Top rankings mean Chargers defense will likely determine their playoff fate

The Chargers underwent a significant makeover this past offseason, most notably hiring former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. A coaching change is always an adjustment for any team, but the roster also dealt with a lot of movement, a lot of which wasn't necessarily for the better.

Although there was definitely a need for changes to be made, mainly to the offense, a lot of the most stable players quarterback Justin Herbert had to work with walked in free agency or were traded, which has proven to be one of the biggest hurdles the offense has had to overcome so far this season.

We've seen it throughout the ten games so far this season, as Herbert has had to adjust to a mostly new roster around him. Because of that, they haven't always performed at the level the Chargers need to make a big playoff push.

But they have lucked out with the success of the defense, keeping them in many games. They are actually ranked among some of the best defenses in the league, an unexpected accomplishment under the new regime.

The Chargers defense could be what keeps the team alive the rest of the 2024 season

The defense has some budding stars on the roster, with some of the more exciting being rookie cornerbacks Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still. Then there's the consistently impressive performances from Daiyan Henley, who has led the team in total tackles for the past month. He currently leads the team by a mile with 78 on the season, with Denzel Perryman in second with 49.

Collectively, the defense is considered the best in the league, holding their opponents to a league-low 13.1 points per game. According to PFF, that's led to them being the toughest defense for opposing offenses to get into the end zone, allowing just 12.1% this season.

Despite the obvious challenges that come with a new defensive coordinator, something the Chargers have dealt with this season with the hiring of Jesse Minter, the defense has clearly thrived and been the most unexpected success of the year.

As the schedule gets tougher over the last eight weeks of the season, it will be imperative that the group maintains its level of performance to push the team into good standing for the playoffs. It's never easy when you're in the same division as the reigning Super Bowl champions.

The production of the defense will be the difference between making a wild card push or sitting at home in January. Hopefully, they'll continue being the best defense in the NFL instead of falling apart when it matters most.