Winners and losers of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday afternoon.
winner
DL Cam Heyward
Just old-fashioned, top-notch run defense. Heyward showed that in the first two weeks of the season and was on display again in this game. His best performance came in the second half, controlling the left guard while also keeping RB JK Dobbins in check. Dobbins came into the game averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. Although he had some success early on, the Steelers cooled him off.
Heyward didn’t record any sacks, but his power did collapse the pocket, including a key play on an incomplete third down that left the Chargers with a field goal. Heyward may be 35, but he doesn’t play like it.
Quarterback Justin Fields
Fields had his best game of the year and gave it his all. Despite lacking a solid and consistent running game, Fields scored the first points with a zone read touchdown. Pittsburgh threw earlier in this game than it probably would have liked, but Fields got it done. He stepped it up in the second half and scored a game-winning 55-yard touchdown to wide receiver Calvin Austin III. At 3-0 and only one unfortunate interception, it’s hard to imagine Fields being benched even with Russell Wilson considered fully healthy.
CB Donte Jackson
It wasn’t a spectacular or flashy game, but Jackson was solid again. His tackling and run defense are very good and he has held his own more than well this season. The type of cornerback Pittsburgh needed alongside Joey Porter Jr. His season is off to an impressive start.
EDGE Nick Herbig
No Alex Highsmith? No problem. Highsmith left with a groin injury, but Herbig stepped in and beat elite left tackle Rashawn Slater and scored a sack on QB Justin Herbert in the second half before Herbert left with an ankle sprain. Herbig also applied pressure on the final play of the first half, but was unable to bring Herbert down.
CB James Pierre
A shout out to Pierre, who was signed earlier this week and promoted to starting gunner with WR Ben Skowronek out. Pierre has been back to his old self the last two years as the team’s starting gunner, running down the field and forcing fair catches. The Chargers were able to get little out of their punt return game to keep Corliss Waitman’s net yardage strong.
Chris Boswell – Wikipedia
Boswell can’t be penalized for his first miss of the season from 55 yards, three yards longer than anything he’s kicked in his career. It looked like he had the leg strength to make it, but the kick drifted slightly to the right. But Boswell made his other two field goals, although one narrowly missed the left upright. Boswell also had a solid kickoff, a knuckleball that the Chargers had a hard time catching. By the time the coverage unit had time to get to it, LA’s offense was forced back deep into its own half.
WR Calvin Austin III
A statement and game-changing game for Austin, who has worked hard and recovered from a rookie injury two years ago to get to this point. Taking advantage of the extra reps with Van Jefferson out with an eye injury and the team opting not to field rookie Roman Wilson, Austin was a threat and came up big over the middle.
His biggest moment came in the fourth quarter when he caught a ball over the middle and the Chargers’ secondary sprinted away for a 55-yard touchdown, giving the Steelers some much-needed space and a two-possession lead. Hats off to Austin, who came up big and showed off his superb speed.
loser
OG Spencer Anderson
Although run blocking was chaotic early on and it was still not a good day for this unit, the group eventually came together. They lost battles to win the war. But Anderson, who had started this and the previous two games for Isaac Seumalo, was suddenly put in rotation with rookie Mason McCormick late in the first half. It didn’t seem planned, and Anderson didn’t appear to be injured. Presumably the Steelers were looking for a spark in the running game with the more physically powerful McCormick.
They alternated the rest of the game, with McCormick taking a few tackle-capable snaps. If this is the last game where a backup is needed – Seumalo could return next weekend against the Indianapolis Colts – it wouldn’t bode well for Anderson to bow out. Physically, he’s missing a standout feature in his game.
Missed opportunities
It’s hard to categorize, but the Steelers missed plays. A missed sack by Alex Highsmith and one by Herbig before halftime, allowing a Hail Mary attempt that was too close. A missed interception by Patrick Queen. Drops by George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth. All good in a win, but there were missed opportunities.
CB Beanie Bishop Jr.
Bishop was better in the second half, but felt a little off in this game, letting Herbert fool him too often in zone coverage as rookie WR Ladd McConkey made some early plays. A “soft” loser, but I was hoping for a little more from Bishop.
