Winners and losers from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 10 Sunday night 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
WINNERS
CB James Pierre
Called off the bench yet again, Pierre played his best game in what’s been a solid season. Pierre had a breakup over the middle, a wrestling-style tackle, and played well across the board. Pierre’s been a hot-and-cold player throughout his career but has been excellent in 2025. He’s outshined Darius Slay.
It’s worth at least wondering if Pierre will earn a regular role of snaps even once Slay is cleared from his concussion.
NT Keeanu Benton
Benton’s strong play continues. He picked up another sack to give him 4.5 on the season, doubling the two he had over his first two NFL years combined. Benton flowed down against the run and generated early pressure on QB Justin Herbert, who was under siege throughout the game. The Steelers’ run defense sprung leaks after the first quarter but it’s hard to tell how responsible Benton was for that.
Benton finished the game with six tackles (two for a loss), two QB hits, and a sack.
Overall, his play has ascended.
EDGEs Alex Highsmith/T.J. Watt/Nick Herbig
Lumping the three top EDGE rushers together. All made an impact. Highsmith had a pair of sacks and has turned it on the last two games. Herbig had a first-half sack on Herbert and a second-half tackle for loss while Watt generated pressure and batted a pass. The trio took advantage of the Chargers’ beat-up offensive tackles and generated the pressure expected in a matchup like this.
RB Jaylen Warren
Warren ran hard and was the main – or sole – source of offense for much of the game. He showed his hops with a great hurdle to bust off a good run and consistently got beyond what was blocked. He had about the most hard-earned 2-yard run you’ll see.
He averaged 5 yards on 14 carries and caught two passes for 21 yards.
If anything, Warren should’ve seen the ball and field more. Some curious decisions to take him off the field, including for three-straight plays in the second half despite a timeout that gave him extra seconds to catch his breath.
LOSERS
QB Aaron Rodgers
Worst game of the season. Probably his worst game in awhile. Rodgers has been very good this year but was anything but that on Sunday night. He struggled to see the field and was late and hesitant in the face of DC Jesse Minter’s match-coverage scheme.
He missed several throws, including too high on TE Jonnu Smith for what could’ve been a touchdown had the pass been on target. Early in the fourth quarter, Rodgers missed an open RB Kenneth Gainwell on third down and then forced a poor back-shoulder fade to WR DK Metcalf on fourth down. The Steelers turned the ball over on downs.
Rodgers threw high on an interception late in the first half, allowing the Chargers to find the end zone and lead 12-3 at the break. He continues to be skittish in the pocket when forced to hold the ball for even an ordinary amount of time and took several sacks.
He threw a garbage-time touchdown pass to Roman Wilson to plump his numbers. But make no mistake, he was tonight’s biggest loser.
Third-Down Offense
Which, of course, is an extension of Rodgers. Pittsburgh’s offense was a complete mess and failed to do anything to string drives along. The Steelers finished 0-of-9 and finished 1-of-10 on third down. Penalties were an early problem, including a false start by LG Andrus Peat on the first snap of the game. But the Steelers squandered plenty of manageable chances, too.
It led to the offense failing to capitalize on great field position. Pittsburgh came away with three combined points on its first two drives despite starting at its own 40 and then the Chargers’ 45. Again, the Steelers were out-snapped and out-possessed, only winning the TOP battle once all season. They have not run more plays than the opposition in any game this season.
CB Brandin Echols
It’s hard to fault the defense for Sunday night’s outcome. This one is on the offense. Still, Echols struggled in coverage against WR Ladd McConkey. A tough matchup but Echols provided little resistance. He gave up a late-half touchdown, shaken out of his shoes by McConkey at the top of the route.
To seal the game, Echols allowed a 58-yard catch and run to McConkey over the middle. Jalen Ramsey saved the touchdown, but the Chargers scored a few plays later. Echols had good positioning but couldn’t finish at the catch point. Pittsburgh’s starting nickel with Ramsey again at safety, Echols was exposed in man coverage against one of the NFL’s better route runners.
WR Calvin Austin III
Despite its best efforts, Pittsburgh didn’t land a receiver at the trade deadline. Some of that may have been a belief in what the Steelers currently had. Austin didn’t follow-through on that Sunday night. Though the game was effectively decided, Austin dropped an easy pass over the middle that landed into former Steelers CB Donte Jackson’s hands.
Austin finished with just two catches on seven targets.
Roman Wilson ended the game with a touchdown, and he might get more looks moving forward.
WR/RET Ke’Shawn Williams
On paper, Pittsburgh had a chance to make noise against a weak Los Angeles Chargers punt-coverage team. Instead, it was the Chargers who made the splash. Williams muffed a fourth-quarter punt, reaching out in front instead of getting under the football. He’s played fast and loose with his return posture and finally paid the price.
The turnover didn’t decide the game, but it won’t endear him to coaches after a loss in which Pittsburgh could not hold onto the ball on offense, defense, or special teams.
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