Los Angeles Chargers: Three reasons why Super Bowl LIII is obtainable
By Jason Reed
1. The Los Angeles Chargers defense is a quarterback’s kryptonite
Everyone knows how good the Los Angeles Chargers defense is, at least when it comes to passing the ball. When it comes to running the ball, teams succeeded against the Chargers. Los Angeles allowed the second-most rushing yards per game last season.
However, the Chargers are getting a healthy Denzel Perryman back as well as linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and defensive tackle Justin Jones from the draft that both will help those efforts. While the Chargers won’t be one of the best teams in stopping the run, they should be decent enough to stay afloat.
Plus, teams that win Super Bowls rarely rely on running backs. Look back at the last 25 years in the NFL. I can find just one team that relied on a running back, the 1999-2000 St. Louis Rams with Marshall Faulk. And even that is a stretch because the team had Kurt Warner as well.
It is the quarterback position and defense that is the most important to make that extra step to the Super Bowl. Running backs can get you there, or get you close, but they don’t win you the big one. Chargers fans know that because of LaDainian Tomlinson.
That is why the Chargers’ defense is so scary, they are the perfect defense to neutralize the best quarterbacks in football. The pass-rush is straight up terrifying with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram and the secondary is probably the best in the NFL with first-round pick Derwin James now patrolling at safety.
Even Tom Brady is human when a defensive end smacks him on his butt. The pressure will get to any quarterback and that pressure will lead to worse throws that the already great secondary can pick apart.