The Los Angeles Chargers needed to get back on track to take their next step toward a playoff berth after getting beat up by the Baltimore Ravens. That step was in Atlanta — taking on the 6-5 Falcons. While, like many of the Chargers victories, it was hardly resounding, their defense was once again stout and made big plays when they needed them.
The biggest addition to the win from the defense was four interceptions — two made by rookie Tarheeb Still, one made by new addition Marcus Maye, and the final and game-sealing interception was made by veteran defensive star, Derwin James.
Derwin James: Chargers used ‘different looks’ to Confuse Cousins
Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is more known for being overly cautious with the ball rather than as a gunslinger who often puts the ball in harm’s way. This is just his second four-interception game in his 162-game career. 81.4 percent of Cousin’s games have seen one or fewer picks thrown by the 36-year-old QB.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wanted to know how it was that the Chargers were able to get Cousins to throw some very confusing passes, in several cases, right into the Chargers’ hands. He went to the source, Derwin James.
“He is a veteran quarterback, you know, giving him different looks,” James said. “We did a great job lining up all day long and I feel like we made it tough on him and it was a lot of fun.”
The different looks included “[s]howing them all of our pressure, dropping back, then bringing pressure.” James said. “Showing them zones then bring pressure. Just different looks, making them uncomfortable.”
Chargers defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter has been getting a lot of credit for the dramatic turnaround for a defense that ended 2023 allowing the fifth most yards per game and ninth most points per game. So far this season they have allowed the 14th yards per game and the fewest points per game.
