4 Takeaways From the Chargers’ Win Over the Steelers

INGLEWOOD (Calif.) – On Sunday, the Los Angeles Chargers won their fourth game in five with a 25-10 victory at home over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chargers improved to 7-3 for the season, and kept pace with Denver Broncos in the AFC West race. Meanwhile, the Steelers fell to 5-4. Pittsburgh’s offense was terrible and it has now lost three out of four games. My takeaways are:1. Justin Herbert still takes shots at alarming rates. Herbert, who is playing behind a makeshift offensive lineup without Pro Bowl tackles Rashawn.Slater and Joe Alt continues to be beaten in the pocket. A Pittsburgh offensive front was aggressive, sacking Herbert three times. Herbert’s pressure on the field has reached a league high 175 times. He was under constant pressure for most of the Steelers game, but still managed to provide enough offense to help the Chargers win. Herbert threw 213 yards with a touchdown. His favorite target was Ladd McConkey, who finished with four catches for 107 yards and a score.More importantly, Herbert did not turn the ball over for the first time in four games. 2. The Chargers made Aaron Rodgers uncomfortableWhile Herbert kept the ball out of harm’s way, the same cannot be said for Rodgers. A week after leading Pittsburgh to a victory against one of the best teams in the NFL – Indianapolis Colts – Rodgers struggled on the road against the Chargers. Rodgers was sacked for a safety by Khalil Mack early on and intercepted by safety R.J. Mickens, the rookie’s second career interception.Rodgers looked like a 41-year-old quarterback on Sunday, turning his back on pressure to avoid big hits from the pass rush. Rodgers completed just 16-of-31 passes for 161 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions for a 50.6 passer rating – his worst game statistically this season – while being sacked three times.Rodgers didn’t have much help, as his receivers had a handful of drops that would have kept the chains moving or put Pittsburgh in scoring position. Ultimately, Pittsburgh’s 10 points were the team’s lowest output all season.3. Keenan Allen becomes the Chargers’ all-time receptions leaderFor a franchise that includes Hall of Famers like Lance Alworth, Charlie Joiner, Kellen Winslow, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, it’s impressive that Allen took over the franchise record for receptions in his team’s victory over the Steelers.Allen finished with two receptions for 19 yards, giving him 956 for his career, one more than Gates (955). Allen, 33 years old, returned to the Chargers from the Chicago Bears in a last-minute addition before the season began. And he’s been productive, totaling 52 receptions for 539 receiving yards and four touchdowns.4. Kimani Vidal is the Bolts’ workhorse running back. Earlier this season, when Najee Harris was out of the picture and Omarion Hampton, a rookie, were not available to them as options at running backs. Vidal, who has 95 rushing yard and a touchdown on 25 carries, is a great replacement for Harris. Hampton will be back in the future. Vidal has rushed for over 100 yards twice this year and is averaging 4.7 yards per contest.4 ½. What’s next?The Steelers had a commanding lead early but now are just a game ahead of the streaking Ravens (4-5) in the race for the top spot in the AFC North. Pittsburgh faces another dynamic offense next week in the Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) followed by the Chicago Bears (6-3) and the Buffalo Bills (6-3). The Bolts could go into their bye week at 8-3. Los Angeles travels to face the Jacksonville Jaguars next week. The Jaguars had a 19-point lead in the fourth period, but they lost a close one, 36-30, to their AFC South opponents, the Houston Texans. The Bolts lead the AFC West. Eric D. Williams, who has been covering the NFL for over a decade, covered the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers in Sports Illustrated. He also covered the Seattle Seahawks at the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on X at @eric_d_williams.Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for a FOX Sports account or create one to follow teams, leagues and players. You’ll receive a daily newsletter!
2025-11-10 04:47:47