You can look at volume statistics, efficiency metrics or advanced analytics, in the passing game or against the run, and you will get the same result: the Los Angeles Chargers defense has been one of the best
in the NFL during the regular season.
Naturally, the group highlighted by Pro Bowl safety Derwin James will present a challenge for the New England Patriots come Sunday night’s wild card playoff game. Why exactly is it that, though? As was broken down by Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Thursday, there are a variety of reasons for that.
Usually, we try to interweave coaches’ or players’ statements into a larger narrative. However, in this case, it makes sense to give McDaniels the floor uninterrupted (his statements do come from more than one question at his presser on Thursday and have been edited slightly for better readability, but the main points remain):
Their size, their physicality. They play with great power up front. They’re not easy to to move in the running game. They do a really good job of playing things that they’re good at, and then during the course of the game, you’re going to play some situational plays where they’re going to make it as complicated as you’ve seen all year. I think Jesse [Minter]’s done a tremendous job of — they’re really good at their core and then they’re going to have some game plan elements that challenge you schematically as well. This is a really tough preparation because the players are really, really good. They play sound football. They don’t beat themselves. They don’t give up a lot of big plays. They’re going to make you execute and drive the ball and then they’re really good in situational football. So, this is as good a unit as we play. There’s no question about it. …
Very few repeated looks. They’re going to challenge your ability to identify where they’re at. They’re a team that will send guys — anybody could blitz in in certain situations. They’ll challenge your eye discipline, your rules. And then your ability to, once you identify it, then it’s are you tough enough to stand in there and slug it out? Because that is not going to be a small thing on Sunday night. We’re going to need every ounce of our toughness, our details, our techniques, our fundamentals, and our execution to consistently do anything well against this unit because they’re really good. …
The first thing is identify post-snap, what am I dealing with? And then if there’s a body that’s going to match to you, you’re going to need to use really good top-of-the-route physicality and techniques to get open and create some separation. And then if it’s clearly playing more like zone, then we’re going to need great spacing and all the things that you need to do well against that, too. So, again, another reason why I think that this is a really good unit because they don’t tell you everything right before the ball is snapped. They make you figure some things out post-snap and if there’s a chink in the armor and sometimes that’s enough for them to get off the field. They’re certainly one of the best teams in the league at creating three-and-outs.
The bottom line is this: coordinator Jesse Minter’s unit has performed at a high level this year, and in the most important metric of them all ranks right up there with the best in the league. Not counting any offensive or special teams scores, it has surrendered an average of 18.8 points in 17 regular season games.
That is not only the ninth-best such mark in the NFL, but also better than any other defense the Patriots have gone up against so far this season.
