chargers are now 6-3 (with a 3-0 intra-division record), but why does this season feel on the precipice? And of what exactly? Join us on another episode of TDU to find out!
Heading into TNF against the Minnesota Vikings in Wk 8, the Chargers had won only 1 of their previous 4 games. But with superstar left tackle, Joe Alt, returning from injury – and wearing their Navy “Super Chargers” gear – the Bolts responded as any well-coached football team with playoff aspirations should. By half-time, they’d taken a 21-3 lead at home. And in the second half, they rubbed salt into Carson Wentz’s wounds, storming home to a 37-10 annihilation of Kevin O’Connell’s visiting Vikes. In a balanced team effort, Kimani Vidal led the way on Offense with 117 yds on the ground (his second 100+ rushing yd feat in the past three weeks), Herbert passed for 3 TDs, and the Charger Defense enjoyed 5 sacks in a powerhouse performance. Join us today as we break down this comfortable win before answering some fan questions about the 5-3 Bolts in our #TDUMailbag segment. Don’t miss it!
The Chargers ran into a buzzsaw on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. The Indianapolis Colts Offense, powered by their Elite OL and early NFL MVP candidate RB Jonathan Taylor, did as they pleased all afternoon against a helpless Jesse Minter Defense. Taylor ran for 3 TDs, Daniel Jones passed for 2 scores, and the Colts amassed 38 points and 401 Total Yards. For the Bolts, the shining light was rookie Oronde Gadsden whose 164 rec yards was the 3rd highest total ever by a Chargers TE. Herbert’s 420 passing yards were also the most of his career in a single game. Ultimately, it didn’t matter. The Chargers fell to 4-3 and today, on a short week, we unpack everything ahead of a crucial TNF match-up against the Minnesota Vikings. Don’t miss it!
A Herculean Justin Herbert willed his team to victory on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. With 0:36 remaining in Q4 – and the Chargers trailing by 1 point – Herbert managed to either shake off or evade multiple would-be tacklers and find Ladd McConkey late over the middle, on a crosser, for the 42 yd completion advancing the ball deep into Dolphins’ territory and into field goal range. The rest was history. Dicker drilled the 33-yarder and the Bolts snapped their 2-game losing streak ascending to 4-2 atop the AFC West. Join us today as we break down all the Wk 6 Chargers action before ending our show with a hearty round of “Buy, Sell, Hold!”. Don’t miss it!
The first quarter turned out to be a liar on Sunday at SoFI Stadium. The Chargers took an early 10-0 lead. But from there, the Commanders played lights out football scoring 27 unanswered points and winning the game comfortably as the Bolts committed multiple penalties, turnovers and suffered some more untimely injuries (including to first round rookie phenom Omarion Hampton). Today, we recap the action from Wk 5. And then, following back-to-back defeats, we thought it was as good a time as ever to bring out the #TDUMailbag and answer some listener questions. Don’t miss it!
The Chargers’ sweet start to the season was soured on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium. In an upset performance, rookie QB Jaxson Dart scored twice and did just enough at the helm to lead the Giants to a 21-18 victory. The true victors on the day were the Giants’ Defensive Line, who constantly pressured Herbert – their highlight play, a 37-yard INT return from 340 pounds Defensive Tackle Dexter Lawrence. As the Bolts dust themselves off from their first loss of the season and count their battle wounds (which include Joe Alt ending the game in a moon boot), today on TDU we bring you our game recap and then look ahead to another NFC East opponent in Wk 5, the Washington Commanders. Don’t miss it!
The Bolts dug deep at SoFi on Sunday, overcoming a 7-point deficit to storm home in the final quarter and snatch victory against the Denver Broncos. Their 3-0 start is the Chargers’ best since 2002 and Coach Harbaugh’s transformative effect is clear for all to see. Facing significant adversity and a likely season-ending injury to RB Najee Harris in the first half, Greg Roman’s Offense found a way to produce two key second half TD drives and, after the Defense forced a three and out, a Cam Dicker walk-off field goal sealed the win 23-20. Herbert was relentlessly pursued by a fierce Broncos pass rush all day but showed steely resolve, unleashing an unbelievable off schedule 20 yd TD strike to Keenan Allen with the game on the line. Join us today on TDU #BoltFam as we breakdown (yet another) big Bolts victory in Season 2025. Don’t miss it!
The Chargers walked into Allegiant Stadium on MNF Football and waltzed away with an early 2-0 lead in the AFC West standings beating the home team Raiders 20-9 in a comfortable victory. The win was a whole team effort, but Coach Harbaugh singled out praise for Derwin James in his press conference, labelling him the ‘best safety he’s even seen in the history of the National Football League” after his stellar performance. Bolts fans know that Pete Carroll will be looking for his revenge later in the season, but for now #TDUCrew revel in the moment and enjoy this Raiderssssss Week Victory Pod. Don’t miss it!
