Pressure QB Justin Herbert
While the Chargers rank 28th in passing yards this season, the Browns defense still has to prepare for the threat of QB Justin Herbert in the pass game and apply pressure to Hebert.
Herbert has thrown for 1,443 passing yards this season, ranking 22nd in passing attempts. However, his 8:1 touchdown-interception ratio is third-best in the NFL, sitting just behind QB Josh Allen and QB Lamar Jackson.
“He’s an excellent decision maker, as good an arm as there is in football, I think,” Stefanski said. “Has a good understanding of their offense. He’s getting the ball to different players. He’s very, very good.”
However, when opposing defenses pressure Herbert, his passer rating drops from 98.2 to 62.5, according to Next Gen Stats. He completes 44.4 percent of passes and has thrown just two touchdowns to one interception and been sacked 15 times this season. The Chargers have allowed pressures on 36.8 percent of passing plays this season, which ranks as the ninth-highest rate in the league.
“I think he’s one of the only guys that can throw a dot off his back leg,” CB Greg Newsome II said. “A lot of teams that we play, it’s like make them throw the ball like that; he’s a guy that can make every single throw. I definitely think he’s probably got the best arm talent we’ve gone against so far this year. That’s definitely a guy where you got to be true at all times. And we just got to find a way to plaster our guys and be great in phase three.”