Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa and linebacker Melvin Ingram have been one of the top pass-rushing duos in the NFL this year with 20 combined sacks and five fumbles forced.
The Los Angeles Chargers have been a team of ups and downs this season. After starting 0-4 in their first four games following relocation from San Diego, the group has rallied to win six of their last eight games, catapulting them into the think of that AFC West race.
Despite the roller coaster of a season that the Chargers have experienced, one constant has been the strong and steady performance of edge defenders Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. The two former first-round picks have emerged as arguably the best pass rush duo in the NFL this year and have been instrumental in the Chargers' resurgence as a playoff contender.
So far this season, Bosa and Ingram are one of just three pairs of teammates with at least 20 sacks between the two of them.
Most teams are lucky to have just one "hybrid" edge defender on their team – a player that balances speed, strength and intelligence at a high level - but with the way Bosa and Ingram have played over the last couple seasons, they both appear to fit the role nicely. With Bosa listed at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, and Ingram at 6-foot-2 and 247 pounds, the two have the intangibles to be a force for in the league for the foreseeable future.
In addition to their physical tools, part of what makes them so hard to prepare for is the question of where they might line up on the line. Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has been known to line up Bosa and Ingram at various places on the line, keeping opposing offensive linemen on their toes.
"Those guys are good, without a doubt, and they move them around," said Redskins head coach Jay Gruden. "You know, it's not like they're at one spot where you can plan and help. You know, I think Ingram especially does an excellent job lining up over guards, and they have different fronts where they can move him around."
Every great defensive lineman's impact is able to go far beyond his individual stats, and it is no different when it comes to the presence that Bosa and Ingram bring to the table. The Chargers' pass defense has been one of the best defensive units in the league this year, and the pair of pass rushers up front have been instrumental to its success.
"They have been very good against the pass this year. I think they are fifth versus the pass, only allowing just over 200 yards a game," quarterback Kirk Cousins said this week of the Chargers defense. "I've got to believe that a lot of the credit does go to the pass rush and then works back from there."
The matchup that Bosa and Ingram pose for the Redskins offense could be especially threatening considering the injury issues that the unit has had all year.
