Fresh off of a huge Week 9 win against the Indianapolis Colts, the Pittsburgh Steelers have no time to enjoy the win as they have to turn right around and make a difficult road trip to the West Coast to take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football.
Making that trek out to the West Coast hasn’t always been good to the Steelers, especially for primetime games. The last time the Steelers were in Los Angeles for a primetime game, they lost to the Chargers in a shootout, 41-37, in 2021. However, the last time the Steelers were in Los Angeles was a 2023 game against the Rams, a game the Steelers won. They’ve also gone to Las Vegas twice in 2023 and 2024 and picked up key wins, too.
So, there’s some history there. But this might be a tough test, even with the injuries the Chargers are dealing with.
Following what we did last year here at Steelers Depot, myself, Joe Clark, Ross McCorkle, Scott Brown, Troy Montgomery, Jake Brockhoff and Dr. Melanie Friedlander will answer four key questions weekly, previewing the games.
Let’s talk about the Steelers’ Week 10 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Chargers.
QUESTION 1: WHO IS THE STEELERS’ X FACTOR AGAINST THE CHARGERS?
Josh Carney: NT Keeanu Benton. The Chargers are down both starting tackles, and it’s a good bet that they’ll give the replacements plenty of help against T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Cameron Heyward. That should lead Benton in a number of 1-on-1 matchups. He has to win, and win consistently. Not just rushing the passer, but remaining sound as a run defender, too. He was good against the Colts last week. It’s about consistency now.
Joe Clark: OLB T.J. Watt. Watt showed why he’s one of the NFL’s best pass-rushers in Week 9. He has the opportunity to have a big game against a Chargers team that’s decimated along the offensive line. He’s likely going to match up against Trey Pipkins, and Watt should have at least one sack. If he can be a game-wrecker, the Steelers will be just fine.
Ross McCorkle: WR Calvin Austin III. Austin is going to find himself a lot of matchups against former Steelers CB Donte Jackson. They should know each other well from practice last year, and I think Austin has a clear upper hand. If they double up DK Metcalf and leave Jackson on an island against Austin, that’s an opportunity for the Steelers to create splash plays.
Scott Brown: WR DK Metcalf. After Metcalf’s quietest game as a Steeler, Arthur Smith and Aaron Rodgers need to get him involved early and often in Los Angeles. Donte Jackson and Cam Hart are the Chargers’ expected starting cornerbacks Sunday night. Meh. Force the Chargers to give them help covering Metcalf with do-everything safety Derwin James. That would limit the four-time Pro Bowler from making an impact as a blitzer and in other areas.
Troy Montgomery: RB Jaylen Warren. Warren didn’t have his best game last week. Although he scored two touchdowns, he only had 31 yards on 16 carries. He’ll need to be better this week. The Chargers’ defense is good, but it’s susceptible to the run. Warren has been great at times this year, and if the Steelers want to win, they’ll need him to be that version of himself again.
Jake Brockhoff: CB Brandin Echols. Last week, Jalen Ramsey only spent time at safety, and Brandin Echols got a lot of reps at nickel as a result. That, plus a simplified scheme worked in the Steelers’ favor. There’s a solid chance we see something similar on Sunday, but either way, Echols will have to see players like Keenan Allen and DK Metcalf throughout the game. The pass rush can get home, but only if Echols and the rest of the secondary bottle things up on the back end.
Dr. Melanie Friedlander: Steelers TE Darnell Washington. After missing practice with a foot injury, Washington was a full participant at practice on Friday and has no game injury status. In both the run and passing game, Washington will be a key blocker, especially with OL Spencer Anderson moving to left guard to fill in for the injured Isaac Seumalo. But Washington has proven himself to be so much more than just a blocking tight end. Against a Chargers defense that has been effective against running backs and wide receivers, especially in the red zone, Washington could be a key target for Aaron Rodgers.
QUESTION 2: WHAT IS THE MATCHUP TO WATCH IN STEELERS-CHARGERS?
Josh Carney: Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden Jr. vs. Steelers secondary. This is a matchup that scares the life out of me. Though the Steelers were much better last week against the TE position than they have been all season, Gadsden Jr. is a unicorn. The Chargers have unlocked him, and now he’ll get to go against a Steelers secondary making personnel adjustments. It won’t just be the secondary, either. Linebackers need to step up, too. Looking at you, Payton Wilson.
Joe Clark: EDGE Khalil Mack vs. OT Broderick Jones. Jones has been better in recent weeks, but he has a tough matchup against Mack, who remains one of the league’s best pass-rushers. The Steelers’ offensive line has ascended in recent weeks, but if the Chargers are able to get pressure, this game could be close. Mike Tomlin had a lot of praise for Los Angeles’ EDGE group, and it starts with Mack. Containing him will be key for Pittsburgh, and that’s primarily going to fall on Jones.
Ross McCorkle: CB Darius Slay vs. Chargers WRs. He will see a little bit of all of them. Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Keenan Allen. They all present different challenges, and Slay hasn’t been up to the task in general much this season. If Slay can’t slow anybody down, Justin Herbert can win by 1,000 paper cuts with quick passes underneath.
Scott Brown: CB Brandin Echols vs. WR Keenan Allen. The Chargers have a sneaky good receiving corps, probably second only to the Bengals in the AFC. And 33-year-old Keenan Allen has been sneaky good, rejuvenated now that he is back with the Chargers after a pedestrian season in Chicago. Echols could see plenty work in the slot since Justin Herbert has a ton of trust in Allen. This feels like a matchup the Chargers QB will try to exploit.
Troy Montgomery: OLB Nick Herbig vs. Chargers’ OTs. The Chargers’ offensive line is hurting, specifically at tackle. Both Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are out for the year. None of their options to replace those players are particularly great, either. All of the Steelers’ edge rushers could be in for big games, but Herbig has been a playmaker this year. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith will likely receive the bulk of the Chargers’ attention, which should hopefully allow Herbig to fly under the radar and wreak havoc.
Jake Brockhoff: OLB Tuli Tuipulotu vs. Steelers’ OTs. Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu have each improved steadily as the year has gone on. However, they’ll have a tough test this week. A lot of teams prepare for Khalil Mack, but Tuli Tuipulotu is quietly having a great year, with seven sacks and 10 tackles for a loss through nine games. He’ll rush from both sides, and plays the run especially well. Jones and Fautanu will need to hold their own.
Dr. Melanie Friedlander: Chargers WR Ladd McConkey vs. Steelers CB Brandin Echols. With CB Jalen Ramsey moving to safety again this week, Echols seems set to start at slot corner again. In his second season, McConkey continues to produce at a high level. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year nominee has a 73 percent catch rate and a 57 percent success rate when targeted in the passing game. He averages 14 scrimmage yards per touch and seems to be the clutch player that Justin Herbert finds in big moments. Echols will have his work cut out for him in limiting McConkey’s success.
QUESTION 3: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST KEY TO THE GAME FOR THE STEELERS?
Josh Carney: Turn pressures into sacks. No, the Steelers won’t have five turnovers and five sacks again. But with the Chargers down both starting tackles, the pass rush needs to eat on Sunday night. Start by stopping the run and turning Los Angeles one-dimensional. Then, convert the pressures into sacks and really batter Justin Herbert.
Joe Clark: Capitalize in the red zone. The Steelers have stalled out a few times in the last two weeks, winding up with field goals when they’re in scoring territory. The Chargers have one of the league’s best offenses, and the Steelers will need to take advantage of every possession and put six on the board as much as possible.
Ross McCorkle: Generate pressure on Justin Herbert. The Chargers have allowed the most pressures in the NFL by a wide margin, and that was before they lost Joe Alt and Bobby Hart. The Steelers are top 10 at generating pressures with upside to be even better. No excuses if they can’t make Herbert uncomfortable in the pocket.
Scott Brown: Meeting at the quarterback. It’s unrealistic to expect another five defensive takeaways, but shame on the Steelers if they let Justin Herbert get put-your-feet-on-the-coffee-table comfortable in the pocket. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith should be a serious mismatch for the Chargers’ offensive tackles. They better dominate with the way Herbert has been dealing when he is upright.
Troy Montgomery: Contain Justin Herbert. Herbert has been incredible this year. Not only has he been one of the league’s best passers, but he also has the most rushing yards of any quarterback up to this point. The Chargers’ offensive line is in rough shape. The Steelers can’t let Herbert escape and run around. Get hands on him and make sure to bring him down.
Jake Brockhoff: Win the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The Chargers can score through the air. Justin Herbert is playing at a high level, and they have one of the better receiving cores in the AFC. But they’re also missing two tackles and two running backs. The Steelers have to collapse the pocket and make the Chargers abandon the run, like they did to the Colts last week. And if the Steelers’ offensive line can help establish the run early, that keeps the Chargers’ offense off the field as well.
Dr. Melanie Friedlander: Get pressure on Justin Herbert and don’t let up. Herbert performed well against the Steelers in their last two meetings, even hampered by a high ankle sprain that limited his mobility last year. The.Chargers are playing with a patchwork line up of backup players on the offensive line. There is a long history of fans salivating as the Steelers pass rush faces younger and less experienced players protecting the opposing quarterback. It doesn’t always play out that way. The defensive line has the advantage here, and they need to exploit that all game long.
QUESTION 4: WHAT IS YOUR PREDICTION FOR STEELERS AT CHARGERS?
Josh Carney: We’ve seen this movie before. The Steelers step up and get a big win, and then the next week is a letdown. This time, they have to go to the West Coast and do so in primetime. It should feel like a home game for the Steelers at SoFi Stadium, but I still don’t trust this team quite yet to take care of business again. Chargers 27, Steelers 24
Joe Clark: I don’t have full faith in the Steelers yet. But the Chargers’ offensive line is just so banged up, and I think Pittsburgh’s front seven will be able to eat. That’s going to lead to a win. Steelers 24, Chargers 17
Ross McCorkle: The Steelers are usually bad on the west coast, but there are too many factors stacked against the Chargers with injuries to their OL and RB rooms. Stopping Kimani Vidal behind this OL isn’t a big task, and the pass rush should have a field day. I expect a low scoring game, but still a comfortable win. How about a repeat of last year’s score? Steelers 20, Chargers 10.
Scott Brown: Want to believe that last Sunday marked a turning point. Still not quite there. And beating a good team 3,000 miles from home won’t be easy, even if the Steelers play well. Chargers 23, Steelers 20
Troy Montgomery: I don’t feel great about the Steelers’ secondary against Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ receivers. However, the best way to cover up a suspect secondary is with a great pass rush. The Steelers’ defense should dominate up front in this game. That’s enough for me to think they’ll pull off a win, although I don’t think it will be as clean as last week. Steelers 24, Chargers 23
Jake Brockhoff: This feels like a natural time for a letdown game. But the Chargers are missing some important players. They’re on a three-game winning streak, but they’ve looked beatable in recent weeks. They don’t need to force turnovers, but if they can play complimentary football it’s certainly a winnable game. Steelers 24, Chargers 21.
Dr. Melanie Friedlander: The Steelers don’t travel west all that well and tend to look sluggish when playing in the pacific time zone. But every rule has an exception, and the Steelers know that the Ravens still have life in the race for the AFC North division title. Any loss allows the Ravens to gain ground and a loss to another AFC team would be more costly than the Packers or Seahawks games. I don’t feel extremely confident but I think they find a way to come away with a win. Steelers 27, Chargers 21
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