In what was anticipated to be a knockdown, drag-out brawl between the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Week 3, it was the Steelers who had been the final crew standing within the matchup of 2-0 groups. Pittsburgh imposed its will within the second half and pulled away for a 20-10 win to maneuver to 3-0 below head coach Mike Tomlin, marking the fourth time in his tenure the Steelers have finished that.
In opposition to the Chargers, issues didn’t begin out all that effectively on both aspect of the soccer because the Chargers moved the ball constantly and actually acquired after the Steelers defensively.
However issues modified within the second half and the Steelers took over, touchdown blow after blow on the Chargers, pulling away late.
Within the win, quarterback Justin Fields was spectacular whereas Najee Harris and Cordarrelle Patterson took over late within the recreation on the bottom. Defensively, the Steelers held the Chargers to zero web yards of offense within the second half, handing over a dominant efficiency when it was wanted most.
The Steelers are bit banged up popping out of this one although as are the Chargers.
The document is the document although. Issues are trying up.
Let’s get to some grades.
QB — B+
On a day during which the Steelers wanted him probably the most as a passer to open issues up for the run recreation, quarterback Justin Fields delivered.
Fields completed 25-of-32 for 245 yards and a landing. He carved up the Chargers beneath, particularly in the midst of the sphere, constantly hitting some huge performs there towards the Chargers’ Cowl-2 look.
The fourth-year veteran related with Calvin Austin III for an enormous 55-yard catch-and-run over the center for a landing, hit Austin for a 25-yard achieve early within the second half and even had some huge strikes to George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth and Scotty Miller.
Fields was poised within the pocket, made some clutch throws and actually appeared as comfy within the offense as he has. He additionally added a 5-yard dashing landing to open the scoring on the day.
Heck of a efficiency from Fields, even with the fluky interception.
RB — B-
It took a bit, however as soon as the Steelers actually began to impose their will, it was as a result of efficiency of Najee Harris.
Harris was a battering ram towards the Chargers. Early on, issues appeared fairly ugly as Harris had nowhere to go. However he continued to hammer away. Ultimately, the dam broke.
Harris completed with 70 yards on 18 carries, sealing the win with a 21-yard run right down to the 1-yard line, permitting the Steelers to kneel on the ball and enhance to 3-0.
The three.9 yards per carry doesn’t look all that nice, however within the second half Harris actually bludgeoned the Chargers.
It wasn’t simply Harris, both.
On the ultimate drive of the sport, Cordarrelle Patterson had 33 yards on 4 carries — which was his closing stat line for the sport. He had runs of 14 and 12 yards to assist salt the sport away. Patterson was solely referred to as upon because of an harm to Jaylen Warren, however kudos to Patterson stepping up in an enormous spot and delivering.
WR — B
On a day during which it felt just like the run recreation was going to be the deciding issue, some little-used gamers like Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller made some spectacular performs for the Steelers.
Miller made an enormous play within the first half, breaking a deal with on a third-down catch and selecting up 20 yards, resulting in the Steelers’ first rating of the sport. Later, he had an 11-yard catch during which he compelled one other missed deal with and drew a facemask penalty within the course of.
As for Austin, he had his breakout recreation. He completed with 95 yards and a landing on 4 catches, together with his game-sealing 55-yard catch and run for a rating, shredding the Chargers’ protection in the midst of the sphere. He simply wanted an actual alternative and acquired one Sunday.
George Pickens had a gentle recreation, too, ending with 57 yards on 5 receptions, together with an extended of 27 yards, on seven targets. His 27-yarder was key late within the first half during which he made a twisting, leaping catch from Fields to place the Steelers in field-goal vary.
TE — C+
The breakout for Pat Freiermuth in Arthur Smith’s offense is coming. Sunday’s efficiency towards the Chargers was an indication of that. Freiermuth completed with 33 yards on 4 catches and had an 18-yard catch and run worn out by an illegal-formation penalty.
He additionally had an enormous drop in the midst of the sphere within the fourth quarter, however general the workload was there from a possibility standpoint. He additionally drew a key penalty on Chargers security Derwin James for pointless roughness on successful, leading to 15 extra yards.
Behind Freiermuth, Connor Heyward was the one different receiver with a goal on the day, ending with one catch for 2 yards, taking an enormous hit from Chargers LB Denzel Perryman within the course of.
Luckily, Darnell Washington was rock strong as a blocker once more and actually helped take over late within the recreation.
