It will be a story of two contrasting styles on Sunday. On one side, there are the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that has surprised the league with its revamped defense. Under the direction of Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter, the Chargers guarded the end zone like their lives depended on it, allowing their opponents to score just 13.1 points per game. The stingy defense has been the biggest storyline surrounding the team as of late.
LA is currently on a three-game winning streak, but that will be put to the test this weekend when they take on Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Don’t be fooled by the 4-6 record. The Bengals may struggle to close out games, but that doesn’t change the fact that they have one of the best offenses in the league. In their recent loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati rushed for a total of 477 yards and five touchdowns.
It’s going to be a fight. And for the 6-3 Chargers, getting a win here is important for a playoff spot. Given their schedule, things won’t get any easier. After Sunday’s outing against the Bengals, Los Angeles will face the Baltimore Ravens (7-3), the Atlanta Falcons (6-4) and the Kansas City Chiefs (9-0), respectively. This stretch of matches is arguably the toughest of the season, so coming out victorious on Sunday would not only be a good start, but would also be a momentum generator for the weeks to come.
For now, the focus will only be on Week 11. How will the Chargers perform? To answer that question, here are some bold predictions for Harbaugh’s team.
Chargers fire Joe Burrow at least three times
One notable thing about the Los Angeles defense is the number of sacks accounted for. They’ve already taken down QBs 31 times – fourth-best among all teams in total sacks this season. Additionally, their 31 sacks are the most among teams that have played nine games thus far.
The formidable outside rushers that Minter has are assets that other defensive coordinators would envy. Rising star Tuli Tuipulotu currently leads the team with 5.5 sacks. Behind him, Bud Dupree (5.0 sacks), Khalil Mack (4.5 sacks), Morgan Fox (3.5 sacks) and Joey Bosa (3.0 sacks) all had their fair share of QB takedowns. Against the Tennessee Titans last weekend, the Chargers sacked Will Levis seven times.
While Mack (groin injury) may not play Sunday, that won’t stop others from enjoying another day on the field. The Bengals O-line has already allowed Joe Burrow to be sacked 23 times. On top of that, they are currently depleted at the tackle point. Following Trent Brown’s season-ending injury in Week 3, Cincinnati lined up rookie Amarius Mims at right tackle. Additionally, the Bengals’ latest injury report shows Orlando Brown Jr. is questionable, meaning backup Cody Ford could once again anchor the left side.
JK Dobbins runs no less than 100 meters
With Harbaugh at the helm, the Chargers have adopted a run-centric offense, something that…well…still needs a little more juice. LA averages 117.9 rushing yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry, putting them in the bottom half of the league in both of those categories.
Still, there have been flashes of genius, like when JK Dobbins ran for 135 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 and followed that up with a 131-yard outing against the Carolina Panthers. And if there’s anything the Bengals, Raiders, and Panthers have in common, it’s that they all struggle against the run. Cincinnati, in particular, is giving up 127.3 opposing yards per game on the ground.
That being said, the Chargers will most likely maximize Dobbins and Gus Edwards on Sunday. It wouldn’t be surprising if Dobbins — who already has 670 total rushing yards (10th in the NFL) — hits the 100-yard mark again.
Justin Herbert throws two touchdown passes
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Justin Herbert hasn’t completed as many passes in football as in previous years, as evidenced by the fact that he’s only thrown 241 attempts in nine games. However, in those moments when the Chargers went for an airstrike, their QB1 delivered. Herbert has only one interception this season. He is also the fifth best among all QBs with a passer rating of 103.2according to ESPN. Over Los Angeles’ last five games, Herbert has totaled 1,311 yards, completing about 66.7% of his passes.
Last Sunday, he went 14 of 18 for 164 yards and a touchdown against a Titans team that leads the NFL in pass defense (156.7 opposing passing yards allowed per game). With that in mind, imagine what Herbert could do against the Bengals, who are giving up about 220.2 passing yards each game. A two-touchdown game for the quarterback? It’s not hard to imagine.
Final Thoughts
It remains unclear whether or not the Chargers will be able to completely shut down Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Los Angeles’ best bet is to get rid of Burrow with pressures and sacks. While Derwin James and the secondary have been spectacular, the Chargers love to play zone coverage, something Burrow absolutely thrives against. Add to that the fact that Ja’Marr Chase – who currently leads the league in receiving yards – is coming off three touchdowns and 264 yards against the Ravens. Oh, and there’s Tee Higgins, who is expected to return from injury on Sunday.
To end on a positive note, the best scenario for Los Angeles is to get a close victory with a differential of around three points at most. It won’t be easy, but the Chargers’ record indicates it’s possible.
