**Steelers 20, Los Angeles Chargers 10** September 22, 2024
Acrisure Stadium
Heading into the game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Coach Mike Tomlin told his team it was going to be a fight with two undefeated teams going head-to-head.
He was right, but it was the Steelers that delivered the knockout punch in a 20-10 win at Acrisure Stadium, improving their record to 3-0 on the young season.
"We talked about it all week," said Tomlin. "We knew we were in for a fight. Styles make fights. They're assembled like we're assembled. We knew it was going to be a great game. They're playing great defense. We're playing great defense. We had to challenge our defense to out-perform theirs. I thought they did.
"We had a commitment to the run game. Obviously, they came in with the league's leading rusher and the No. 1 offense and our offense had to out-rush theirs, and we did, and that's why the game unfolded the way it did.
"I'm just appreciative of the efforts of the guys. It was a fight, though, man. These guys are obviously well-coached and a talented group. It didn't happen instantly. We had to stay in it. But that's life and definitely life in the NFL."
Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins came into the game as the NFL's leading rusher with 266 yards through two games. The defense stopped Dobbins, holding him to 44 yards on 15 carries, while overall the run game managed only 61 yards.
"We'd better respond that way," said Tomlin. "There's a nakedness in this business at this level. There's nowhere to hide.
"When you've got a challenge like that walking in your venue, you'd better fight. With the No. 1 rusher and rushing team coming into our building, let's be real clear, they've got to fight. They don't have a choice."
On the flip side, Najee Harris carried the ball 18 times for 70 yards, while the Steelers put up 114 yards on the ground.
"I just liked our general demeanor throughout," said Tomlin. "It wasn't fluid the whole way. But I didn't feel any blink or anybody running away from the challenge. I just felt guys leaning in on the challenge.
"Obviously, we're going to have to reproduce that as we move forward.
"It's good to be 3-0 as we sit here."
Much of the ground game for the Steelers came late in the game, nothing that came as a surprise to Tomlin.
"As I mentioned, styles make fights, and that's how these two teams and defenses are built," said Tomlin. "We didn't expect it to be easy sledding at any juncture, but we wanted to continue to pound the rock and hopefully break through, and it felt like we did there in the latter portions of the game."
Quarterback Justin Fields had a strong outing, completing 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown in the win. Fields connected with Calvin Austin III for a 55-yard touchdown after Austin turned on the afterburners for yards after catch.
Linebacker T.J. Watt was singing the praises of one of his fellow linebackers after the game, as Nick Herbig stepped up big with linebacker Alex Highsmith leaving the game with a groin injury. Herbig had two sacks for a loss of 15 yards, including a strip sack.
"I'm not surprised by the performance," said Watt. "He went out there and played with a lot of swag and confidence.
"That kid has supreme confidence in himself. You can't tell him anything. I respect the heck out of it. He's going to do everything that he possibly can to perform. He's going to ask every question. He's going to turn over every stone and just bust his tail.
"I respect the heck out of Nick, and I'm glad that he had the day that he did."
The defense as a whole was huge, shutting down the Chargers run game and not allowing them to find success in the air as well.
It was also a battle of two top defenses, something that was talked about leading into the week, with the Steelers defense wanting to be the best on the field on Sunday.
"We have a confident group," said Watt. "Obviously, we knew they were a top defense. We don't do a lot of talking, we just like to go out on the field and play and have fun, and I feel like we did that.
"It was two trains on the track, two top defenses coming in. We knew they love to run the ball. We love stopping the run."