EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — On paper and in action, the Los Angeles Chargers appear to have an improved defense this season.
Through three weeks, coordinator Jesse Minter’s unit is generating impressive statistical results. The Chargers have allowed 33 points, third-fewest in the league. They have allowed 801 yards, sixth-fewest in the league. They rank third in expected points added per play on the defense, according to TruMedia. And by EPA per designed rush, they have been the best rushing defense in the league.
The eye test, live and on film, reveals a group that is playing with a raised level of physicality at all three levels. There has been a consistency in the physicality that was not present in recent seasons, as the Chargers struggled on that side of the ball. And defenders are playing faster and more confidently within the play calls and scheme.
A good start for Minter, no question about it. But now come the Kansas City Chiefs, the kings of the AFC West for a decade. This is not Gardner Minshew II or Bryce Young or Justin Fields. This is not Luke Getsy or Dave Canales or Arthur Smith. This is Patrick Mahomes. This is Andy Reid.
On Sunday, what is real about the Chargers defense and what is not will come into much clearer focus.
“It’s a good opportunity to show what we’re about as a unit,” safety Alohi Gilman said.
The Chargers are not at full strength, and that could impact how much of a litmus test this matchup ends up being. The NFL suspended safety Derwin James Jr. for the game earlier this week after he was called for his fifth unnecessary roughness penalty in two seasons. That suspension was upheld after an appeal. Edge rusher Joey Bosa did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, and his availability is in doubt after he aggravated a hip injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
At the same time, this is an opportunity for Minter to show off his coaching chops. He is down his most versatile defensive piece in James. He is down a key pass rusher in Bosa, who along with Khalil Mack makes up the edge-rushing duo that Minter has called the “engine” of his defense.
What kind of plan can Minter concoct with more limited resources against Mahomes and Reid?
“You got to play your stuff, you got to play football,” Minter said this week. “I think there’s times where people play against them and they try to change everything or try to do too much, which normally doesn’t lead to success.”
Minter faced Mahomes, Reid and the Chiefs three times while he was a defensive assistant for the Baltimore Ravens from 2017 to 2020. The Ravens lost all three games, one in 2018, one in 2019 and one in 2020.
The Chargers are 3-17 against the Chiefs since 2014. They have lost 10 straight home games to Kansas City and five straight overall.
“I just want to beat them, honestly,” said Gilman, who is in his fifth season with the Chargers after re-signing in the offseason. “Just turning the tide. Obviously coming back on my second contract, that’s one of the things that I want to change about being around here and help change, is beating the Chiefs, winning the division.”
The Chiefs have won eight straight division titles. They have won three of the last five Super Bowls.
Jim Harbaugh was brought to this organization in part to make the Chargers more competitive in this rivalry. And Harbaugh brought Minter with him from Michigan to run his defense.
“Particularly when you’re in the division with them, it’s unique, it’s not like a one-time game,” Minter said. “This is going to be, hopefully, a chess match that’s going on for a while, being here now. So really just look forward to that aspect of it, and look forward to the great challenge that it is, and we’ll see what it looks like on Sunday.”
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Minter has leaned into a wide variety of coverages through these first three games, and he has gotten to those coverages in a lot of ways — different rotations, disguises, formations and personnel groupings.
He has a lot of arrows in his quiver. And what is promising is that the Chargers pass defenders have proved capable of executing these multiplicities effectively.
It will be fascinating to see what Minter decides to throw at Mahomes and when he decides to push certain buttons.
More importantly, will the fundamental rules of his defense, the things he has been drilling since April, hold up against tougher competition?
“They just add so (many) different wrinkles, and it kind of tests your ability to stay connected on every single coverage,” Gilman said of the Chiefs. “That’s going to be the biggest challenge. It’s good because it will show what we’ve been training for and really test it.”
Creating pressure will be paramount. Since Mahomes entered the league in 2018, 46 quarterbacks have made at least 20 starts. He ranks 12th in EPA per dropback when faced with pressure, according to TruMedia. Still very good, but something closer to mortal.
The pass rush is one area the Chargers have not excelled in through three weeks. The Chargers have produced pressure on a quarter of opponent dropbacks. That ranks 30th in the league. Minter is certainly trying to be aggressive. The Chargers are 10th in blitz rate, according to TruMedia, and that does not count the numerous simulated pressures Minter has called in three games.
One possible explanation is how fast quarterbacks have been getting rid of the ball. The average time to throw against the Chargers has been 2.72 seconds, according to TruMedia. Only three defenses have faced a faster average time to throw this season.
Will the Chargers get more opportunities to rush the passer Sunday? Historically, Mahomes has held on to the ball longer. He has an average time to throw of 2.96 seconds over his career, according to TruMedia. This season, Mahomes’ average time to throw is 2.72 seconds.
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Pass rushing against Mahomes is also a double-edged sword. Defensive linemen want the chances. However, the rushes have to be disciplined. An overaggressive rush creates escape lanes for Mahomes, who is one of the best off-script and outside-the-pocket passers in league history. An “elite play-after-the-play quarterback,” as Minter said this week.
“It’s our job to knock challenges like this down,” Mack said, “and what better way to do it than at home on Sunday against the Chiefs?”
The Chargers have performed well against bad-to-mediocre offenses. The Las Vegas Raiders rank 25th in EPA per play, according to TruMedia. The Carolina Panthers rank 27th. The Steelers rank 20th.
A different animal awaits Sunday.
“They’re 3-0, they’re the defending champs,” Minter said. “It’s definitely a great test.”
(Top photo of Khalil Mack and Patrick Mahomes: Kara Durrette / Getty Images)
