Top 5 Defensive Plays: Flacco's Worst Day Ever

by Orz on Dec 20, 2011 9:02 AM PST in Chargers DVR

The Chargers defense this week turned out to be a ball-hawking, pass-rushing, Flacco-day-ruining beast. Since this story series started, we've had to showcase some pretty mundane run stops and pass defenses to get to 5 total plays. Against the Ravens however, there were a bunch of sacks and that great Weddle pass defense that didn't even have a chance to make top five.

Top Defensive Play #5 is the Tommie Harris sack in the early going of the 3rd quarter. Harris beat his man 1-on-1 from the right defensive end spot. The AJ Smith parade of castoffs and leftovers continues to amaze.

Top Defensive Play #4 involves Antonio Garay beating a double team and crushing Joe Flacco and Shaun Phillips in one sweep. If those two hadn't gotten the sack, Vaughn Martin would have! Keep in mind, two years ago Garay was a mid season street replacement much like Harris this year, and Antwan Barnes a year ago.

Top Defensive Play #3 is one of the aforementioned Barnes' four (FOUR!) sacks. Just imagine if this guy could do anything in the run game (remember, Travis LaBoy keeps this guy from starting, which is scary).

Top Defensive Play #2 closing the book on sacks for the week and brings us to the turnovers. Question: If Barnes doesn't help out, does Phillips drop this ball?

Top Defensive Play #1 is everyone's favorite non-constantly-screaming ILB, Takeo Spikes with a zone interception and a pretty fun return, owing to the entire defense loving the opportunity to block for TKO.

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SO NICE

to see this kind of play from the chargers.

by counterpoint on Dec 20, 2011 9:44 AM PST reply actions

i don’t see SP95 getting a good enough grip of the ball, it would’ve rolled off his finger tips.

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by QuesaDiaz on Dec 20, 2011 9:58 AM PST reply actions

It was falling out of his hands to a place where he wouldn't have been able to reach to

Barnes should get half credit.

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by John Gennaro on Dec 20, 2011 10:30 AM PST up reply actions

TAKEO BABY!

That play was awesome.

Blerg

by Myemail21479 on Dec 20, 2011 10:06 AM PST reply actions

Such a horrible read by Flacco. No idea what he was looking at.

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by Richard Wade on Dec 20, 2011 2:22 PM PST up reply actions

suddenly all the AFC contenders look beatable

Ravens, smacked down.
Steelers, weak against SF.
Pats, tough, but weak D.
Houston, cannot go too far with the 3rd string QB.
Jets. Highly mortal and very beatable.

If we win out in a dominating fashion and still miss the playoffs, that will be the most frustrating thing. Why could we not have gotten a little bit closer for the FG against Denver?

by jayman66 on Dec 20, 2011 10:29 AM PST reply actions

Or why couldn't that fumble just not happen vs KC

by Ferguson1015 on Dec 20, 2011 12:07 PM PST up reply actions

Phillips was hurt on the Garay sack

Garay bulldozed him in the face.

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by Superduperboltman on Dec 20, 2011 10:40 AM PST reply actions