The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is preparing for an old-school matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers’ run-heavy offense.
Sunday’s battle in the Steel City is a proverbial “unstoppable force versus immovable object” game.
“It’s fun. It’s old-school football,” Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward said, via the team’s official website. “If you’re worried about having your dime package ready this week, you picked the wrong week.
“We’re going to have some big bodies on the on the field. It should be fun to get after it.”
The Chargers have averaged 197.5 rush yards per game in 2024 (second in the NFL — behind only Green Bay, who played without starting quarterback Jordan Love in Week 2) and 5.6 yards per carry (fourth).
Meanwhile, the Steelers have allowed 76.5 rush YPG (tied for fourth-fewest in the NFL). Pittsburgh’s 8.0 points per game given up is the second-fewest, behind only the Chargers. The Steelers and Chargers are the only teams to not allow a rush TD in 2024.
“You relish the opportunity to see who has the better defense on Sunday. They’re probably doing the same thing,” Heyward said. “We’re looking for a good showing.”
With Justin Herbert dealing with an ankle injury, the Chargers’ passing game could be even more limited, leading Jim Harbaugh to lean heavily on J.K. Dobbins and the ground game on Sunday. Dobbins leads the NFL with 266 rush yards and 9.9 yards per carry entering Week 3.
Perhaps the biggest matchup of the game in Pittsburgh will be the Chargers’ bookend offensive tackles, Rashawn Slater and rookie Joe Alt, against star pass rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
After two good weeks to open Alt’s career, which included zero pressures allowed in 11 1-on-1 matchups with Maxx Crosby in Week 1, the No. 5 overall pick will face another stiff test against Sack-Master Watt. The Steelers star has aligned up across from the right tackle on 92.6 percent of snaps this season. Watt’s generated 2.0 sacks, five QB hits, four tackles for loss, and six QB pressures in 2024. In 54 pass-block snaps, Alt has allowed one sack and two pressures.
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