In a battle of the unbeaten teams, one left Acrisure Stadium on Sunday with its quarterback in a walking boot.
“Not every game’s gonna be a fairy tale ending,” Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters after his team suffered a 20-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Quarterback Justin Herbert re-aggravated an ankle injury during the Steelers’ home opener and knew he couldn’t continue the game after being sacked, sportswriter Thuc Nhi Nguyen wrote for the LA Times. Into the game came backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who saw a similar treatment from the Steelers defense.
“It’s hard to move the ball against those guys,” Heinicke told reporters after the game. “You have to be perfect. Can’t hurt yourself.”
TJ Watt ate up Joe Alt and dropped Taylor Heinicke on third down. Yikes. https://t.co/8WeD0rf6PJ
— Thuc Nhi Nguyen (@thucnhi21) September 22, 2024
Going into Sunday’s game, the Steelers’ defense was second best among the 32 teams in the league with fewest points allowed. The Steelers bounced back from a three-point halftime deficit and kept the Chargers out of the end zone during the second half when the Chargers had minus-5 yards and one first down.
The Steelers have their first 3-0 record since 2020.
The Chargers’ defense tackled well throughout the game, but the team wore down despite a strong start, beat reporter Alex Katson wrote for Chargers Wire/USA Today.
“The physical nature of the game may have also been what contributed to LA’s injury issues, as the Steelers continually hit hard and wore the Chargers out in what’s become a hallmark of (head coach) Mike Tomlin’s squads over the years,” Katson said.
Took 9 1/2 minutes to get the 1st 1st down of the game #defense
— Omar Ruiz (@OmarDRuiz) September 22, 2024
A lack of defensive discipline, especially during the second half, in addition to injuries, contributed to the loss, Eva Geitheim wrote for Sports Illustrated. The Chargers were penalized seven times for 69 yards, while the Steelers had three penalties totaling 15 yards.
“On multiple occasions, the Steelers kept drives going because of penalties on the Chargers’ defense, and led to points for the Steelers,” she wrote.
CBS Sports writer Bryan DeArdo said the Steelers started slow, but picked up the intensity of play as the game went on.
“Pittsburgh’s offense fed off its defense by controlling the ball and giving them ample time to rest,” he wrote.
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While the injuries hurt, any chance of the Chargers winning the game left when Herbert exited the field.
“But the Chargers were already going south prior to Herbert’s departure, largely due to their inability to get off the field on defense and the offense’s inability to do basically anything,” DeArdo wrote.
The Chargers defense looked gassed on that drive a bit and they gave up the biggest play of the season for a touchdown.
Defense has been on the field for what feels like the entire second half.
— Daniel Wade (@dantalkssports) September 22, 2024
Harbaugh, the head coach, was questioned by reporters about his decision to let Herbert start the game despite the previous ankle injury. Herbert appeared on Saturday to be in good shape to play, he was able to move around and felt like he could protect himself, Harbaugh said.
Not starting him “was a possibility, but I’ve been in that position before with warriors, you give them the shot and that’s what I wanted to do,” Harbaugh told reporters.
The Chargers defense is worn out. Sometimes, you eat the bear, and sometimes, the bear eats you. It wasn't the Chargers day.
— David Droegemeier (@DrotalkSD) September 22, 2024
