I'm trying, like all of you, to find a glimmer of hope, a theory to hang my hat on, a reason to believe that this young team can walk into San Diego and with a screeching of metal on metal, stop the freight train of momentum that's bearing down on them and ride that train home as AFC West champs.

I'm a Shanahan fan through thick and thin, and believe that he is up to the task. Slowik and Bates I'm not so sure about, but the big question I keep running up against is this:

WHO on this team is going to provide the leadership to keep them from handing the game over when the going gets tough? WHO--especially on defense--is going to rise up and enforce his will on his teammates and ultimately on the outcome of the game? A big game like this needs SOMEONE to cowboy up and lead the charge. WHO is that going to be?