Arrowhead Pride
The Pittsburgh Steelers win the toss and immediately go three-and-out to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Following the punt, quarterback Justin Herbert comes out firing, connecting multiple times with Quentin Johnston to move across midfield and into Steelers territory. Pittsburgh’s run defense holds firm against running back Kimani Vidal, stopping him for a loss on both carries. However, the Steelers can’t contain the Chargers’ passing attack.
Tight end Will Dissly picks up a first down on a play that begins with him blocking. Later in the drive, he slips out to haul in a touchdown on a deep out route, giving the Chargers the early lead.
On the Steelers’ next drive, their struggles continue. The first play goes for negative yardage as Aaron Rodgers is sacked — and once again, the Chargers’ defense keeps the pressure on. Pittsburgh comes up a yard short on third-and-12 and is forced to punt for the second time in the quarter — still searching for its first first down of the game.
End of first quarter: Chargers 7, Steelers 0
Herbert gets the Chargers to midfield. On third-and-10, he launches a deep shot to Keenan Allen — but with two Steelers defenders on him, the ball slips through his hands and falls incomplete. The Chargers are forced to punt.
Aaron Rodgers finally gets the Steelers’ offense moving, completing a 27-yard slant to Calvin Austin Jr. for the team’s first first down of the game, advancing to the 44-yard line.
DK Metcalf then drops a crucial pass that would’ve extended the drive, forcing Pittsburgh to punt for the third time.
On the ensuing possession, the Chargers move the ball with ease until Herbert’s pass over the middle to Allen is picked off by linebacker Patrick Queen — a huge turnover the Steelers desperately need.
Rodgers quickly capitalizes, finding Austin again on a curl route, and the speedy receiver turns it upfield for 32 yards to get inside the Chargers’ 15-yard line.
As the Steelers knock on the door late in the half, Rodgers goes down with an injury on a Chargers blitz, forcing an injury timeout with under two minutes remaining.
Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph enters the game. On his very first play, he takes a shot to the end zone — but cornerback Cam Hart picks him off.
The Chargers want to respond before halftime, but T.J. Watt makes another game-changing play, leaping to intercept a dump-off pass from Herbert to Vidal. Herbert manages to chase Watt down, tackling him just four yards shy of the end zone.
Rodgers returns after missing only one play, and the Steelers’ offense goes back to work. The Chargers’ defense holds firm through three downs, but on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Rodgers finds Metcalf on a simple drag route for the touchdown.
End of second quarter: Chargers 7, Steelers 7
As if this game couldn’t get any stranger, the Chargers’ fullback — apparently an afterthought to the Steelers’...
