Their defense smothered the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 25-10 victory<\/a> Sunday night, and limited Aaron Rodgers to a cosmetic touchdown at the end, intercepting him twice and sacking him three times \u2014 once in the end zone for a safety.<\/p>\n Share via Close extra sharing options <\/p>\n Sam Farmer breaks down what went right for the Chargers in a 25-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cThis one was won by strong, tough men,\u201d Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh<\/a> said. \u201cPhysicality and heart. I like the games of strategy and preparation, but this was one that came down to toughness and guts.\u201d<\/p>\n Aaron Rodgers<\/a> has thrown more touchdown passes than anyone on \u201cSunday Night Football,\u201d yet the Chargers made him look every bit of his 41 years. The Steelers moved the ball and scored on their final possession, when the outcome had already been decided, but before that were 0 for 9 on third down.<\/p>\n Put bluntly by Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin: \u201cWe stunk it up tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n The Chargers didn\u2019t look especially crisp, either, and quarterback Justin Herbert<\/a> took another beating behind an offensive line that has had 19 different combinations in 10 games. He was sacked five times \u2014 bringing his total to 11 in the past two games \u2014 and hit nine.<\/p>\n At one point in the second quarter, he was hit low from behind and lay on the turf for a moment before gingerly climbing to his feet. On the sideline, trainers taped both his ankles and he didn\u2019t miss a snap.<\/p>\n Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert scrambles against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half Sunday at SoFi Stadium.<\/p>\n (Robert Gauthier \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n \u201cJust got rolled up,\u201d he explained. \u201cA little bit of pain. But I thought we did a good job of talking about it on the sideline. I came off and felt like I was safe, comfortable to go back out there.\u201d<\/p>\n The Chargers started slow offensively but began to gather a little momentum in the second quarter when Cameron Dicker<\/a> kicked his first of three field goals, and Ladd McConkey<\/a> scored on a 15-yard touchdown reception with 12 seconds remaining in the first half.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh was as cold as a Western Pennsylvania winter, even when cheered on by a SoFi Stadium full of fans. It was a black-and-gold takeover.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t run the ball super effectively in the first half,\u201d Rodgers said. \u201cI missed some throws, for sure. At times guys were open and I didn\u2019t hit them; other times, we just weren\u2019t getting open. Just couldn\u2019t put it all together.\u201d<\/p>\n For the Steelers, that was a big letdown from the week before, when they handed the Indianapolis Colts just their second loss. In that game, Pittsburgh forced six Colts turnovers. Sunday night, the Chargers won the turnover battle, 3-0.<\/p>\n Chargers linebacker Bud Dupree dances after sacking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.<\/p>\n (Robert Gauthier \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Not only did the Chargers hang onto the football, but they grabbed some team records along the way. Most notable Keenan Allen<\/a>, who set a club record in the waning moments of the game with his 956th career reception. He eclipsed the mark of Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates<\/a>, his former teammate.<\/p>\n Allen spoke with Harbaugh on the sideline and suggested the play, which the receiver said would essentially be a guaranteed reception. He began to sprint from left to right across the formation before the snap, then caught a perfectly timed shovel pass as he ran past Herbert, turning upfield and collecting seven yards.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s one of those guys who\u2019s always open,\u201d Herbert said of Allen. \u201cEven when he\u2019s covered he\u2019s open.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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