Steelers vs. Chargers: 5 questions with the enemy ahead of Week 10

The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) and the Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) clash this week on Sunday Night Football. Ahead of the big matchup between top AFC squads, I chatted with Michael Peterson, the producer of SB Nation’s Chargers website Bolts from the Blue, the figure out what the Steelers can expect from LA in Week 1o.

You can read my questions and his answers below:

1. The big news for the Chargers this week, of course, is tackle Joe Alt being out for the season. How big of a blow is this for the LA offense?

The loss of Joe Alt for the season cannot be understated. He’s the biggest reason they were able to start the season 3-0 with all wins coming in the AFC West and the sole protector of quarterback Justin Herbert. When he’s not on the field, Herbert is the most abused and beat up quarterback in the NFL. As of Week 10, he’s been the most pressured quarterback this season and he’s on pace to be hit more than Andrew Luck was during his first six seasons (and that was a whole lot of hits). Without him, you’re looking at a bunch of underwhelming backups left to keep him on his feet.

Without Alt, the offensive line does not have a dominant side. They cannot protect Herbert at a consistent clip against opposing stunts and twists. It’s really, really tough to watch. Every chance of the Chargers being a contender this year have been dashed before the halfway point of the season ever got here.

2. Justin Herbert has a reputation around the NFL as being a quarterback who’s managed to play well without a great supporting cast for much of his career. Has LA done a better job helping him out this season?

The cast around Herbert was the best it has ever been entering training camp… until things came crashing down fairly quickly.

After never missing a game in his four-year NFL career up to that point, Najee Harris was a victim of a fireworks accident that took a lot of time from him through the month of August. Then, just three games into the season, he tore his Achilles in a non-contact injury.

Star left tackle Rashawn Slater tore his patellar tendon just days after signing the largest contract for an offensive lineman in NFL history. Both those preceded the pair of ankle injuries to Alt that shut him down for the year, as well.

To a lesser degree, Mekhi Becton — whom the Chargers signed as their lone improvement to the interior of the line — has been in and out of the lineup with a myriad of injuries.

It’s been a real cluster for the Chargers offense this year and things aren’t going to get much better until Omarion Hampton returns from IR, but that’s not until after the team’s Week 12 bye.

Until then, Herbert still has his receiver room and budding star tight end Oronde Gadsden II...