This weeks Los Angeles Chargers game, Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals will be a tough test for the Los Angeles Chargers, there’s just no other way to put it. Particularly for their defense.
Sure, the Bengals are only 4-6, but they are the best 4-6 team in the league. They should be 6-4 with the talent on the team. The Chargers have a fair to mid-land offense with a 66.3 completion rate and 314.3 average total yards per game, and 20.7 points average per game. But this contest, between two average NFL teams will come down to how the Charger’s defense performs against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengal’s offense.
Burrow is a Good Quarterback But Not A Great Quarterback in 2024
The Bengals quarterback, Joe Burrow has completed 246 passes in 358 attempts for 2672 yards and a completion rate of 68.7. He has thrown 24 touchdowns and has been intercepted 4 times. But he has been sacked 23 times. Consequently his QBR is 74.5.
In his last 5 games, Burrow has thrown 121 completions in 185 attempts, for 1302 yards and a completion rating of 65.6%. During this last five week period, Burrow has thrown 12 touchdown passes and only 2 interceptions. Cincinnati has 3 wins and 2 losses in their last five games.

Of note, in their loss to the Baltimore Ravens, they lost by 1 point. It should be noted that Baltimore, guided by Lamar Jackson, scored 21 points in the 4th quarter, more indicative of poor pass coverage by Cincinnati’s defense then a poor reflection on Joe Burrow and the offense.
Burrows’ primary target is Ja’Marr Chase After 10 games played this season, Chase has 66 receptions for 981 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s averaging 14.9 yards per reception. In the last 5 games, Chase has 37 receptions for 488 yards and 5 touchdowns.

While certainly the Burrow-Chase connection is a formidable one, it must remembered that Burrow also has wide receivers Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas as targets and his tight ends, Mike Gesicki and Eric All, Jr. In the last 5 games, Higgins has 29 receptions for receptions for 341 yards and 3 touchdowns. Isoivas has recorded 5 catches for 75 yards yards and 1 touchdowns. Gesicki has caught 17 passes for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns while All has caught 8 receptions for 76yards.
But Borrow has also generously spread his passes out to his running backs Chase Brown and Zack Moss. In the last five games, Moss has 15 receptions for 118 yards and 1 touchdown, Brown has 20 catches for 111 yards and 1 touchdown.

The Bengals Running Game Has Been Somewhat Mediocre
So far in the Season the Bengals have rushed for 897 yards in 224 carries. The Bengals have only 8 rushing touchdowns and have fumbled 5 times. In the last 5 games, Brown and Moss have rushed for 77 carries for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns and 41 carries for 106 yards with 0 touchdowns, respectively. During this period, Brown has fumbled 2 times turning the ball over once and Moss has also fumbled twice, turning the ball over once.
Cincinnati’s offense ranks 29th in rushing yards per game with an average of 89.7, 18th in rushing touchdowns with 8, and 20th with 5 rushing fumbles.
The Chargers Defense IS the Heart & Soul of Their Team!
The Chargers’ defense is the heart and soul of their team. They rank 6th in total yards per game allowing a stingy combined passing/rushing of only 302. They are particularly effective against the run allowing only 110.6 yards per game.

Individually, the Chargers linebacker corps is effective. Their leading tackler is linebacker, Daiyan Henley with 83 total tackles including 54 solo tackles. Linebacker Denzel Perryman has been credited with 35 solo tackles in his 49 total tackles. Each has one sack. In the last 5 games Henry has 48 total tackles while Perryman has 19.

The Chargers secondary is no slouch in tackling. Chargers’ safeties, Derwin James and Alohi Gilman have 49 and 41 total tackles respectively. Cornerbacks Elijah Molden and Cam Hart have 22 and 17 total tackles. In the last 5 games, James and Gilman both have 28 total tackles while Molden has 24 and Hart has 23.
There is no question the Chargers can tackle. So far this season the Chargers have 9 interceptions with 49 pass deflections. They have caused 6 forced fumbles recovering 4 of the loose balls.
Keys to the Game From the Charger’s Defensive Point of View
There is no doubt the Chargers’ defensive front will curtail the Bengals run game, eventually making Cincinnati one dimensional in the 4th quarter.
Therefore to win the game, the Chargers must keep a lid on the Joe Burrows to Ja’Marr Chase connection. If they fail to contain Chase, it’s doubtful the Chargers’ rather pedestrian offense will keep pace with Burrows and crew in the passing game.
If the secondary can lock up Chase, it will force Burrow to look for Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas both of whom have around a 50/50 completion rate in the last five games.
Of course you might believe that will leave Gesicki open, but the Chargers linebackers and safeties are more than up to the challenge of taking on the 6’6’ 250lbs tight end.
All in all, so long as the Chargers offense makes few mistakes, their defense should be able to handle Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati offense. Look for a 27- 16 out come, Chargers for the win!