Bud Dupree is aware of the tough challenge the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense will face on Sunday when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals.
With Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow leading the NFL in passing yards and Ja’Marr Chase at the top in receiving, this game gives the Chargers’ defense a chance to prove itself and earn more respect across the league.
“Somebody wants to see us play, we’ve got to prove them right. We can’t go out here and (pee) down our leg. We have to turn it up harder,” Dupree said.
The Chargers, currently 6-3 and winners of three straight games (four out of their last five), have allowed the fewest points in the league at just 13.1 per game. They are aiming to become the first team since the 1990 New York Giants to allow 20 points or fewer in each of their first nine games.
However, some critics argue that the Chargers’ early-season success hasn’t come against top-tier offenses and quarterbacks.
Of their four wins, four came against teams with offenses ranked 24th or lower, and they’ve faced four of the six lowest-ranked passing attacks in the NFL. Among the nine quarterbacks the Chargers have played against, none are in the top 10 for passer rating.
That will change over the next five weeks, as they will face Burrow (third), Lamar Jackson of Baltimore (second), and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield (sixth).
“These games just show you who you are, competitively and especially from a mental standpoint. You have the strength of the offense on their side with the quarterback,” said linebacker Khalil Mack after last Sunday’s 27-17 victory over Tennessee.
So far, the toughest quarterbacks the Chargers have beaten are Cleveland’s Jameis Winston (ranked 28th) and Denver’s rookie Bo Nix (ranked 29th).
Burrow leads the league with 358 attempts, 246 completions, and 2,672 yards, with a passer rating of 108.1.
The Chargers have done well at both pressuring the quarterback and covering receivers, but both will be tested against the Bengals.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Burrow is fifth in yards per attempt and has the fourth-highest passer rating against split safety coverages this season. The Chargers use this coverage on 83.7% of pass plays, which is the third-highest rate in the NFL.
Chase has 795 of his 981 receiving yards against zone coverage. The Chargers use zone coverage on 83.7% of their passing plays, which is the third-highest rate in the league.
Chase also leads the NFL with seven touchdowns and 462 yards after the catch. Burrow said on Wednesday that moving Chase around and his improved understanding of coverages has taken his game to a new level.
“He has taken a step and done a great job understanding zone coverage and what his job is on all these different details in his routes,” Burrow said. “Teams can’t focus on him in one spot and always have to be aware of where he is at.”
If anyone knows how dangerous Chase can be, it’s Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton. Both he and Chase played together in high school and later at Louisiana State University.
Fulton, who has missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury, is expected to return to the lineup this week.
“He can make plays anywhere on the field. It’s on us pre-snap to know his alignment and know how they are trying to get him the ball,” Fulton said.
“It’s not just going to be one-on-one. It is going to be a whole back end thing (with the secondary) and make sure we have no busted coverages. We kind of saw that happen last week with Baltimore and a couple other games they played. We have to make them earn it.
“We know they’re going to throw the ball. That’s what we live for, and it’s more opportunity for us to make plays.”
The Chargers’ pass rush has been one of their biggest strengths over the past three weeks, with 18 sacks in those games. All but five of those sacks came without blitzing.
Second-year linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu has recorded all 5.5 of his sacks during the past three games.
“It shows progress. Every moment is a big moment, and we have to continue to strive,” Dupree said of the pass rush. “People are going to do a lot of chips and slides, we have to create ways to get one-on-one and when we do, we have to win.”
