As we’ve been doing for several years now, we’ll break down the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponent each week, telling you what to expect from a scheme and individual standpoint. This year, Jonathan Heitritter and I will cover the opposing team’s defense. I will focus on the scheme, Jonathan on the players.

Today, we are scouting the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense ahead of Week 10’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Alex’s Scheme Report
Chargers’ Run Defense

The Chargers, like the Steelers, run a 3-4 defense and are in a 2-4-5 nickel the majority of the time. On the season, the Chargers allow about 109 rushing yards per game. That’s 17th entering the week. Los Angeles has given up 10 rushing scores and an ugly 4.9 YPC, 27th in the league. In total, its defense has given up 34 runs of 10-plus yards. The Chargers have played nine games, more than most who have gone on a bye, but that number is tied for 27th in the NFL.

A college safety, linebacker Daiyan Henley leads the team with 61 tackles after racking up nearly 150 a year ago. He essentially never leaves the field, logging 98 percent of the snaps. He’s also been playing with a heavy heart after the death of his brother days ago. He also has three sacks (Mike Tomlin noted his improvement as a pass rusher) and an interception. Strong safety Derwin James is right behind with 57 tackles.

Schematically, there’s a mix of one- and two-gapping. The main takeaway is the Chargers are a fast-flow defense that takes away perimeter runs well.

Where they are weak is between the tackles, the A and B gaps. Pittsburgh should have a downhill power running game with plenty of duo concepts.

Some other stats. The Chargers have allowed 21.4 points per game this season. That’s 12th entering Week 10. They’ve held the opposition to no more than 27 points in eight game nine games and 21 or fewer in six of them. Situationally, the Chargers shine, ranking eighth on third down (35.8 percent) and fourth in the red zone (41.3 percent). Pittsburgh’s red-zone offense has been top 10, making for a good-on-good matchup.

Chargers’ Pass Defense

A good unit here. The Chargers are third in pass yards allowed per game at just 177.1. More relatively, opposing quarterbacks are completing just 60.8 percent of their passes (fourth best), hold a 6.4 YPA (third best), and have thrown for just eight touchdowns all season (tied-second best). The Chargers’ seven interceptions and 26 sacks easily crack the top 10.

The only weak spot are the eight turnovers the Chargers have forced, a group unable to force and recover many fumbles.

The Chargers are blitzing a below-average amount of the time, 25th at 19.1 percent, but are higher in pressure rate at 20.7 percent. That’s 15th leaguewide.

Tuli Tuipulotu is an underrated EDGE rusher who leads the team in QB hits (13), sacks (7), and forced fumbles (2). He had 8.5 sacks a year ago. This group is getting healthier with Khalil Mack back from injury while Odafe Oweh, traded for from Baltimore earlier this year, has found new life with his new team. Mack has three sacks in four games while Oweh has four sacks in four games with the Chargers after posing zero for the Ravens. There’s also Justin Eboigbe, who quietly has four sacks this season.

Derwin James is a real pass-rush threat and is used all over the field. Safety, nickel, overhang, linebacker, he’s their Jalen Ramsey. His seven QB hits are second on the Chargers and lead all NFL defensive backs. He has one sack and one pick this year.

Tony Jefferson leads the way with two picks. Former Steelers CB Donte Jackson has one pick this year.

Coverage-wise, the Chargers are interesting. A ton of combination and match coverage. Los Angeles runs the third-highest Cover 4/Quarters rate in the NFL at exactly 25 percent of the time. See it a lot against 2×2 formations. Couple examples.

Against 3×1, the Chargers often “lock” the X-receiver and match/combo the trips side.

Los Angeles gets creative with 1 DL/Amoeba looks. The team runs a ton of stunts and twists that must be dealt with. There’s also some really interesting “spying” the team does with Henley at linebacker. Watch him, No. 0, run this almost coffee-house stunt, standing at the line of scrimmage and blitzing once the center peels away.

The Chargers are excellent defending perimeter passes and the RPO/screen game. It’s hard to make any sort of headway on throws to the flat. Examples.

For a Steelers offense predicated on the quick passing game, that could be a problem.

Jonathan’s Individual Report

The Steelers stopped their two-game losing skid with a win against the Colts. They now sit at 5-3, setting up a big-time AFC battle against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night. The Chargers are 6-3 with a defensive unit that ranks 11th in the league in total points allowed and sixth in total yards allowed. They are third-best in football against the pass and 17th against the run.

Defensive Line

The defensive line is headlined by rookie No. 99 Jamaree Caldwell. The third-round pick out of Oregon is a big, powerful defender at 6-1, 340 pounds but can move exceptionally well for that size. Caldwell has 14 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack this year. He is a force inside against the run.

Starting alongside Caldwell are No. 92 Justin Eboigbe and No. 90 Teair Tart. Eboigbe has come into his own in his second season after getting drafted out of Alabama in the fourth round last year. He has four sacks and four tackles for loss this season. He’s a stout run defender who also has the quickness to rush the passer inside. Tart is more of a run plugger at 6-2, 315 pounds with the size, strength, and girth to eat up blockers along the interior. No. 96 Naquan Jones provides depth for Los Angeles inside.

