The Los Angeles Chargers arrived in Pittsburgh expecting a hard-fought matchup, as Acrisure Stadium is an intense environment no matter how good the Steelers are.
The bout got off to a slow start but would make for plenty of drama by the end. After both teams traded two punts on their opening drives, Los Angeles put together a five-play, 59-yard touchdown drive to open up scoring late in the first quarter.
Justin Herbert capped off LA’s third drive by finding second-year receiver Quentin Johnston wide-open down the left sideline for a 27-yard touchdown. Johnston continues to impress through three weeks, finishing Sunday’s game with two catches for 44 yards and a touchdown, a very encouraging start for the former first-round pick who mightily struggled last season.
LA’s offense would struggle for the rest of the contest, adding only a field goal early in the second quarter. The Chargers totaled just 10 first downs, 168 total yards and were forced to punt seven times. They were unable to establish a potent ground attack like in past weeks, struggling to get a push on Pittsburgh’s stout defensive front.
Los Angeles’ offensive woes could be attributed to losing star quarterback Justin Herbert to injury. Herbert started hot, completing 12 of his 18 pass attempts for 125 yards and one touchdown.
But after taking a sack midway through the third quarter, the signal-caller re-aggravated a high-ankle sprain suffered last week against the Panthers. He would not return to action and was spotted in a walking boot postgame.
Taylor Heinicke would take over for the injured Herbert, completing both of his pass attempts for 24 yards.
The injury bug would not end there for the Chargers, as star left tackle Rashawn Slater would join his quarterback on the sideline with a pectoral injury. 2024 No. 5 overall pick Joe Alt would also suffer an injury late in the fourth quarter, although it came after Los Angeles’ final offensive drive.
Alt revealed that he tweaked his ankle, although no further details were given. The rookie right tackle has been as elite as advertised coming out of Notre Dame, seamlessly transitioning to the position after dominating at left tackle with the Fighting Irish.
Despite the loss, LA’s defense put together an adequate performance. New defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is coaching a more disciplined unit than last year. Minter’s defense is allowing 11 points per game in 2024, which is the sixth-best in the NFL, A night-and-day comparison to a bottom-five unit in 2023, which allowed 23.4 points per game. The defense was not without injury either, as defensive end Joey Bosa was ruled out with a hip injury in the first quarter.
While Minter has changed the defensive culture in LA, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s unit had an efficient day. Pittsburgh moved the sticks 20 times, converting seven of its 14 third-down attempts. The Steelers outgained the Chargers in yards 346-168 and punted only thrice.
Quarterback Justin Fields continued his impressive 2024 campaign for Pittsburgh. The former Bear has played efficient, mistake-free football, leading the Steelers to a 3-0 record. Fields completed 25 of his 32 pass attempts for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He added a rushing touchdown as well.
Fields found second-year receiver Calvin Austin for a 55-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, which was the nail in the coffin. Austin led Pittsburgh with 95 yards and a touchdown, while running back Najee Harris had an efficient day on the ground with 18 carries for 70 yards.
Despite the loss, Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers are a team with playoff aspirations. But a playoff berth rides on the health of Los Angeles’ key contributors in Herbert, Slater, Alt and Bosa, who are all wounded.
The 2-1 Chargers are set to host the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC West showdown next week. The reigning back-to-back Super Bowl Champions have won their last five games against Los Angeles, with Patrick Mahomes holding a 5-1 record against Justin Herbert.
Sunday’s matchup will be a tall order for the Bolts, who will certainly need Herbert and company to suit up.