Run Game Strides

The Buccaneers ground attack has catapulted in 2024, evolving from a unit that finished last in the NFL the previous two seasons in yards per rush, to a unit that ranks fourth (5.1) this season. Under the tutelage of Liam Coen, the Bucs made a concerted effort to reinvigorate the running game, and the efforts have paid dividends. After utilizing a blend of mid- and outside-zone last year with power and gap sprinkled in, the Buccaneers have heavily used counter and trap runs with linemen pulling in 2024, which has benefited the skillset of slippery runner Bucky Irving. With a three-headed backfield of Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, Irving leads the pack with 735 rushing yards and has accumulated 50 missed tackles forced – the most among rookies. Irving and White are the only tandem in the NFL in which both players have three or more games with 100-plus yards from scrimmage. The ascension is attributed to not only the scheme, but the linemen, rushers, wide receivers and tight ends all being on the same page and understanding assignments. Cutback lanes have been visible week after week and the running backs have trusted the blocks and accelerated through holes.

"Sometimes some [running] backs are maybe better when you define the hole a little bit and then let their skill set take over," said Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen. "Sometimes when you're getting movement up front, the gap schemes can ultimately help you stay on track, whereas some of the zone schemes versus movement fronts and penetrating fronts can create some natural penetration early in the line of scrimmage. I just think that getting the line of scrimmage moving that way…The biggest thing that we talk about is playing the game on their side of the ball. We do not want to play the game on our side of the football. That's not how we're going to win any games. So, creating movement, how do we do that? Giving these guys different ways of hitting blocks, whether it's a B [gap] combination on an outside zone away, how does that make it feel like a deuce combination on the front side of a gap scheme? Trying to let the defense feel multiple different ways of getting hit while also creating an edge for us and trying to change the math in our favor."

Chargers' Top-Ranked Red Zone Defense

The Chargers' defense has allowed 15.9 points per game and a 41.9% opposing red zone touchdown percentage in 2024 (both first in the NFL). The Chargers lead the NFL with 26 sacks and 55 quarterback hits since Week Eight. The Chargers' defense has allowed a 63.5% opponent completion percentage (eighth in NFL) and an 81.3 opponent passer rating (fifth). The stingy squad boasts Khalil Mack, Derwin James, Daiyan Henley, Tuli Tuipulotu, Kristian Fulton, Elijah Molden, Tarheeb Still and Poona Ford. Among the all-star cast, Henley leads the team in tackles and has been a dominant second-level defender. Tuipulotu has spearheaded the team's pass rush and Mack continues to reign terror on opposing quarterbacks. The Chargers heavily use a dime defense with six or more defensive backs on the field, which allows James to play in the slot with two safeties deep. With a lighter box and not overcommitting resources to the run, the Chargers have still been effective in that regard by rallying to the football and fitting the run. James is the Chargers' do-it-all chess piece and the three-time Pro Bowl veteran is adept at getting to the quarterback on blitzes, covering tight ends/running backs and outpacing rushers to the sideline with leverage.

"They're a salty crew for sure – they're very well-coached," noted Coen. "They play the game the right way and are fantastic against the run in terms of how they squeeze blocks and they understand scheme. I've got a lot of respect for what they're doing over there. In the red area, not a lot of people have scored a ton of touchdowns. I think they have something like 13 touchdowns on the season being allowed in the red zone. That tells you not a lot of people are getting down there, and they're not scoring a lot of touchdowns. They play with a little bit of shell safeties and try to make you run it, try to make you earn it. They're not going to let you just throw it in there too easily. We've got to be patient, we've got to understand that we're in field goal range, take points when we have it, while also be aggressive to try to get the ball in the end zone to score some touchdowns…They've definitely got some football players in that box, especially when you put Derwin down in there, that can be disruptive and they can be stingy against the run. Their two linebackers are fast-flowing, hard-hitting guys, and I have a ton of respect for their front as well. I've coached against them, I coached with Morgan Fox in [Los Angeles], and I have a ton of respect for him. They've just been disruptive. They're very well-coached down there. They have a sense of urgency to not let touchdowns in there, and that's where we're going to have to be on point."

Chargers' Justin Herbert

Chargers' quarterback Justin Herbert had his 11th consecutive start with zero interceptions in Week 14. He has tied Tom Brady (2010) for the longest such streak by a quarterback within a season in NFL history with a minimum of 15 attempts in each start. Herbert has not thrown an interception over the last 335 pass attempts – fifth-longest streak all-time. The signal-caller has the second-most passing yards (19,987) by any player in his first five seasons all-time, trailing only Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. Herbert has 14 passing touchdowns and one interception in 2024 (best pass TD-INT ratio in the NFL). He recognizes matchup advantages and stresses defenses with confidence attacking downfield. With a cannon for an arm, Herbert can beat safeties on tight window darts and he can roll downhill when forced out of the pocket. Herbert operates with an effective plan pre-snap and he will look to continue his consistency against the Bucs' defense in Week 15.

"You're still talking about arguably a top ten quarterback across anybody's board in the league," stated Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Kacy Rodgers. "[He] has all [the] arm strength, athletic, can run, can make all the throws, but the way they utilize him in their system – they're buying into the culture change [of] running the ball, then when everybody cuts off the run, they're throwing over their head. That's exactly what they're doing. [Ladd] McConkey is having a heck of a year, but you know, if you watch the routes he's getting, everybody is getting sucked up trying to stop [the run] and he's fast and elusive and making a lot of plays. It's all what you see, from the way they're utilizing the quarterback is kind of into the culture that they want. We all know he can throw it 40 times a game if need be but that's just not the way they play."