Chargers’ defense crush Steelers 

Inglewood, CA (The Bulletin) – The Los Angeles Chargers did it with defense. Los Angeles rendered the Pittsburgh Steelers and their black-and-gold flag-waving fans into helpless spectators during the most recent Sunday Night Football game played at SoFi Stadium. 

With an overwhelming fan base that was present during the AFC encounter between the Chargers and the Steelers, Pittsburgh and its aging quarterback Aaron Rodgers appeared to be more a relic of themselves than formidable foe. 

At least the Chargers and their overly aggressive defense made it appear that way in a 25-10 win at home. 

“I thought it was a huge win for us today,” Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said. “I thought the defense played incredibly well today. To be able to get some turnovers like that and a bunch of huge stops and special teams getting a turnover too. They made our job so much easier. I thought the defense and special teams played so well today.”

So dominant was the Chargers’ seventh win of the season (7-3) that Rodgers and the Steelers offense was held out of the end zone until they scored a meaningless touchdown late in the fourth quarter when the game had clearly been decided. 

On a night where wide receiver Keenan Allen became the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions, an organization that has had the likes of pass-catchers Charlie Joiner, Kellen Winslow, and Antonio Gates, who are all Hall of Famers, the Chargers defense was the star of the show. 

With the two catches he had for the game, Allen now has 956 receptions, one more than the aforementioned Gates (955). Allen said this particular milestone ranks high with another of his on-field achievements.  

“It has got to be up there with the 10,000 yards [record]. Those are milestones that not a lot of people reach, even the greats, they don’t even reach those types of things. We were able to do it and hats off to [PHFOF TE] Antonio [Gates], [Former Chargers QB] Phillip [Rivers], and Herbo [QB Justin Herbert] throwing the ball. I appreciate those guys.”

The Chargers flat out shut down the once-feared Steelers run game. Pittsburgh’s attempt at a sufficient run game was putrid at best. In the first half, the Chargers held Pittsburgh to just 31 yards rushing. For the game, the Steelers somehow made it to 73 yards total, much of it coming in garbage time play.  

With the running game going nowhere that left Rodgers to try to do his aerial magic. That failed to materialize because the Chargers were just as effective at stopping the pass as they were in making it difficult running the football. 

The Chargers brought the pressure on Rodgers, sacking the future Hall of Fame quarterback three times and intercepting two of his passes. 

Rodgers finished the game completing 16 of 31 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown, along with the two picks. His quarterback passer rating was 50.6, which speaks volumes on the type of game that the Chargers’ defense forced Rodgers into playing. 

“A lot of stuff wasn’t working,” Rodgers said afterward. “We were bad on third down. I was just a little bit off. I missed DK [Metcalf] early and could’ve been a big play, little high to Jonnu [Smith]. But yeah, we didn’t run the ball super effectively in the first half. I missed obviously some throws for sure and then we weren’t getting guys open and putting it altogether. Times some guys were open; I missed some throws I usually make.”

Since their Week 7 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts, the Chargers have won three games straight. 

“We’ve just gotten better,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “You know, tackling – the tackling has been crisp and sharper. Guys playing the defense and just doing their job, not trying to do somebody else’s job but playing – just strong, tough men that are – plus faith in themselves and in their teammates and in the system and that’s seeing our guys rise to the four.”

This article first appeared in The Bulletin newspaper. News 4 Us Online is an editorial partner of The Bulletin