EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Bud Dupree knows the challenge awaiting the Los Angeles Chargers' defense on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. With Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow leading the league in passing yards and Ja'Marr Chase tops in receiving, it is a prime opportunity for the Chargers' defense to show the rest of the league it should get more respect.
“Somebody wants to see us play, we’ve got to prove them right. We can’t go out here and (pee) down our leg. We have to turn it up harder,” Dupree said.
The 6-3 Chargers — who have won three straight and four of five — have allowed a league-low 13.1 points per game and are trying to be the first team since the 1990 New York Giants to allow 20 points or fewer in each of its first nine games. Critics, though, point out that the Bolts' early-season success is lacking a win against a big-time offense and quarterback.
Four of the Chargers' wins have come against offenses ranked 24th or lower and four of the six lowest-ranked passing attacks in the league. Of the nine quarterbacks they have faced, none are in the top 10 in passer rating. That changes significantly over next five weeks with Burrow (third), Baltimore's Lamar Jackson (second) and Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield (sixth) on the horizon.
“Those games just show you who you are, competitively and especially from a mental standpoint. You have the strength of the offense on their side with the quarterback,” linebacker Khalil Mack said after last Sunday's 27-.
