The Chargers’ defense is playing well.
The Bolts have allowed just 19 points in the last two games and have totaled just 26 points in the past 10 quarters.
As a result, the Chargers have won consecutive double-digit wins, falling to 4 wins and 4 losses, and are in the midst of playoff contention.
CBS Sports’ John Breech gave the Chargers a letter grade following their Week 9 win, giving the team a “B+” and praising the defense liberally.
When the Chargers win, it’s usually because their offense has a big game, but that wasn’t the case Monday night. The Chargers’ defense turned heads with arguably its most impressive performance of the season. On a night when the Chargers had Zach Wilson sacked eight times, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu all had at least two sacks.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the defense also forced three turnovers, which led to two touchdowns for the Chargers. The defense played well, but Delius Davis took control of the game, returning a punt 87 yards for a TD in the first half. On an off night for the offense, everyone else shined for a Chargers team that is 4-4 and currently one game out of the AFC playoff spot.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Bolts’ defense had -0.379 EPA per play on Monday night, the fourth-best mark in Week 9 among all defenses.
This was arguably the Chargers’ best defensive performance of the season, and the traditional stats back it up, with 8.0 sacks, three takeaways, and a third-down loss where New York only made 3-of-17. It was a performance.
Mack is currently tied for fifth in the NFL with 9.0 sacks. Bosa, on the other hand, has been on a roll lately with 3.5 sacks in the last two games, while Tuipulotu has 4.0 sacks this season.
“When we’re healthy, that’s how they rush,” Staley said of Bosa and Mack. “It’s just been a while since they’ve been healthy together, but when we’ve been healthy together… That’s how I’ve been playing.” “That’s why we have to leave them alone, but when other players are rushing, when Turi is rushing as well as he is, Foxy (Morgan Fox), the guys inside, Darwin When you have (James Jr.), there’s going to be more opportunities for everyone.
“I’m still standing behind it. The reason we’re able to rush as much as we are now is because of the way we play against the run and that’s the secret to our success. It was the equation,” Staley added. “When we were able to rush well, that’s how we fought against the run, and when those guys were given that many opportunities, these two are the best players ever, and We have this young player who is really getting stronger.”