OL — C-
Issues had been fairly ugly early. The Steelers’ offensive line had no reply early for the Chargers’ defensive entrance and struggled with some assignments general.
Rookie middle Zach Frazier had a excessive snap that blew up a third-down play. Spencer Anderson had points within the run recreation getting a hat on defenders and stopping penetration. Dan Moore Jr. whiffed on a block on Khalil Mack, resulting in a sack.
However the Steelers’ offensive line bounced again after that. Rookie Mason McCormick got here into the sport for Anderson and rotated with him and performed fairly effectively, offering a spark within the run recreation. Moore settled down and was regular as a run blocker and didn’t have many points in cross safety after that.
Broderick Jones settled in, too, and dealt with himself effectively beginning rather than the injured Troy Fautanu. He did have one dangerous rep when watching stay the place he allowed a stress within the third quarter, however outdoors of that he appeared strong. The All-22 will inform us extra within the days forward.
DL — A-
Going towards a run-heavy offense just like the Chargers, the Steelers’ line of defense had a tall job in entrance of it. Early on, there have been some struggles, however like the remainder of the crew, the line of defense settled in and turned in a dominant efficiency.
The Chargers rushed for simply 61 yards on 20 carries because the Steelers held them to only 3.1 yards per carry.
Cameron Heyward had an amazing recreation as he managed the road of scrimmage all through the day. At one level he tackled operating again J.Okay. Dobbins by means of an offensive lineman, displaying that his power and energy stay elite. Heyward completed with 4 tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss within the win.
The sack moved Heyward previous James Harrison into sole possession of second place in franchise historical past in profession sacks.
Keeanu Benton was superb, too. He was continuously within the backfield, utilized loads of stress and was largely immovable towards the run.
Larry Ogunjobi and Isaiahh Loudermilk mixed to complete with 5 tackles within the win. They had been stout on the line of scrimmage. Heck of a displaying general from the Steelers’ defensive linemen. They had been nice.
LB — A
Very similar to the Steelers’ line of defense, the linebackers had been excellent within the win.
T.J. Watt had a robust day towards Joe Alt, ending with a sack, two quarterback hits and three tackles. He additionally drew a key holding name early within the recreation on Alt to remove an enormous play from the Chargers.
Alex Highsmith acquired off to a quick begin earlier than exiting the sport with a groin harm, giving strategy to Nick Herbig. Instead of Highsmith, Herbig was excellent. He had two key sacks, together with a strip-sack within the third quarter. He completed with three complete tackles, too.
Inside, Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts had been excellent. Queen led the Steelers with eight tackles and set the bodily tone towards the Chargers on the primary play of the sport with an enormous hit on Dobbins. Roberts had 4 tackles and a sack and was across the soccer fairly a bit.
Queen had a dropped interception that saved him from an excellent larger day.
Rookie Payton Wilson had two tackles within the recreation whereas splitting time with Roberts.
Only a very robust efficiency from the Steelers’ linebackers, who flew downhill towards the run, tackled effectively and made performs in huge spots.
DB — A-
Outdoors of a blown protection within the first half on Quentin Johnston’s landing, the Steelers’ secondary was superb.
The Steelers held the Chargers to only 149 passing yards within the win.
DeShon Elliott led the Steelers’ secondary with 5 tackles. He was sound in protection and performed effectively within the field towards the run.
Donte Jackson had 5 tackles as effectively, together with a key deal with within the open discipline, and shook off a shoulder harm to play effectively. Joey Porter Jr. was fairly good on the day, too, with a key downhill deal with towards the run, displaying off some physicality.
He did have the error on Johnston’s landing, firing downhill too shortly on a swing route, letting Johnston run free behind him.
Minkah Fitzpatrick had a gentle recreation, too. He had two tackles and performed effectively coming downhill although he was frolicked to dry on Johnston’s TD by Porter.
Particular Groups — A-
On a day during which I used to be fairly involved with Derius Davis for the Chargers within the return recreation, the Steelers’ particular groups had an excellent day.
Punter Corliss Waitman averaged 52 yards on three punts, downing one punt contained in the 20-yard line. Davis had only one punt return for 5 yards as gunner James Pierre, elevated off the observe squad, supplied a gentle presence for the Steelers in that position.
Kicker Chris Boswell was 2-for-3 on discipline targets, his solely miss coming from 62 yards. He had the gap, simply missed huge proper.
Rodney Williams had an enormous deal with on a kickoff as Davis didn’t catch the kick cleanly after which pinned the Chargers again deep. Good bounce again for the Steelers on particular groups general.