Tag: chargers vs. steelers

Trio makes case for more work in Chargers’ defensive line rotation

The Chargers’ defensive front had its best showing this season in the win over the Steelers.

Without primary interior defensive linemen Linval Joseph, Jerry Tillery, and Christian Covington, the Chargers had to call on the backups and practice squad in the 41-37 victory over the Steelers.

Joining Justin Jones were first and second-year undrafted players Breiden Fehoko, Joe Gaziano, Forrest Merrill, and Andrew Brown.

What was viewed as a mismatch coming into the game, they made rookie running back Najee Harris a non-factor. They limited Pittsburgh to 55 yards on 18 carries — a 3.1 yards per attempt average.

While Jones anchored the unit, playing 81% of the defensive snaps, the others aided, with Gaziano and Fehoko being the standouts of the crop.

Playing the second-most defensive snaps out of the positional group (62%), Gaziano made positive things happen in both facets, creating inside pressure and stacking the run.

Gaziano finished with three tackles, a quarterback hit, and a pass deflection.

“I really felt Joe in pass rush and in run defense,” coach Brandon Staley said on Gaziano. “He just was active. He blocked a couple of shots. This guy was really active.”

Besides occupying blockers to help keep his teammates clean, Fehoko showed off brute strength to reset the line of scrimmage and some quickness to work his way through gaps.

Fehoko finished with three tackles.

“He has that warrior spirit,” Staley said on Fehoko. “He’s a multiplier, man. He just makes you feel good at the game because you know this guy is going to give you everything that he has.”

Merrill had just 11 snaps, but he still made the most of them.

Merrill’s highlight play showed off his press strength and natural low pad level, walking rookie center Kendrick Green to the lap of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Even though it was one of the best showings in the trenches this season with those guys, Los Angeles is likely to get Tillery and Covington back for the Week 12 matchup against the Broncos.

Tillery and Covington will likely resume their roles upon returning. But after Sunday, Gaziano, Fehoko, and Merrill proved they should be part of the rotation the rest of the way out.

What they’re saying following Chargers’ win over Steelers

National pundits react to the Chargers’ 41-37 victory over the Steelers.

The Chargers beat the Steelers in an enticing Sunday Night Football matchup at SoFi Stadium.

Things got crazy in the fourth quarter, as Pittsburgh almost made a comeback, but Los Angeles ultimately prevailed.

Here are some of the best reactions:

Colin Cowherd on Justin Herbert

“He’s Andrew Luck with better football decisions and his demeanor never changes. He’s never cocky, he’s never anything other than confident with all these skills. He makes great choices. Confidence is when you don’t have to tell people how great you are and you don’t have to show off the few assets you have.”

Former NFL HC Rex Ryan

“Best quarterback in the league. Yes, I said it. He’s so athletic. He rushed for almost 100 yards against them [Steelers].”

NFL Media’s Adam Schein

“Herbert was breathtaking all night, throwing for 381 yards and three scores, while also running for 90 yards on nine carries. He’s the first player in the Super Bowl era, per NFL Research, to post 350-plus passing yards and 90-plus receiving yards in the same game. Still just 23 years old, Herbert is doing his best to exorcise decades of Chargers demons, one week at a time.”

NFL Media’s Dan Hanzus

“Herbert is different. He makes the Chargers different. He accounted for 472 total yards and three touchdowns — and, even more impressively, showed unshakable cool when the world was on fire. He’s a franchise quarterback in every way.”

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco

“Now that Justin Herbert is back throwing it around, they can play with anybody. The coaches wised up by getting back to featuring Herbert throwing it down the field.”

Sports Illustrated’s Gary Grambling

“Even setting aside the wacky events that got the Steelers back into it on Sunday night, this is still a team that feels a little too dependent on the quarterback’s heroics (even if the quarterback is very, very good).”

Stars, studs and duds from Chargers’ 41-37 victory over Steelers

Highlighting the Chargers players who shined and struggled in the victory over the Steelers.

The Chargers took care of business in primetime, defeating the Steelers by the score of 41-37.

With that being said, here is a look at the players who helped en route to Los Angeles’ victory and the others who had a rough night.

Stars

QB Justin Herbert

After an uneven performance against the Vikings, Herbert shined under the lights. He benefited from getting out of the pocket, the designed play actions, and the simplified reads. Herbert held defenders with his eyes and showed off excellent anticipation, ball placement, and rare velocity on his throws. Furthermore, we got to see his athleticism plenty on the ground. Herbert completed 30 of 41 attempts for 382 passing yards, 90 rushing yards, and three touchdowns.

RB Austin Ekeler

When a team is struggling in a specific area, you look to exploit it. That is what the Chargers did, knowing the Steelers were susceptible to running backs. So Los Angeles got Ekeler going early and often not only on the ground but also as a pass-catcher. He carried the ball 11 times for 50 yards and caught six of his seven targets for 65 yards to go along with four total touchdowns.

