The Browns’ Nick Chubb (24) is tackled by Chargers lohi Gilman (32) and Daiyan Henley (0). Henley led the Chargers with 13 tackles.
(Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)
Although the Chargers kept the New Orleans Saints out of the end zone last week, the 117 yards allowed on the ground “left a bad taste in our mouth,” Mack said.
Last week’s result turned Cleveland running back Nick Chubb into the defensive front’s top priority, especially after the Chargers struggled to tackle a similarly physical running back in Arizona’s James Conner.
The Chargers responded by holding Chubb to just 39 yards rushing in 15 carries, and the Browns rushed for 79 yards, the third time this season the Chargers held an opponent to fewer than 100 yards rushing.
“We knew the challenge was going to be to stop 24 this week,” Mack said, “and another challenge we answered.”
The Chargers are allowing 107.9 yards rushing per game, which ranks eighth in the NFL. Free agent signees Poona Ford and Denzel Perryman have been key additions to turning around a run defense that ranked 17th on the ground last season, allowing 113.2 yards rushing per game.
Henley’s emergence in his second season is also a significant boost as the former third-round pick. who made 16 tackles in 15 games last season. now leads the Chargers with 64 total tackles.
Safety Derwin James Jr. spent a significant amount of the game lined up in the slot Sunday to assist in run support and cover tight end David Njoku, who was held to 29 yards on five catches.
Depth in the secondary — where Molden has solidified the safety position while rookie cornerbacks Still and Cam Hart have stepped up outside — has allowed James to flex his versatility in every facet of the defense.
“When you got a lot of depth and a lot of players, not just depending on one man, I feel like that’s what makes you a greater defense,” James said. “You can uphold through injuries, through everything, because you’re so deep, you got a lot of guys to go in.”