CHARGERS (6-3) vs. STEELERS (5-3)
When: 5:20 p.m. Sunday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: KNBC (Ch. 4); 640 AM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Chargers by 2.5
Notable injury designations
Chargers: OUT: T Bobby Hart (knee/ankle); DOUBTFUL: CB Tarheeb Still (knee). QUESTIONABLE: DL Da’Shawn Hand (groin), LS Josh Harris (chest), WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring), DB Deane Leonard (knee), CB Benjamin St-Juste (groin).
Steelers: OUT: LB Cole Holcomb (illness), WR Scott Miller (finger), S Jabrill Peppers (quadriceps), G Isaac Seumalo (pectoral); QUESTIONABLE: QB Will Howard (right hand), CB Corey Trice Jr. (hamstring/knee).
What’s at stake: The Chargers defeated two lackluster opponents in the Tennessee Titans (1-7 going into Week 9) and the Minnesota Vikings (3-4 going into Week 8) the past two weeks with a mix of a stingy defense and a productive offense. They must be even better on both sides of the ball if they hope to win a third consecutive game. The Steelers are coming off a 27-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, a team that handled the Chargers with relative ease, 38-24, in Week 7. Most impressively, the Steelers forced six turnovers and ended a two-game losing streak.
Who’s better: The Chargers would be considered the better of the teams if they weren’t without six injured tackles and three injured running backs. But they are trying to patch together an offense that has been surprisingly resilient in the face of their many absent players. Quarterback Justin Herbert is second in the NFL with 2,390 passing yards, trailing only the Colts’ Daniel Jones, who has 2,404 yards. The Chargers’ defense is giving up 21.4 points per game (tied for 11th in the NFL). The Steelers’ offense, quarterbacked by ageless veteran Aaron Rodgers, is averaging 25.3 points (13th best in the league).
Matchup to watch: The big question is whether the Chargers can protect Herbert with top tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt sidelined for the rest of the season while facing a leaky Steelers defense that gives up averages of 278.3 net passing yards and 383.8 total net yards per game. The Steelers have 16 takeaways, second most in the league. Herbert has thrown eight touchdown passes in the past three games, including two against the Titans. He also has been intercepted four times in the past three games, including one that was returned for a touchdown in Sunday’s victory over Tennessee.
Chargers win if: The Chargers’ margin for error narrows in Week 10 after their victories the past two weeks. They must not turn over the ball and they must cut out penalties against a team that’s capable of capitalizing on any and all mistakes. Ask the Colts. Herbert has thrown eight interceptions in nine games, five more than he tossed in 17 regular-season games in 2024. Several happened because of tipped passes that fell into the waiting arms of defenders. Unlucky? Sure, but they still counted.
Fantasy sleeper: Keenan Allen needs one reception to tie Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates for the Chargers’ all-time record with 955 catches. You can expect Herbert to look for Allen early and often in an effort to get the record-tying and record-breaking receptions out of the way. Allen is the Chargers’ leading receiver this season with 50 catches for 520 yards plus four touchdowns.
Prediction: If the Chargers play to their strengths, move the ball consistently and prevent the Steelers from slowing their offense, they might have just enough to win. If they don’t play to their strengths and can’t move the ball consistently and the Steelers stop them in their tracks, then it could make for a very long, frustrating night. Chargers 21, Steelers 20.