The Pittsburgh Steelers lost in ugly 25-10 fashion against the Los Angeles Chargers. This was primarily due to a bad offensive showing.
In this article, I will provide data from Pro Football Focus (PFF) and takeaways.
Offense:
Excellent (90-Plus Grades):
NONE.
Great (80-Plus Grades):
The best grade on offense was C Zach Frazier (81.1 overall grade, 52 snaps). Solid grades from PFF, with a matching 81.1 run block, along with a 77.7 in pass blocking. Each of his blocking grades led the Steelers’ offensive linemen. Several positives in my notes, particularly enjoying a play where he blocked his assignment way downfield. He allowed just one pressure, but it was a QB hit.
Good (70-Plus Grades):
Four players here. TE Pat Freiermuth (76.5, 26) caught each of his three targets for 33 yards. His long of 15 yards was in garbage time with the loss already guaranteed. He had a pair of nine-yard catches, one being a nice contested catch. 75.0 receiving grade. 61.1 run block grade.
TE Darnell Washington (72.4, 25) caught his lone target for 15 yards, an impressive contested catch over the middle in the first quarter. He earned a 73.1 receiving grade. He also had a strong 72.5 pass blocking grade (three snaps), but his 62.7 run block grade seemed low compared to my notes.
Rookie RB Kaleb Johnson (71.5, 4) was higher than anticipated. He had two rushes for only three yards. One was a loss of two, and the other was a five-yarder that, with better vision, could have potentially been a healthier chunk gain. 69.2 run grade. He received no targets in the pass game (59.9 receiving). This was another case where his individual grades were lower than his overall grades, confusingly.
WR Roman Wilson (71.0, 18) caught two of his three targets for 35 yards. He caught the team’s lone touchdown, but it was a too little, too late story (2:57 left down 15 points). That 27-yard score was one of Pittsburgh’s third-down conversions the entire game (2-of-11), which didn’t come soon enough either. Wilson snagged another eight-yarder just before halftime, when the Steelers’ intentions were unclear. 69.6 receiving, 60.3 run block.
Bad (Below 50 Grades):
Four more men landed here. Andrus Peat (46.9, 8) started at LG in the jumbo package with Isaac Seumalo injured. But on the very first play of the game, he was hit with a false start penalty. Not the ideal first impression in his first regular-season action for Pittsburgh. He played minimally after, with a 65.2 run block and 51.3 pass block grade.
TE Jonnu Smith (42.0, 35) caught one of two targets, a four-yard gain in garbage time. The other was charted as a drop. It was ruled an 18-yard catch initially, but the review overturned it. This was a prime example of an opportunity that this offense couldn’t capitalize on. 42.1 receiving. 70.8 pass block was his best (only two snaps), and 55.4 run block (eight snaps).
WR Calvin Austin (37.2, 38) caught just 2-of-7 targets (28.6 percent) for 14 yards. He was tied for the team lead in targets, but was clearly not good enough. Austin recorded two drops. One went off his hands and right into former Steeler Donte Jackson’s hands for a turnover. This untimely miscue occurred in the fourth quarter (8:48), pulling the rug out from under any miracle comeback. 38.9 receiving, 60.0 run block (seven snaps).
The worst grade on offense and overall, expectedly, was QB Aaron Rodgers (35.3, 52). He went 16-of-31 passing for 161 yards and threw the aforementioned garbage time touchdown pass and two interceptions. It was his worst game of 2025, with season-worsts in completion rate (51.6), passing yards, QB rating (50.6), 36.2 passing grade, and tied for most interceptions in a game. Rodgers had no big-time throws and had three turnover-worthy plays. Not good, Bob.
Defense:
Excellent (90-Plus Grades):
The best grade on defense and overall was rookie DL Yahya Black (91.0, 24). He had two total tackles, both stops against the run. This was where Black notched his best individual grade (85.0). He had just one pressure, a hurry, for a 79.0 pass rush grade. His tackling grade was a 69.8. He graded out better than I anticipated, and his excellent overall grade was by far his best of 2025 (second-best was 57.7). Definitely re-watching him on the all-22.
Great (80-Plus Grades):
DL Cameron Heyward (89.4, 54) was impactful as usual. He had six total tackles (two stops), one for a loss (garbage time), and another bat to add to his elite career in that regard. The bat came on a 3rd-and-4 in the third quarter and held LA to a field goal. He led the team with five pressures (all hurries). Heyward’s grades: 83.6 pass rush, 71.8 tackling, 71.3 run defense.