EDGE

The Chargers are stacked when it comes to edge rushers. No name is more notable than No. 52 Khalil Mack. Mack has been a force of nature since entering the league in 2014. He has starred as an elite power rusher with the combination of strength and athleticism to overwhelm blockers at the point of attack. He missed time due to an arm injury earlier this year, which landed him on IR. Now he’s back, giving Los Angeles a powerful edge setter and pass rusher. Mack has three sacks this season.

Opposite of Mack is No. 45 Tuli Tuipulotu, who has really come into his own in his third NFL season. He posted 8.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss last season and is already up to seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 2025. Tuipulotu has great athleticism at nearly 270 pounds. He uses his combination of speed and power to wreak havoc as a pass rusher as well as chase down running backs.

The Chargers traded for No. 98 Odafe Oweh from the Baltimore Ravens a month ago. Oweh posted 10 sacks for the Ravens last season but is in a rotational role with the Chargers. He has four sacks in four games since joining the team. Oweh is a tall, long, athletic pass rusher who knows how to round the corner into the pocket. Despite no longer starting, he is a quality third pass rusher for the Chargers.

Also lining up on the edge for Los Angeles is a familiar face to Pittsburgh in No. 48 Bud Dupree. Dupree has bounced around the league since last playing for Pittsburgh in 2020, playing for the Titans and Falcons before signing with the Chargers in 2024. Dupree is a strong, powerful pass rusher who lacks finesse but makes up for it with effort and sheer athleticism. He is a stout run defender who plays with good pursuit. He doesn’t have a sack this season, having seen his snaps drop since the team traded for Oweh, but is still a player to account for. No. 54 Kyle Kennard also provides depth for Los Angeles on the edge.

Linebackers

Starting at linebacker for Los Angeles is No. 6 Denzel Perryman, who has been a goon in the league for years. He returned to the Chargers in 2024 after starting his career there in 2015. Perryman delivers crushing hits as a downhill thumper as well as in run-and-chase situations. He missed time to start the season but is back and had his most productive week last week against the Titans. It’s key for Pittsburgh to negate Perryman in the running game so it can have success on Sunday.

Starting alongside Perryman is No. 0 Daiyan Henley, who has overtaken his predecessor as the Chargers’ main linebacker. Henley is a great athlete and played wide receiver in college. He has the speed to run sideline to sideline in pursuit as well as cover backs and tight ends. He covers ground quickly in zone coverage, too. Henley racked up 147 total stops last season and is at 61 this season. He also has four tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass deflections, and an interception.

No. 43 Troy Dye started five games in Perryman’s absence and had been a tackling machine. He has 46 total stops, four tackles for loss, and a sack this season. He’s more of a run-and-chase linebacker who tends to struggle in coverage. No. 53 Del’Shawn Phillips and No. 58 Marlowe Wax provide depth on defense and snaps on special teams for the Chargers.

Cornerbacks

No. 20 Cam Hart is a height/weight/speed specimen at cornerback, standing 6-2, 207 pounds. The 2024 fifth-round pick started six games as a rookie and gave Los Angeles a big-bodied corner to match bigger receivers on the outside. No. 29 Tarheeb Still also starts for Los Angeles in the slot, but he’s been dealing with an MCL sprain and is likely to miss this contest.

No. 26 Donte Jackson is a familiar name who started for the Steelers last season. He has manned the outside for Los Angeles this year after signing with the team in free agency. He’s a fast corner who can run with most receivers in coverage, allowing just a 41.7 completion percentage this year, according to Pro Football Reference. Jackson also has a pick and broken up five passes.

No. 24 Benjamin St-Juste signed as a free agent this offseason after spending his first four seasons with the Washington Commanders. He gives Los Angeles another big-bodied cornerback (6-3, 200 pounds) to start on the outside. Starting in the slot for the Chargers is No. 36 Ja’Sir Taylor, who is competitive both against the pass and in run support. But he could be a guy to exploit if Still misses the Steelers game. Providing depth at cornerback is rookie No. 46 Nikko Reed.

Safeties

Starring in the Chargers secondary is No. 3 Derwin James, who has been one of the best safeties in football since getting drafted in 2017. The 6-2, 215-pounder is a tackling machine at safety. He has the stopping power of a linebacker and the closing speed of a defensive back. He routinely makes plays in the secondary, whether in pursuit of the football or in coverage. James is also an effective blitzer near the line of scrimmage and is a player QB Aaron Rodgers must always account for.

No. 2 Elijah Molden moved to safety last season with the Chargers and has found the position change to be a fruitful one for his NFL career. The former Tennessee Titan fell out of favor with the team after three seasons but is a physical tackler in run support and is solid in coverage. He had three picks a season ago and is allowing a 45.5 percent completion rate this season.

No. 23 Tony Jefferson is nursing a hamstring injury, and his status for Sunday is up in the air after missing last week. Rookie No. 27 R.J. Mickens has seen some time in a rotational/subpackage role and has an interception and 14 total tackles. No. 40 Kendall Williamson also provides depth and special teams value at safety for the Chargers.