By Mike DeFabo, Daniel Popper, Alex Valdes
They won’t include this game in Aaron Rodgers’ Hall of Fame highlight reel one day, thanks to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chargers limited Rodgers to one of the worst games of his career and quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 220 yards and a touchdown as the Chargers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 25-10 Sunday night to remain one game out of first place in the AFC West. L.A. receiver Ladd McConkey caught four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Rodgers was sacked for a safety, intercepted twice (one wasn’t his fault), completed only 16 of 31 passes and finished with a 50.6 rating, although it was at 19.5 before a garbage-time scoring drive. The Steelers (5-4) still lead the AFC North but now are only one game ahead of the resurgent Baltimore Ravens.
Chargers’ defense is back
The Chargers’ defense sputtered through a poor four-game stretch earlier this season. The unit was struggling to stop the run. The Chargers lacked physicality up front. They had miscommunications and breakdowns on the back end. It was a far cry from what Jesse Minter’s defense was in 2024. After holding the Steelers to 10 points Sunday night, this much is evident: The Chargers’ defense is back. The defense has been responsible for giving up just 26 points in the past three games against the Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh — all wins.
The Chargers held the Steelers to under 160 yards of total offense before garbage time. The Steelers went 0-for-9 on third down before garbage time. The Chargers dominated the line of scrimmage, run and pass. They held the Steelers to 73 rushing yards. They sacked Rodgers three times and created many more impactful pressures. Rodgers’ lack of mobility was on display as the Chargers were regularly in the backfield. The unit is clicking after an uneven first seven weeks of the season. — Daniel Popper, Chargers beat writer
Poor protection for Herbert
The Chargers needed this defensive performance because the offense struggled to handle the Pittsburgh defensive front. Herbert was hit nine times, including five sacks. The Chargers had to battle for every inch on that side of the ball. In the end, it was enough for a win. McConkey’s red zone touchdown in the second quarter built the Chargers a more comfortable lead. His 58-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter set up the Chargers’ only other touchdown.
The most important thing Herbert did was protect the ball. The Chargers did not turn the ball over. The Steelers’ defense forced five turnovers in their win over the Indianapolis Colts last week. It was not a banner night for the Chargers offensively. But they did not commit the catastrophic mistake. The defense did the rest. — Popper
Rodgers, Steelers’ offense out of sync
In front of a prime-time audience, Rodgers played his worst game as a Steeler. His two costliest mistakes led directly to points. Late in the first quarter, the 41-year-old QB retreated into the end zone and was sacked by Khalil Mack for a safety. Then in the second quarter, Rodgers’ pass intended for DK Metcalf sailed high and was easily intercepted by safety RJ Mickens. The turnover gave the Chargers excellent field position at their own 38-yard line and led to the only touchdown of the first half.
Through 30 minutes, the Steelers possessed the ball seven times. They went three-and-out four times and kicked a field goal on a drive without a first down. The other two drives ended with an interception (on the second play of the drive) and a missed field goal. The Steelers were also 0-for-6 on third downs in the first half and accumulated only 85 yards of offense. Their best first-half drive — nine plays, 52 yards — ended with a rare missed field goal by Chris Boswell.
It didn’t get any better.
Late in the third quarter, Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker’s 55-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright. With excellent field position and a chance to climb back into the game, the Steelers drove to the 10-yard line thanks to a heavy dose of running back Jaylen Warren. However, the chance came and went without any points after Rodgers’ third-down pass sailed high. On fourth down, Rodgers targeted Metcalf on a fade that fell incomplete.
On the Steelers’ next offensive series, things went from bad to worse when Rodgers’ pass hit Calvin Austin III in the hands and was intercepted. — Mike DeFabo, Steelers beat writer
Dam breaks for Steelers’ defense
The Steelers’ Jekyll and Hyde defense largely did its part through three quarters. It hurried Herbert and limited the Chargers to 12 points through two quarters and 15 points through three quarters. In most games, that would have been enough to keep the Steelers competitive. However, the offense provided no support, and the dam began to break in the fourth quarter.
After the Steelers’ failed red zone trip, Herbert led the Chargers on a six-play, 90-yard drive to extend the lead to 22-3 with 9:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.
After Rodgers was intercepted on a ball that hit receiver Austin in the hands, the defense stood tall on a short field to force a punt. However, punt returner Ke’Shawn Williams muffed it, giving the Chargers the ball at the 21-yard line. The defense held the Chargers to a field goal, but at that point, they were mostly playing for pride. — DeFabo