Studs

WR Keenan Allen & Mike Williams

Pittsburgh was without cornerback Joe Haden and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, and the pass-catching duo of Allen and Williams took advantage of the thin Steelers secondary. The two got plenty of open looks and turned it into a combined 19 targets for over 200 receiving yards. While Allen had more receptions (9) and yards (112), Williams was the unlikely hero with the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes.

Rashawn Slater, Matt Feiler & Corey Linsley

Running left means running right. The combination of Slater, Feiler and Linsley has proven to pay dividends this season, but they were incredibly dominant on Sunday, paving the way for Ekeler’s big performance. Even with the imposing presence of defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, Feiler and Linsley ensured he was a non-factor in the run game. Despite allowing one sack, Slater continued to play at a Pro Bowl level. He has allowed just 15 pressures in 10 games.

Defensive tackles

Even without Linval Joseph, Christian Covington, and Jerry Tillery, the interior part of the defensive line played arguably its best game. Showing grit and energy on each rep, Justin Jones, Breiden Fehoko, Forrest Merrill, and Joe Gaziano limited the Steelers’ rushing attack to just 3.1 yards per carry.

EDGE Joey Bosa

The Chargers’ pass rush steadily got to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throughout the course of the game, but it was Bosa who lived in the backfield the most. Bosa ended up with seven quarterback pressures, four hurries, three run stops, two hits and his lone sack that came on the final drive in which he was lined up along the interior.

Duds

CB Michael Davis & Tevaughn Campbell

After returning to the action from an injury the week before, Davis showed some rust on the field. He allowed seven receptions on 10 targets for 97 yards. But it wasn’t any better for Campbell, who entered the game in place of Asante Samuel Jr. after he left the game due to a concussion. He gave up four catches on five targets for 80 yards. This is the second straight week that the pass defense struggled, and it does not help that Samuel will have to miss some time.

Special teams coverage units

Here we are yet again. This group still has plenty of work to do. The Chargers allowed an average of 31.5 yards per kick return, and their lone punt was blocked, which led to the momentum switch in the fourth quarter. It was Drue Tranquill and Matt Overton who let Miles Killebrew through.

TE Jared Cook

Cook had opportunities to make himself a presence in the passing game like any other week, but blew them with dropped passes. He dropped two, and is now tied for the league lead in drops among tight ends with 5 and is second in drop percentage at 13.9%. It has not been the best year for the veteran.

Chargers WR Mike Williams comes through in clutch in win over Steelers

Chargers WR Mike Williams made his presence known in the victory over the Steelers.

For the past four games, Chargers receiver Mike Williams was nowhere to be found.

His presence and production on the field were undoubtedly missed after collecting 31 catches for 471 yards and scoring six touchdowns through the season’s first five games.

Williams hadn’t scored a touchdown since Week 5. However, when the Bolts needed him most, he delivered with a 53-yard catch-and-run touchdown that won Los Angeles the game over the Steelers.

Williams finished the contest with five receptions on six targets.

“That was huge for this team,” Williams said. “Just to be in a hard-fought game like that coming down to the end and to get a [win,] I feel like that’s big for this team. It took the whole team on both sides, and we got it done.”

Quarterback Justin Herbert recalled postgame that he told Williams in the huddle to be ready on a play call that he believed would work well for his receiver.

It was then that Herbert identified the corner blitz, which led to a wide-open Williams.

This wouldn’t be the first time that Herbert relied on the big-bodied receiver in a crucial moment, though.

Herbert has connected with Williams for five separate go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter, which is already the most by any QB-WR duo in a single season in NFL history, per ESPN’s Field Yates.

Chargers DT Linval Joseph placed on reserve/COVID-19 list

The Chargers will be without the veteran nose tackle for the second consecutive week.

Chargers defensive tackle Linval Joseph was placed on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday after testing positive, according to head coach Brandon Staley.

Joseph missed Sunday’s victory over the Steelers with a shoulder injury, and now the team will be without him next weekend when they face the Broncos.

Because of the positive test and since he is unvaccinated, Joseph will be forced to stay away from the team for a minimum of 10 days.

Furthermore, Joseph was working out on the field prior to the game without a mask on. He was within six feet of several players and staff members, and he fist-bumped owner Dean Spanos on his way to the locker room, according to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.

Therefore, the status of those he was around will be closely monitored.

Joseph’s absence is a blow to the interior part of the defensive line, but Joe Gaziano, Breiden Fehoko, and Forrest Merrill showed capable of a formidable front on Sunday, holding Pittsburgh’s rushing attack to 3.1 yards per carry.

Jerry Tillery and Christian Covington, who missed Week 11 due to COVID-19, will be eligible to return.

5 numbers that tell story of Chargers’ victory over Steelers

Here are five numbers that sum up what took place at SoFi Stadium on Sunday night.

