It’s a battle of two undefeated teams in Week 3. The Chargers travel to Pittsburgh to face Mike Tomlin and the 2-0 Steelers in a game that figures to be low scoring.
It’s one that should be decided in the trenches, as physicality is considered a strength for each team. Here some players to keep an eye on this weekend from the Steelers’ side of things.
C Zach Frazier
It seems like the Steelers have found their center of the future. After a few years of poor play from the position, their 2024 second-rounder has looked stellar through the first two weeks. He’s helped stabilize the offensive line, something the team has been lacking for a few years now. Frazier’s matchup against the interior portion of the Chargers’ defensive line, namely Poona Ford, will be a major key to the Week 3 matchup.
WR George Pickens
Pickens is by far Pittsburgh’s top playmaker, and he has eight catches for 114 yards so far on the season. The rest of the Steelers’ receiving core has combined for just five catches and 28 receiving yards. If there’s one guy that the Chargers can’t let take over the game, it’s Pickens. He certainly has the ability and talent to do so, as he accumulated 1,140 receiving yards last season.
Edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith
These two form arguably the best pass rushing duo in all of football. Watt is arguably the best defender in the NFL, while Highsmith is quite the running mate. Through two games, they’ve continued to wreck havoc, including last week against the Broncos. Their matchups against the Chargers’ offensive tackles, who have been elite this season, could decide the fate of this game.
CB Joey Porter Jr.
There’s no question as to who is the top corner in Pittsburgh. Only in his second season, Porter has enjoyed a stellar start to the season. If there is one weakness to his game, he does tend to get a bit handsy in coverage at times. He was flagged multiple times in Week 2 against the Broncos, so that’s something to watch. Justin Herbert may be wise to shy away from Porter throughout the game on Sunday if he wants to be able to have success through the air.
K Chris Boswell
It sounds a bit strange to include a kicker in this, but Boswell has become one of the best kickers in the NFL. Through two games, he’s a perfect 8-for-8 on field goal attempts, including 4-for-4 from over 50 yards. Kickers across the league have been exceptional to start the season, and Boswell has single-handedly helped the Steelers to a 2-0 start. It’s important for the Chargers defense to not even allow Pittsburgh’s offense into field goal range because at this point, it seems like an automatic three points for the Steelers.