EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Following one of their most disappointing performances of the season against Tampa Bay, the Los Angeles Chargers kicked off their game against Denver by allowing an easy opening drive that culminated in a touchdown. This prompted concern from Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who found himself questioning the capabilities of a defense that had previously been praised for ranking high in points allowed. However, the unit turned things around, leading to a 34-27 victory, putting the Chargers just a single win away from securing an AFC wild-card spot. Minter’s observations suggest the defense is rediscovering its rhythm at a crucial juncture in the season.
On Tuesday, Minter expressed optimism, noting, “I do think that momentum is real, and so to sort of feel us as a defensive unit get our momentum back, yeah, it’s huge. Hopefully, it’s something we can carry into preparation this week, which I think the guys have.” The Chargers, now with a record of 9-6, initially faced struggles, as the Broncos managed to cover 72 yards in 10 plays to score on their first drive. They found themselves behind early on, succumbing to a 21-10 deficit midway through the second quarter. However, Minter identified progress after the team converted a couple of tough third-down situations during the Broncos’ subsequent touchdown drives.
Minter stated, “I felt like we started to play better even though they moved the ball. We let them off the hook a couple of times.” A turning point in the game came when Joey Bosa sacked the Denver quarterback on a crucial third down, leading to the Broncos’ first punt. From that moment, Los Angeles’ defense significantly tightened up, allowing just six points for the remainder of the game. “When you go through a season, you almost expect to have to win games in a lot of different ways,” Minter remarked, acknowledging the importance of perseverance.
Khalil Mack, the team’s outside linebacker, conveyed his belief that it was merely a matter of time before the defense regained its footing. “It was known that we were gonna bounce back and kind of get the rhythm going,” he said. The impressive turnaround followed a demanding six-game stretch against playoff-contending teams. During this period, the defense gave up at least 27 points in four matchups, a stark contrast to the first nine games of the season when they had held opponents to under 20 points. Despite the inconsistency, Los Angeles managed to maintain a 3-3 record, securing victories against Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Denver, while losing to Baltimore, Kansas City, and the Buccaneers.
Minter expressed confidence in his squad following the resolve on display against the Broncos. “I think we’ve learned a lot about ourselves over that stretch, and really look forward to trying to be at our best now,” he said. He emphasized the significance of the upcoming games, noting the importance of peak performance as the season comes to a close, “So I look forward to attacking these last two regular-season games, and then hopefully more to follow.”
The Chargers can clinch a playoff spot by overcoming the New England Patriots (3-12) this Saturday, a challenge that will involve containing rookie quarterback Drake Maye. The third overall pick made an impression during a recent game against Buffalo, where he threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns in a narrow 24-21 defeat. “I think you see the talent,” Minter commented, noting Maye’s versatility and playmaking skills both inside and outside the pocket.
Mack also acknowledged Maye’s potential but emphasized the urgency of the upcoming game for the Chargers. “It’s a playoff game, no different than the last one, man,” Mack proclaimed. “By any means necessary. We got to do everything we can to win the game.”