Good (70-Plus Grades):
Seven players land here. EDGE Alex Highsmith (79.3, 53) had a good game. He recorded two total tackles (both stops), four pressures, two sacks, three QB hits, and two tackles for loss. He had a third-quarter offside penalty, though. Both sacks came after the penalty, one on 3rd-and-10. This showed Highsmith can bounce back nicely, which was needed. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough for victory. 79.5 pass rush, 74.2 tackling, 71.4 run defense.
CB James Pierre (78.9, 48) got ample snaps with corners exiting in-game. He has stepped up nicely in these chances this season overall. Namely, he notched two pass breakups in this contest, one just before halftime, and another in the third quarter. He had five total tackles (two stops), but missed two tackles. His 79.1 coverage grade led the team. He had a 67.3 run defense, while his 28.7 tackling grade was a team worst.
DL Keeanu Benton (78.5, 45) came to play. He had seven total tackles (four stops), four pressures, two hurries, a sack, two TFLs, and two QB hits. Benton stood out on the first plays of drives, not wanting the unit to start slow. That includes the first defensive play of the game. One run stop was 3rd-and-1, seemingly forcing a three-and-out, but a fourth-down conversion followed. One sack was also on third down, forcing a punt. 79.1 pass rush, 73.0 tackling, 66.8 run defense.
EDGE Nick Herbig (76.3, 31) had three total tackles (two stops), three pressures, a sack, two hurries, two TFLs, and a QB hit. The sack came on a quick win in the second quarter, and his other tackle for loss was against the run third quarter. 76.6 run defense, 73.9 tackling, 61.5 pass rush.
DB Jalen Ramsey (73.5, 73) was forced to move around the secondary due to in-game injuries. He mostly plays free safety. He was second on the team with eight total tackles (one stop). Ramsey allowed two catches (three targets) for just 11 yards. He had several cleanup tackles that went for much more, particularly in the second half, which makes sense. His 85.5 tackling led the team, and he also received a 69.4 coverage and 67.8 run defense grade.
DL Derrick Harmon (72.7, 40) had four total tackles, all against the run. He didn’t allow a gain longer than three yards. Two were in garbage time, though. His 76.6 run defense was his best grade, as expected. He received a 70.1 tackling grade, but a 52.2 pass rush grade was fueled by a goose egg in the pressure department.
CB Joey Porter Jr. (71.2, 70) exited the game but returned. He had a PBU on a 3rd and 3 stop on the defense’s second drive, which looks great on paper. But this should have been an easy interception, which he dropped. Who knows how that could have turned the tide for Pittsburgh, which feasts or famines on its turnover culture. Porter was otherwise quiet. He received a 76.3 coverage grade, not allowing a catch per PFF. But his run defense was graded at 46.3.
Bad (Below 50 Grades):
Two here. LB Malik Harrison (43.6, 33) had five total tackles, one for a run TFL, but it came in garbage time. He had a hurry on his lone pass rush. Missing a tackle and poor coverage dinged his grades. Harrison had 69.8 run defense, 64.4 pass rush, 46.9 tackling, and 28.2 coverage (worst on the team) grades.
The worst grade on defense was CB Brandin Echols (40.1, 47), who got torched in coverage (37.4) overall. He allowed 8-of-9 receiving for a whopping 125 yards, 91 in YAC, and a touchdown. A positive was a TFL on an early catch, the best of his three total tackles. He missed a tackle, allowing a huge 58-yard catch with YAC in the fourth quarter. Yikes.
Special Teams:
NOTE – Some names don’t appear (fewer snaps, average grade)
Excellent (90-Plus Grades):
NONE.
Great (80-Plus Grades):
NONE.
Good (70-Plus Grades):
Five players. The best grade on special teams was Kenneth Gainwell (77.0, 10), along with Carson Bruener (75.8, 19), Payton Wilson (72.6, 26), Roman Wilson (72.4, 2), and Nick Herbig (72.2, 11). Gainwell had a couple of plus kick return gains, but muffed one. Bruener added an assisted tackle to his nice rookie resume. Roman Wilson played two gunner snaps and had an eight-yard tackle there.
Bad (Below 50 Grades):
Just one. The lowest grade on special teams was Trey Sermon (49.8, 19). A kick return holding penalty was the reason, the only special teams penalty of the game.
Steelers Week Ten/Regular Season Snaps:
Week Ten Snap Leaders/Season Total Snaps Leader:
OFF – Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Broderick Jones, Mason McCormick, Aaron Rodgers
DEF – Kyle Dugger, Patrick Queen, Jalen Ramsey
ST – Payton Wilson
SEA TOT – Patrick Queen
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