Chargers takeaways: The defense controls the ground and air in Cleveland

The Browns' Nick Chubb (24) is tackled by the Chargers' Lohi Gilman (32) and Daiyan Henley (0). Henley led the Chargers with 13 tackles.

(Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press)

Although the Chargers kept the New Orleans Saints out of the end zone last week, the 117 yards allowed on the ground left “a bad taste in our mouths,” Mack said.

Last week's result made Cleveland running back Nick Chubb the top defensive priority, especially after the Chargers struggled to tackle a similarly physical running back in Arizona's James Conner.

The Chargers responded by holding Chubb to just 39 yards rushing on 15 carries, and the Browns ran for 79 yards, the third time this season the Chargers held an opponent to fewer than 100 yards rushing.

“We knew the challenge would be to stop 24 this week,” Mack said, “and we overcame another challenge.”

The Chargers allow 107.9 yards rushing per game, which ranks eighth in the NFL. Free-agent additions Poona Ford and Denzel Perryman were key additions to the turnaround of a run defense that ranked 17th on the ground last season and allowed 113.2 rushing yards per game.

Henley's rise in his second season is also a significant rise as a former third-round pick. who made 16 tackles in 15 games last season. now leads the Chargers with 64 total tackles.

Safety Derwin James Jr. spent a significant portion of Sunday's game standing in the slot to help with run support and cover tight end David Njoku, who was held to 29 yards on five catches.

The depth in the secondary — where Molden has solidified the safety position while rookie cornerbacks Still and Cam Hart have played on the outside — has allowed James to showcase his versatility in every facet of defense.

“When you have a lot of depth and a lot of players and don't rely on just one guy, I think you're a better defense,” James said. “You can compete despite injuries and everything because you’re so deep, you’ve got a lot of guys to go into.”