How the Los Angeles Chargers can win the AFC West in 2020

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs after breaking a tackle from Will Compton #51 of the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 22, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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Los Angeles Chargers (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

2. A big year from the defense, especially when it comes to forcing turnovers.

When you look at the defensive personnel of the Los Angeles Chargers, you would have expected many more big plays from their defensive unit this past season.

The club is led by one of the best outside pass-rushing tandem in the league in three-year pro Joey Bosa (11.5) and veteran Melvin Ingram (7). That duo combined for more than half of the club’s 30 quarterback traps on 2019. Of course, consider that the team totaled 38 sacks the previous season with Bosa missing nine games.

Of course, it’s also worth noting that stellar safety Derwin James, a big part of the club’s 2018 success, missed the vast majority of the season (via Emily Caron of SI.com). As a rookie the previous year, he earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in leading with club in 105 tackles. But the falloff was dramatic as he missed 11 contests this past year.

Hence, one aspect of the Chargers that fell off was forcing turnovers. The club finished dead last in the NFL with only 14 takeaways — six fewer than in 2018 (20). Combine that with 31 turnovers by Anthony Lynn’s squad and the team was tied for last in the league with a minus-17 turnover differential.

The newcomers on this side of the ball include defensive tackle Linval Joseph, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray (1b-Oklahoma). Can this club become an opportunistic unit?

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