Los Angeles Chargers exceeded the expectations of many in 2017, earning a 9-7 record that was good enough for second place in the AFC West. The Chargers, led by first year head coach Anthony Lynn, ended the season on the outside looking in at the AFC Playoff Picture. A big factor of their success was down to the the defense. Featuring a number of up and coming young players and was one of the best in the league. Lets see how they rated.
Pass Rush
The Chargers’ defense was best known for its pass rushing duo of Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. The pair helped the Chargers amass 43.0 sacks on the year, tying with the Tennessee Titans for the fifth-most in the league. The pass defense was especially good in 2017. It ranked third best in both passing yards allowed with 3,156 and passing touchdowns allowed with 17.

Run Defense
The weakness of this season’s team was the run defense. The Chargers allowed the second-most total rushing yards on the season with 2,098. Additionally, they finished dead last in rush yards per attempt allowed with 4.9. On the bright side, the defense allowed only 11 rushing touchdowns through 16 games, which was 13th best in the NFL. Overall, the team allowed a third-best 5.6 net yards per attempt, the third fewest points scored with 272, and ranked 15th in total yards allowed with 5,254.
-
Ep 103: Tom Brady Retires, Sean Payton To Broncos, Super Bowl Primer
by Full Press Coverage on February 5, 2023 at 3:49 pm
Turnovers
One of the best parts of this Chargers’ defense was their ability to force turnovers, racking up 27 total turnovers, equating to sixth-best in the league. Nine of those turnovers were forced fumbles which ranked 14th. In the air, the group forced the sixth-most interceptions in the league with 18.
Down Conversion Rate
The defense managed to allow the sixth fewest opposing converted first downs with 282; 99 were allowed on rushing plays, 153 on passing plays, and 30 by penalty. However, their standard dropped on third downs, allowing 86 successful conversions on 221 attempts for an opposing 38.9 percent success rate which was only 19th in the NFL. The team fared much better on fourth down, allowing six successful conversions 20 attempts for a 30 percent success rate which was good for fifth-best in the league. The Chargers’ red zone defense performed spectacularly in 2017, allowing just 13 scores on 36 attempts for a success rate of 36.1 percent, the best mark in the NFL.

With the likes of Joey Bosa, Trevor Williams and Desmond King still young in their careers, the level can only raise. Chargers fans should expect for the defense to take another step forward in 2018 and continue its ascension to an elite level.
-
Ep 142: Former Washington Quarterback And Super Bowl Champion Doug Williams Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 10:19 pm
Former Washington quarterback and Super Bowl champion Doug Williams joins […]
-
Ep 141: Andy Reid, Eagles, And Conference Championship Weekend w/ Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former Eagles President Joe Banner to talk […]
-
Ep 137: Hall Of Fame Discussion w/ John Turneyby Full Press Coverage on December 30, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Football historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 136: Remembering The Longest Game Ever Played With Larry Littleby Full Press Coverage on December 24, 2022 at 1:09 am
On the 51-year anniversary of the longest game ever played (Chiefs vs. […]
-
Ep 135: Hall of Fame Semifinalist Jahri Evans Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 16, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Former Saints guard and 2023 HOF Semifinalist Jahri Evans joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 134: Remember AFL/NFL Star John Hadl with Nick Canepaby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Former Hall of Fame voter, Nick Canepa, joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 133: Hall Of Fame Semifinalist Henry Ellard Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Former Rams and Redskins wide receiver, Henry Ellard, joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 132: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Semifinalists w/ Rick Gosselinby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin […]
-
Ep 131: 'Football Heaven' With PFHOF Senior Advisor Joe Horriganby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Advisor, Joe Horrigan, joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 130: Remembering John McVay With Hall of Famer Eddie DeBartolo Jr.by Full Press Coverage on November 13, 2022 at 1:42 am
Clark and Ira are joined by Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to […]
-
Ep 271: NFL Championship Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 1:58 pm
-
Ep 270: NFL Divisional Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 1:31 am
-
Ep 269: NFL Playoff Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 4:13 am
-
Ep 268: Week 16 Fantasy Rankingsby Full Press Coverage on December 21, 2022 at 9:45 pm
-
(Season 3.3) Commanders Talk w/ NFL Analyst Mark Bullock and Deuce from Redzone in the Labby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 10:26 pm
NFL Analyst Mark Bullock joins the "Command the Mic" Podcast hosted by […]
-
(Episode 3.2) Offseason Talk with the "Command This!" Podcastby Full Press Coverage on February 1, 2023 at 3:04 am
George Carmi hosts Steve, Dev, and Phil as they discuss the Commanders […]
-
2/7 - Super Bowl Headlines, Mahomes, Tom Brady Podcastby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Ian and John discuss some of the headlines heading into Super Bowl 57 […]
-
2/6 - Kyrie Irving Traded, Sean Payton To Broncos, Early Super Bowl Oddsby Full Press Coverage on February 6, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Ian and John discuss the Kyrie Irving trade, Sean Payton heading to […]
-
2/3 - Tom Brady Retires... For Goodby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Ian and John react to Tom Brady's second, and likely final, retirement. […]
-
1/31 - Tom Brady and the 49ers, Aaron Rodgers Futureby Full Press Coverage on January 31, 2023 at 9:00 am
Ian and John discuss whether or not the 49ers loss in the NFC Championship […]
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 211 "Steel Reserve"by Boot 2 The Face on January 28, 2023 at 6:59 pm
We preview the Royal Rumble and other things in the week of pro wreslting. […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 210 "No Monè, No Monè, No Monè"by Boot 2 The Face on January 19, 2023 at 12:55 am
Rucker and EJ are back discussing Rucker going to Impacts Hard to Kill […]
-
Ep.94: Bracketologyby Full Press Coverage on February 8, 2023 at 6:00 am
-
Super Bowl: Eagles vs Chiefsby Broken Controller Media on February 8, 2023 at 5:15 am
-
Full Press MMA - Tuesday, February 7thby Full Press Coverage on February 8, 2023 at 1:05 am
-
I Wanna Have Your Baby (Canucks) - Feb. 7, 2023by Full Press Coverage on February 8, 2023 at 12:30 am
-
Thunder at Lakersby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
(Season 3.3) Commanders Talk w/ NFL Analyst Mark Bullock and Deuce from Redzone in the Labby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 10:26 pm
-
Timberwolves at Nuggetsby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 10:00 pm
-
Bulls at Grizzliesby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 9:00 pm
-
Hawks at Pelicansby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 8:00 pm
-
Knicks at Magicby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 7:00 pm
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm