Can the Steelers’ pass rush abuse the Chargers’ battered offensive line?
The Steelers’ pass rush sparked back to life last week, and now they play a Chargers team without their starting tackles. On paper, that sounds like a recipe for disaster for Los Angeles, but we’ve seen this show before. Just a week earlier, they went a whole game without managing a single sack.
The key issue for the Steelers’ pass rush had been teams getting the ball out quickly, and the Chargers generally are not a quick-pass team. According to Pro Football Focus, Justin Herbert ranks 21st out of 30 qualifying quarterbacks in average time to throw. The two quarterbacks they faced previously, for comparison, rank 3rd and 12th. In case you were wondering, Aaron Rodgers has the second-fastest time to throw this year.
The Chargers have allowed 28 sacks this year on Herbert, and the Steelers have recorded 27 sacks. In theory, that would seem like an ideal match for Pittsburgh to maintain its pace. Herbert is taking sacks at a career-worst rate, nearly eight percent. He also has his highest interception rate ever.
On paper, it sets up well for Pittsburgh. The Steelers will aim to force the Chargers into mistakes, generating either sacks or turnovers—ideally both. That’s what they did last Sunday against the Colts, inducing Daniel Jones into three interceptions and two strip sacks. Herbert only has two fumbles this year, but the Colts weren’t a turnover team before running into this defense.
And the Chargers are without Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, their two stud first-round tackles, so the Steelers have the tackle set. However, Los Angeles has still managed to find ways to win. With some quick passing and max protection, they could neutralize the pass rush like the Bengals and Packers did.
In theory, they may have taken some steps to address that. In the last game, the Steelers changed up some of their coverage, which could help make it harder for the Chargers to read the defense quickly and put the ball in the air.
After another disappointing season and months of retooling, the Steelers are set to try it all again in 2025. Though they limped into the playoffs, they once again embarrassed themselves therein.
Just like last year, the biggest question hanging over the Steelers isthe quarterback question. They settled in on Aaron Rodgers, but we still have a lot to learn about him. The2025 NFL Draft class could play a big role, but veteran additions like Jalen Ramsey will be paramount.
Now we are in the regular season. From Rodgers to George Pickens to Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ramsey, we’ve seen the Steelers make some big changes. Now it’s about evaluating the roster in place and figuring out how it all works out.
Recommended for you