Photo: steelers.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers will go head to head on the west coast during primetime’s Sunday Night Football in NFL Week 10. We look at key matchups fans will want to keep an eye on.
The Chargers are missing their star left tackle, Joe Alt, who is scheduled for season-ending ankle surgery. With both he and fellow tackle Rashawn Slater sidelined, the Bolts’ offensive line is scrapping to protect QB Justin Herbert.
Enter Pittsburgh’s elite edge crew. Veteran T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, and Alex Highsmith bring one of the league’s most disruptive pass-rush units, and this presents a golden opportunity to pressure Herbert.
Why this matters: If the Steelers can generate consistent pressure (and possibly generate sacks), the Chargers offense may struggle to get on track. Conversely, Los Angeles must find enough protection or their offense could be derailed.
Even with protection issues, the Chargers remain dangerous through the air with Herbert and multiple targets. Pittsburgh’s pass defense has been among the worst in the NFL this season, giving up big plays and yardage. They corrected some of that in Week 9 – can they keep up the pace on Sunday night?
If Pittsburgh can force Herbert into uncomfortable throws, they’ll increase their win-probability. If not, the Chargers could pick up chunk gains and make the Steelers chase.
Why this matters: In what is expected to be a close, competitive game, explosive passing plays could tilt the balance.
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Pittsburgh will look to exploit the Chargers up front in the run game. The Bolts’ defensive line instability in run stopping, as well as weaker interior linebacker play, make them vulnerable to stout run-defense fronts. The Steelers have utilized their jumbo package and extra tight end sets to help break Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell into the second level with some success.
On the flip side, the Chargers will try to establish rushers (and perhaps Herbert on the move) to keep the Steelers’ defense from pinning their ears back.
The Steelers added depth to their defensive line in defensive tackle Brodric Martin-Rhodes (off of the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad) this week. It is unclear whether he will be added to the game day lineup, but Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and Derrick Harmon could use help.
“Stopping the run. I think that’s critical… I think you’ve got to make a team one dimensional. That’s got to be something that we carry on week in and week out. Then, when we can and we get our chances, we’ve got to make sure we get those turnovers, whether it’s a fumble or an interception. Every game there’s possibilities to get them. It’s just about seizing those moments.” – Cam Heyward
Why this matters: If Pittsburgh can set the edge and control the middle on defense – making Los Angeles one-dimensional on offense – then the Steelers will control tempo and possibly the scoreboard.
The same can be said for the Steelers establishing their run game. If they can force the Chargers out of the box with a solid ground game, it will free up Aaron Rodgers to spread the ball around in the passing game and look for the best one on one matchups.
If these two teams get into an offensive shoot-out, the Steelers will need their full compliment of receivers and tight ends to play cleaner and help Rodgers move the chains by securing catches and protecting the ball while eliminating errors.
Pittsburgh arrives at 5-3 riding defensive momentum (having forced six turnovers and five sacks in Week 9), while the Chargers are 6-3 and favored at home.
The prime-time stage and these match-ups mean one thing: the game outcome likely comes down to which team wins in the trenches – and overall team execution rather than flash.
