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Power ranking the NFL defenses for 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 30: Casey Hayward (26) of the Los Angeles Chargers intercepts a pass and scores on a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos. The Denver Broncos hosted the Los Angeles Chargers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, December 30, 2018. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 30: Casey Hayward (26) of the Los Angeles Chargers intercepts a pass and scores on a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos. The Denver Broncos hosted the Los Angeles Chargers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, December 30, 2018. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

16. Los Angeles Chargers

2018 Review: This unit made big strides from 2017, when the Chargers allowed the second-most rushing yards in the league. Coordinator Gus Bradley’s steady unit finished ninth in the NFL in total yards allowed and posted that same numbers vs. the run and the pass. Melvin Ingram led the club with seven sacks while Joey Bosa returned for the second half of the year and added 5.5 QB traps. All told, the Bolts allowed only 34 offensive touchdowns. But it was rookie safety Derwin James, who turned heads all season on his way to earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

2019 Key Additions: The team drafted seven players, all with their original picks in April – led by former Notre Dame interior presence Jerry Tillery and second-round safety Nasir Adderley (Delaware). The former figures to add depth to the interior of the team’s defensive front. The Chargers also welcomed outside linebacker Thomas Davis, a former first-round pick of the Carolina Panthers and a steady performer throughout his impressive career.

Analysis: The defensive unit that looked helpless in the team’s 41-28 loss to the New England Patriots in last year’s AFC divisional playoffs is far better than that showing from January. Meanwhile, the Bolts will be without safety James until November following foot surgery. A candidate for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2018, he led the team with 105 tackles. Regardless, the Bolts’ defense has proven to be pretty resilient as of late.

Next: No. 15

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