We knew ball control would play a large role in this game against the NFL’s worst rush defense. Both teams combined for only six drives in the first half, and neither team punted.
The Steeler’s broke the seal with a field goal on their opening drive, then LA responded with a pair of 12-play, six-and-a-half minute TD drives.
The only first half drive that didn’t end in points was the Steelers turnover-on-downs, where they ran that shovel pass play to TE Pat Freiermuth from the Chargers’ 2. It was snuffed out immediately by Pro Bowl SS Derwin James and the Steelers came away from the Red Zone empty.
Fortunately they had better luck the next trip. All five of Ben’s targets on their next drive went to WR Diontae Johnson. DJ caught four of those balls for 48 yards, including this beauty of a TD grab:
LA added a FG before intermission and another TD coming out of the break to take a 24-10 lead. When the Steelers failed to move the ball on their first possession and had to punt, it looked like the writing was on the wall.
Then something happened. After an exchange of field goals the Steelers finally got a defensive stop. The Chargers’ attempted their only punt of the night when S Miles Killebrew came right up the middle and got the block. He chased the loose ball all the way out of bounds down at LA’s 3 yard line. With Zach Banner on the field for the first time this year and FB Derek Watt leading the way, RB Najee Harris went up and over the pack for a TD:
Another exchange of TD’s and a blowout was becoming a slugfest. On the second play of the Chargers’ next drive Herbert threw a pass into DT Cam Heyward’s helmet that bounced about 50 feet up into the air. CB Cam Sutton made a diving INT, setting the Steelers up in the Red Zone again. Two plays later:
It felt like the Steelers were going to steal a game they had no business being involved in, especially after they recorded a stuff on a 4th and 1 run from their own 34. They failed to move the ball but did kick a field goal to reclaim the lead 37-34.
Unfortunately that was short-lived. Three plays later a busted coverage led to a 53-yard TD that put the Chargers up 41-37. Ben had just over 2:00 to work with; it seemed like LA may have scored too soon. Let’s take a look at that final sequence:
1d10: SACK., -8 yards.
2d18: SACK, -11 yards.
3d29: Incomplete deep right to Diontae Johnson.
4d29: FLAG: false start, #53 (Kendrick Green); 4d32: incomplete short left to James Washington.
FINAL SCORE: 41-37
CamBlackburnWrites 