The Chargers hosted the Steelers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday night, and it was a thrilling battle that came down to the wire.

Nevertheless, Los Angeles avoided a collapse and beat Pittsburgh, 41-37.

Here are five numbers that tell the story of the Bolts’ win over the Steelers.

14 

The Chargers had a 27-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter, then all hell broke loose, and the teams scored a combined 31 points in the quarter. The final minutes included an interception, a blocked punt, and a failed fourth-and-one attempt, all of which almost caused Los Angeles to blow a 14 point lead. However, it wasn’t until wide receiver Mike Williams scored a 53-yard touchdown to seal the deal. Fans had been wondering where Williams had been since the game against the Ravens in Week 6. Now, five weeks later, he was an unlikely hero for the Bolts.

5

The Chargers now have five fourth-quarter comebacks this season. In the franchise’s history, it’s never been the norm for them to get in the win column following a close game. But this season, it’s different. Although the Bolts didn’t necessarily need to be in that situation, the team still overcame the obstacles to come out on top.

90

For a running back in the NFL to pick up 90 yards on the ground is a solid performance any day. However, it wasn’t running back Austin Ekeler who was the team’s leading rusher. Against the Steelers, none other than quarterback Justin Herbert led the team in rushing yards and earned himself another career-high. Herbert’s performance included a 36-yard scamper in the fourth quarter, leading to a 14-point lead. Nevertheless, Herbert should be someone all NFL teams should fear in primetime.

3.1

The Chargers’ defense allowed the Steelers to score 37 points Sunday night, but the scoreboard doesn’t give credit where credit is most definitely due. With Linval Joseph dealing with a shoulder injury and Jerry Tillery and Christian Covington out due to COVID-19, three undrafted defensive linemen were tasked with the Steelers’ rushing attack. Joe Gaziano, Breiden Fehoko, and Forrest Merrill needed to step up in the absence of their teammates, and they all rose to the occasion. As a result, Pittsburgh collected just 55 rushing yards on 18 carries, with an average of 3.1 yards per carry.

4

For a couple of weeks, Ekeler’s production was decent but people wanted more. Ekeler delivered in a big way, scoring four touchdowns, two rushing and two receiving. He finished the night with a total of 115 yards (50 rushing and 65 receiving). It was his most complete performance of the season.

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 11 win over Steelers

Spotlighting Pro Football Focus’ studs and duds from the Chargers’ win over the Steelers.

In Week 11, the Chargers squeaked out a win over the Steelers, 41-37.

En route to victory, there were a handful of players who helped guide the team along the way.

With that being said, here are the best and worst performers from Sunday’s contest, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Note: To be more accurate, this is based on players who played at least 40% of the snaps on offense (76) or defense (69).

Top 5 Offense

QB Justin Herbert — 81.8

WR Keenan Allen — 78.4

OT Rashawn Slater — 72.8

G Matt Feiler — 71.4

RB Austin Ekeler — 69.6

Top 5 Defense

EDGE Joey Bosa — 83.0

TE Drue Tranquill — 75.5

DT Joe Gaziano — 74.5

S Nasir Adderley — 69.9

EDGE Uchenna Nwosu — 68.0

Bottom 5 Offense

C Corey Linsley — 57.8

WR Jalen Guyton — 55.3

OT Storm Norton — 53.6

G Michael Schofield — 51.5

TE Jared Cook — 44.3

Bottom 5 Defense

LB Kyzir White — 65.6

S Derwin James — 65.3

DT Justin Jones — 60.6

EDGE Kyler Fackrell — 57.9

CB Michael Davis — 56.6

Twitter reacts to Chargers’ wild 41-37 win over Steelers

What the general population thought of the Chargers’ Week 11 win over the Steelers.

In a wild game that consisted of the Chargers almost blowing a 14 point lead, Los Angeles now sits at 6-4 after beating the Steelers by the score of 41-37. 

Following the close game on Sunday Night Football, here’s a look at how the general population reacted on social media: 

Hat trick! Chargers RB Austin Ekeler scores third TD vs. Steelers

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler found the end zone for the third time against the Steelers.

Quarterback Justin Herbert and running back Austin Ekeler connected for an 18-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.

This marked Ekeler’s third scoring play of the night.

Check out Ekeler’s touchdown here:

The Chargers extended their lead over the Steelers after kicker Dustin Hopkins’ 41-yard field goal.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler scores second TD vs. Steelers

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler found the end zone for the second time against the Steelers.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and running back Austin Ekeler connected for a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Herbert has 11 of 12 completions for 113 yards, as well as 4 rushes for 44 yards up to this point.

Check out Ekeler’s second touchdown here:

Chargers extended their lead, 14-3. However, the Steelers countered with a receiving touchdown to cut the deficit, 14-10.