Justin Herbert led the Los Angeles Chargers to a commanding 25-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, marking the team”s third consecutive win. In a matchup held at SoFi Stadium, Aaron Rodgers faced one of his toughest challenges yet, experiencing his worst performance of the season.
Herbert completed 20 of 33 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown, while Rodgers struggled throughout the game. The four-time MVP managed to throw for just 161 yards on 16 of 31 attempts, getting sacked three times and tossing two interceptions. He only found the end zone once, connecting with Roman Wilson for a 27-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.
After starting the season strong with three victories against AFC West rivals, the Chargers stumbled with three losses in four games. However, they rebounded impressively, defeating both Minnesota and Tennessee before taking down the Steelers in prime time.
The Chargers” defense was relentless, preventing Rodgers from scoring until late in the game. The Steelers, who entered the contest leading the AFC North, have now lost three of their last four games. They struggled on third down conversions, going 0 for 9 before finally scoring a touchdown on their only successful drive.
Initially trailing 15-3, Rodgers faced pressure and threw three consecutive incompletions. A key breakup by Chargers cornerback Cam Hart on a pass intended for DK Metcalf resulted in the Steelers turning the ball over on downs early in the fourth quarter.
The Chargers responded quickly, with Herbert connecting on a 58-yard pass to Ladd McConkey, setting up Kimani Vidal for a 2-yard touchdown run to push their lead to 22-3. Vidal accumulated 95 yards on 25 carries, marking his second rushing touchdown of the season.
Cameron Dicker added field goals of 32, 59, and 42 yards for the Chargers, with the 59-yarder tying his record for the longest in team history. Notably, Keenan Allen made two receptions during the game, surpassing Hall of Famer Antonio Gates for the most career receptions in franchise history with a total of 956.
Injuries also plagued the game, with Steelers cornerback Darius Slay being evaluated for a concussion and not returning. On the Chargers” side, defensive lineman Teair Tart and tight end Oronde Gadsden suffered injuries during the third quarter.
Looking ahead, the Steelers will host the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday, while the Chargers are set to visit the Jacksonville Jaguars.
