COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Anthony Lynn said there's a fine line between success and failure -- based on deciding when to blitz or when to play coverage -- in creating an effective pass rush.

So far, the Los Angeles Chargers have mostly been on the losing side of that line.

"To blitz more, you have to play more man [coverage]," Lynn said. "You have to put wide receivers on islands, and some of those matchups you might not like. But there's a balance there, and we have to find that balance."

Defense was supposed to be a strength of the Chargers this season, but through three games the Bolts have failed to hold up against two of the top offenses in the NFL in the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams, allowing an average of 31 points a contest through three weeks.

Teams are converting 48.4 percent of their opportunities on third down against the Chargers, fourth-worst in the league.

Without the services of Joey Bosa for at least a couple more games, Lynn said his defense has to figure out how to create consistent pressure on the quarterback.

"We've played that bend-but-don't-break [defense]," Lynn said. "Last year we were third in the league in points because we can play that style of defense. But it just didn't work out for us yesterday [against the Rams]."

The Chargers have been unable to create consistent pressure without the services of Bosa, though they did finish with five sacks in a rout over Buffalo Bills in Week 2 against rookie quarterback Josh Allen.

However, against perhaps the two best offenses in the league -- the Rams and the Chiefs -- the Chargers mustered just two sacks, giving up a total of 73 points and 883 yards of offense.

If the Chargers want to reach the postseason for the first time since 2013 and ultimately make a push for the Super Bowl, they need to figure out how to get pressure against the top teams like the Rams and the Chiefs.

"We have to mix it up and the guys that have one-on-ones have to win," said Chargers safety Derwin James, who leads the team with two sacks. "That's what it comes down to, a man whooping another man. We'll get better."

The Chargers are blitzing about the same amount as they did last season. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, the Chargers are sending five or more rushers 18 percent of the time in 2018, the same amount they did last season.

The Chargers have been much less effective getting home, though, with just four rushers this season. Per ESPN Stats & Information research, the Chargers have allowed 9.5 yard per pass, eight touchdowns and corralled just three interceptions when sending four or fewer pass-rushers through three games this year.

Last year, the Chargers allowed just 6.4 yards per pass, giving up 14 touchdowns and recording 16 interceptions when sending four or fewer pass-rushers.

With Bosa out, Lynn said, teams are paying closer attention to the Chargers' other elite pass-rusher, Melvin Ingram, so one of the other players has to win up front. Ingram has 1.5 sacks and six combined tackles through three games.

"We need more pressure," Lynn said. "They slid protection toward Mel, they chipped Mel. They're going to do all of that. We're going to be one-on-one on the backside and we have to win. Somebody has to win."