CLEVELAND — Here’s what we learned, what we saw and what comes next, starting and ending with another remarkable but by now not all that surprising showing from the Chargers’ relentless defense during a 27-10 victory Sunday over the Cleveland Browns:
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
The biggest difference between the Chargers’ defense this season and the past few seasons is its simplicity, according to veteran safety Derwin James Jr. To be sure, there are schemes, personnel and game plans that shift from game to game and maybe even from half to half or quarter to quarter.
Adjustments are a big part of the NFL.
But there was always the sense that the Chargers’ defense was too complicated to be effective under former Coach Brandon Staley, who doubled as the defensive play-caller. Current Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has smartly turned play-calling duties over to defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
“Jesse Minter is one (reason), allowing everyone to play fast, allowing everybody to play free, getting everyone to play to their strengths,” James said of the Chargers sudden rise as one of the NFL’s top defensive teams, giving up a league-low 12.6 points per game after nine weeks of the season.
“Then, we’re deep. We have a deep team. We’ve got a deep roster.”
So, what does “playing fast” mean?
“It’s not complicated,” James said. “It’s complicated for the (opposing) offense to understand, but not for us. That means there’s always two people around the check-down tackles. There’s always somebody tipping the ball. There’s never anybody one-on-one. There’s a lot of people around the ball.
“When you do that, it makes it easier.”
NEW CONTRIBUTORS
There are new players, better players, hungrier players this season who weren’t on the roster for the 2023 season, and that’s made a big difference, too. Poona Ford, a key free-agent addition, is a monster against the run as are fellow defensive linemen Morgan Fox and Otito Ogbonnia.
Khalil Mack is a marvel at outside linebacker in his 11th season in the NFL. Rookie cornerbacks Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still have filled important roles after veteran starters Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton were sidelined by injuries. James and Alohi Gilman have strengthened their bond at safety.
“A gift from the football gods,” Harbaugh said of Still, a fifth-round pick from Maryland.
Elijah Molden, acquired from the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 28, has been another under-the-radar addition who has given the Chargers depth in their secondary. Despite missing all of training camp with the Chargers, he has a team-leading three interceptions in eight games.
Denzel Perryman, another offseason addition, and Daiyan Henley, a second-year player who was mostly a special teams ace as a rookie, have anchored the inside linebacker positions. They have teamed seamlessly with edge rushers Mack, Joey Bosa (when healthy), Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree.
“I feel like everybody is making their plays, man,” James said. “When you’ve got a lot of depth and you’re not depending on just one man, I feel like that’s what makes you a greater defense. You can hold up through injuries, through everything because you have a lot of guys.”
COMPETITIVE BALANCE
James dismissed the idea that the Chargers haven’t played the NFL’s elite teams and that’s the reason they rank so highly in so many defensive categories. Despite a 2-7 record, the Browns, for instance, were coming off a rousing home victory over the Baltimore Ravens (6-3).
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Plus, the Chargers held the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to 17 points in Week 4. The Chiefs are 7-0, first in the AFC West. The Chargers have given up 20 points only once, and that was during a 20-10 loss in Week 3 to the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2), first in the AFC North.
“I don’t look at it like that,” James said. “Whoever they put on our schedule, that’s who we have to play, that’s who we are assigned to play. This team (the Browns) just beat the Ravens last week. The Ravens are going to be in the playoffs. Any week, we can get beat, any Sunday.”
WHAT COMES NEXT
The Chargers (5-3) play host to the Titans (2-6) next Sunday at SoFi Stadium, the first game in a series of three in a row at home. The Chargers have played five of their first eight games away from home. The Titans are coming off a 20-17 overtime victory over the New England Patriots.