AFC Notes: Justin Herbert, Broncos, Chargers, Raiders

Broncos

  • Broncos TE Adam Trautman acknowledged itโ€™s a possibility for the Chiefs to rest their starters in Week 18, but knows they canโ€™t bank on anything: โ€œYou kind of know all the scenarios and that definitely is something that we know about but you canโ€™t really bank on it.โ€ (Chris Tomasson)
  • Trautman still could see Kansas City playing their starters: โ€œEven if they do get the 1 seed, I think theyโ€™d still play their starters (at Denver). I donโ€™t know how long (they would), for maybe a half, just because Andy Reed doesnโ€™t want to give them 2 weeks off of not playing any football. So Iโ€™d be shocked.โ€ (Chris Tomasson)
  • Denver could solidify a playoff spot in Week 17 against the Bengals. Trautman wants them to get it done in Saturdayโ€™s game: โ€œYou want to get it done now. โ€ฆ The further along we go not winning a game, the more pressure there is because if something goes wrong Saturday, now youโ€™re playing for your life.โ€ (Chris Tomasson)

Chargers

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh wishes he took a similar approach to his 15-year playing career as what he sees from QB Justin Herbert

โ€œI guess the first thing that hit me was, I wish I wouldโ€™ve treated those situations like that when I was a player,โ€ Harbaugh said, via PFT. โ€œThatโ€™s the best way to do it. It seems like the weight of the worldโ€™s on your shoulders. Itโ€™s not. Go out there and enjoy it, and treat it like itโ€™s pickup basketball. That kind of filled it in for me. Thatโ€™s why he is who he is. I wish I had treated it more like that when I played. Now itโ€™s good to have that example and be able to encourage others to do the same. That, โ€˜Let it ripโ€™ kind of mentality. Which I love.โ€

Harbaugh said Herbert allows them to play โ€œloose and focused at the same time.โ€ 

โ€œWe play better when weโ€™re free and loose and focused at the same time,โ€ Harbaugh said. โ€œI think everybody plays better when theyโ€™re playing with joy.โ€

  • The Chargers put in a claim on WR Diontae Johnson but he was ultimately claimed by the Texans due to waiver priority

Raiders

The Raiders ended their 10-game losing streak with a win over the Jaguars in Week 16 to finally get back in the win column. Las Vegas HC Antonio Pierce was happy to finally stop talking about losing and mentioned how they are doing their best to tune out the outside noise. 

โ€œYeah, it was good just to stop talking about losing,โ€ Pierce said, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. โ€œItโ€™s all about winning. That was the song we were playing when we walked through the locker room. Itโ€™s always a good feeling because you put in all this work and to have repeated losses, and then put that to the side and just watch the teamโ€™s victory. What these guys are playing for, all this BS noise on the outside โ€” like I told those gentlemen in there, itโ€™s all about us. It doesnโ€™t matter about the outside noise.โ€

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