São Paulo, Brazil will hold a special place in Chargers’ fans hearts after Herbert & the Bolts’ 27-21 Wk 1 statement win against the reigning conference winning Kansas City Chiefs on Friday night. In their first victory against Andy Reid & Patrick Mahomes since 2021, Justin Herbert passed for 318 yards, 3 TDs and added 32 yds with his legs, including the 19 yd scamper with 2:14 remaining in the game that sealed victory at Corinthians Stadium. Harbaugh’s Bolts controlled the contest from stat to finish, and whether Herbert’s performance was fuelled by ESPN Ryan Clark’s pre-game comments (‘whenever it matters, [Herbert]’s been terrible’), last season’s disappointing playoff exit at Houston, or his new blossoming off-field romance, the NFL should be terrified of what #10 appears primed to do this season for the Powder Blues. Join us on #TDU as we discuss it all!
THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Finally, real football begins for Season 2025 and today we preview the Chargers Wk 1 Opponent, those much-hated CHIEFS! We also discuss the Chargers’ initial 53, engage in a lightning round Q&A, bring out the #TDUMailbag and make some bold season predictions. Don't miss it!
Mercifully, the 2025 Preseason ended on Saturday and ‘real football’ is just around the corner for the Bolts (in Brazil!). Today on TDU we share our takeaways from the Chargers 2-2 preseason record. What did and didn’t matter? What did we see as important, challenging and interesting? We also look further afield to Tuesday’s roster cutdown, discussing Daniel Popper’s final 53 man prediction and sharing our own thoughts ahead of a busy few days for Joe Hortiz and Company at Chargers’ HQ. Don’t miss it!
A turbulent week for Chargers fans concluded on Sunday with a 27-13 victory against Kellen Moore and Brandon Staley’s Saints at SoFi Stadium. Earlier in the week, the joyous return of Keenan Allen to the Powder Blues on a 1yr deal was swiftly soured by news that franchise LT Rashawn Slater had suffered a serious knee injury at practice which scans confirmed will end his 2025 season prematurely. Yet there were no signs of the team slowing down on the field as the “next men up” performed admirably leading the Bolts to a 2-0 Preseason record. We discuss what it all means for the season this week on TDU. Don’t miss it!
Preseason Football’s arrived and the Los Angeles Chargers destroyed the Detroit Lions 34-7 in the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame game. Meanwhile, Bolts Legend Antonio Gates was handed his gold jacket in Canton, Ohio by fellow superstar LaDainian Tomlinson. Join us for a special Thunder Down Under Chargers episode as we break down the first piece of Chargers game action for 2025! Afterwards, we continue our Opponents Series, staying home within the division to talk about some well-known rivals. Can the Chiefs keep on keeping on? Is Pete Carroll’s quest for immediate 10-win seasons Raidiculous? And why is Sean Payton such a….%#&%? Don’t miss it as we discuss it all!
Training Camp has begun and with it came the symbolic retirement of Philip Rivers and the shock retirement of Mike Williams! We dive into what this means for the Chargers Offense and share our other Training Camp Takeaways from the week. Afterwards, we continue our 2025 Opponents Series venturing deeper South within the AFC. Are the Texans a sleeping giant? Is Steichen one unsuccessful season away from becoming Bolts fans #1 Target for Chargers OC? Can Cam Ward pick the Titans up off the mat and in Duuuuuuuuvalll have the Jags hired another fizzer? Join us as we break it all down!"
It’s the eve of Training Camp which means it’s time for our 2025 Chargers Opponents Series! We kick things off today with a Training Camp Preview and NFC East Breakdown: a Tiffany division boasting last year’s Super Bowl winner and another final four team. Are the Eagles really that good? Can lightning strike twice for Jaylen Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury? Will Big Blue lay another Big Poo and has the Dallas Star lost its shine? Join us for the discussion!
We welcomed Adam “The WoolDog” Woolley from Charger Chat today to chat about the Bolts’ offseason! How excited are we for 2025? Has the team repaired any holes from last year’s roster? Are they ready to challenge the Chiefs? And who made our Mount Rushmore of underrated players? Join us to find out!
The Chargers have been putting in the work at OTAs and Mandatory Minicamp. But have the TDU boys been grinding too during their time off? Find out today as we return to the show for a discussion of everything Bolts-related this offseason, from Rashawn Slater’s contract negotiations to the customised patches Harbaugh’s had sewn to his players’ practice jerseys. Who’s got it better #BoltFam? Don't miss it!
The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books and the Chargers welcomed 9 new players into the #BoltFam! Join us today as we break down each player, hand out our draft grades, and share some winners & losers from around the NFL after a fantastic weekend of action. Don't miss it!
It’s draft season and the gloves are off! In this special crossover episode, Thunder Down Under locks horns with the Powderkeg Podcast in a no-holds-barred Mock Draft Showdown. Who nails the picks? Who reaches for a punter? And who should be banned from drafting ever again? Expect bold takes, plenty of banter, a few friendly jabs (okay, not that friendly), and a whole lot of Chargers chaos. We debate strategy, argue over prospects, and try not to completely destroy our friendships by Pick 22. Thunder vs Powderkeg. Draft boards will burn. Egos will bruise. Who comes out on top? You be the judge.
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