Trends in the NFL can sometimes predict the future. Over the past handful of weeks, a clear weakness for the Los Angeles Chargers has emerged. 

Chargers' run defense

For another week, the Chargers' opponent ran over them. The Buccaneers ran for 223 yards. 

Overall ,they totaled 506 yards. That won't win you many games, and the Chargers were not competitive for much of this game due to those defensive problems. 

Tampa dominated time of possession, keeping the ball for nearly 37 minutes of game time. Keeping the ball out of Justin Herbert's hand for that long is a recipe for success.

The run defense issues are not new. Those struggles have appeared in three of the past four games for Los Angeles. 

They've lost those three matchups. The Kansas City Chiefs did not fill the stat sheet, but they ran the ball effectively in the fourth quarter to salt away a win. The Baltimore Ravens ran for 212 yards in their win over the Chargers. 

Struggles to run the ball

On the flip-side, Los Angeles could not run the football.. An early deficit did not help, but neither Gus Edwards or Kimani Vidal could get going. Neither were efficient or productive, and the Chargers ran for just 32 yards.

Justin Herbert’s ankle = no escapability.
JK Dobbins IR = no running ability.

No running ability = easy for a defense.

Not sure how you fix this until those injuries heal.

To say the “Chargers can’t run the ball”, is the understatement of the season. pic.twitter.com/uPEMaCElDH

— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) December 16, 2024

All in all, the Chargers must be more consistent on both sides of the ball when it comes to the ground game. Injuries have impeded their success there, but every time has injuries. That is no excuse. Jim Harbaugh would be the first to tell you that. 

If they cannot improve those deficiencies, playoff football would vie incredibly tough for them this season. 

Chargers’ latest video shows that Justin Herbert is learning to be more like Jim Harbaugh

His coach is rubbing off on him.