Here are five top lessons learned from the Chargers' 26-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, presented by Select Physical Therapy.
1. That's Why He's Called the Money Badger – It's impossible to talk about the Bolts' Week 14 win without starting with Michael Badgley. The rookie has brought such stability since taking over as the team's kicker, and he showed just why he's earned his "Money Badger" nickname with a record-setting performance vs. the Bengals. Badgley was a perfect four-for-four on the day, including a 59-yarder to end the first half that ranks as the longest field goal in Chargers history. Overall, he accounted for 14 points, giving him 62 total on the year, which now ranks as the most by a Chargers kicker through seven games in team history. It's clear the Bolts have the utmost confidence in Badgley, and their sentiments are best summed up by Russell Okung:
"We've had our kicking woes in the past, and I think as an offense, (with Badgley), it makes us more confident that we can score points whenever we cross the 50. I think it's great. Throughout the week, Badgley always wants to get as many long field goals as possible. He really wants to challenge himself to be a great kicker, and to see that come into fruition on a Sunday during a real game in real time, it's huge because it shows that he wants that pressure and he wants to deliver for the team."
2. Keenan Keeps Slayin' – As another player with a popular moniker, Keenan Allen also showed exactly why they call him "Slayer." KA13 hauled in a 14-yard touchdown on the opening drive, and in the process, eclipsed 1,000 yards on the season for the third time in his career. It also marks the first back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons by a Charger since Vincent Jackson did it 2008-09. The score gave Allen sole possession of 12th in team history with 28 career TD catches, and extended his career-long streak to five straight games with a touchdown reception. Thus, you can understand why after the game, Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis lamented his team's inability to stop the Slayer:
"I thought (our) corners had a tough duty. 13 is a hell of a player."
3. 10 is a Big Deal – Winning isn't easy in the NFL, yet the Bolts currently have the second-best record in the AFC at 10-3. That is a big deal. This is only the fourth time in franchise history that they boast a 10-3 record, and it's the first time since 2009. While the Chargers have loftier goals in their sights, it's still an accomplishment that deserves celebration. Just ask Philip Rivers, who acknowledged it's something the team should recognize even as they get ready to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on a short week:
"We haven't won 10 games since 2009. That's a long time. It's hard to do that in this league. I think while it's something we should be excited about, every win is a big deal. Be excited about (it) when we wake up in the morning. We can wait for that, until tomorrow morning, but then we have to move on in a hurry."
4. Big Plays in Big Moments – It's unrealistic to expect defenses to completely shut down offenses in the modern NFL. The key is to come up clutch in crucial situations, and that's exactly what the Bolts did on Sunday. Whether it was a pivotal fourth down stop or denying a pair of two-point conversions, Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley's unit came through when they absolutely had to. Perhaps no play was bigger than Darius Philon's sack with 1:54 remaining as he brought down Jeff Driskel as the Bengals looked to tie the game with a two-point conversion. Head Coach Anthony Lynn was awfully impressed by the way the defense came through in high-leverage spots, which hopefully bodes well for the rest of the season:
"Defensively, we stopped them when we had to. We knew that they were going to run the football, and they're a good running team. They controlled the clock that way. I tip my hat off to them. I thought they played a good game with the weapons they have, but we stopped them when we needed to."
5. Nunc Coepi – As Philip Rivers explained after the game, if there was ever time to adopt his favorite phrase, it's this week. Nunc Coepi is Latin for "Now, we begin," and Rivers can often be seen donning the saying on his hat during his weekly press conferences. Well, with a short turnaround before taking on the Chiefs Thursday night, the team was adamant about turning the page quickly and getting ready for their division rivals. Here's what Rivers had to say with the big AFC West showdown mere days away:
"I think mentally, with a team being in the division, and again, there will be some wrinkles that they'll have and wrinkles that we'll have, but at least we know personnel-wise who we are playing. Schematically, for the most part, we know what their base stuff is, and they know what our base stuff is. It's not a matter of, 'Gosh, we need to dig into this opponent and figure out who they are.' Now, you still have to get all of your preparation in, in a short period of time, but I think that can get done. We're used to handling that. It's more the Sunday night all the way to Pittsburgh, come back, play other physical and close game today, and then get back on the plane to go to Kansas City. I think it's physically the guys recovering. The guys that played a lot of snaps and ran, they're not going to feel like they normally feel on a Sunday, but they'll get as close to it as they can and be ready to go."
Five Tips to Use a Topical Analgesic for Pain Relief!
- The short-term pain relief provided by a topical analgesic facilitates ease of movement. Use it to control pain during physical therapy and for home use. Physical rehabilitation can sometimes be painful for patients, but a topical analgesic can give immediate relief!
- Topical analgesics are a safer pain relief option! They do not contain NSAIDs or salicylates. Topicals deliver targeted pain relief with lower risks than commonly prescribed remedies for pain, including opioids.
- Use topical analgesics with other modalities! After using kinesiology tape, spray a topical analgesic on top of the tape for added pain relief. Your physical therapist may also use a topical during targeted treatments within our centers.
- Topical pain relievers have been shown to be as effective as ice in reducing blood flow, decreasing pain longer and making your pain more comfortable. Using ice causes discomfort and makes a mess for you – reach for the topical instead!
- Topical analgesics are a safe, low-cost and simple option for pain relief at home and on-the-go.
For more information on topical analgesics and where to purchase them, or to request a complimentary consultation with Select Physical Therapy, please visit **selectphysicaltherapy.com** today!
