5 Steelers surprises in Sunday’s win against the Chargers
Our SCU staff and contributors pick the “surprises” from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest matchup each week. Check out more below to see which plays and situations surprised us the most!
The Pittsburgh Steelers earned their third victory of the 2024 season with a 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Here are some surprises from that game.
Nick Herbig
The second-year outside linebacker from Wisconsin has had few opportunities to showcase his talents for the Steelers due to playing behind two high-caliber pass rushers on the same team: perennial league defensive MVP T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
However, Highsmith would be sidelined midway through the game opening the door for Herbig, who would not disappoint.
Herbig would register not one, but two sacks in the Steelers victory, including a strip-sack on Chargers QB Justin Herbert.
Cordarrelle Patterson
The 33-year-old Swiss Army Knife of skill positions showed why he’s still a viable component to any team’s offense.
Late in the game, Patterson would give Najee Harris a breather while lining up in Pittsburgh’s backfield and bulldozing his way to 33 yards rushing on four carries: an 8.3 average with a 14-yard long.
Patterson ran with reckless abandon, helping the Steelers secure the victory with a near five-minute drive that would eat the remaining time in the fourth quarter.
Justin Fields
Fields would register one of his best games in his fourth season as a pro quarterback, totaling 245 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception: good for a 96.0 quarterback rating. Also, Fields only has six career games with more yards passing.
His 78.1% completion rate on 32 pass attempts: his third-best percentage in his career for games with at least 25 attempts. Fields would also add a rushing touchdown on the day.
The Steelers three-game win streak is the first time that Fields has won three consecutive games as the 25-year-old quarterback has never started a season 3-0 either.
Corliss Waitman
The Steelers special teams unit appeared to be doomed when Cameron Johnston suffered a season-ending injury. Pittsburgh signed Waitman last week and thus far, in his third stint, the new (old) punter has not disappointed.
Waitman punted three times on Sunday, netting 52 yards-per-punt including a 56-yard long.
Steelers Defense
Who says defense doesn’t win games?
The Steelers have given up a total of 26 points through three games this season, relinquishing 10, 6, and 10 points to opponents. They have yet to give up more than 250 yards passing or 100 yards rushing combined against the Falcons, Broncos, or Chargers.
Pittsburgh’s defense didn’t give up any yards to the Chargers offense in the second half of Sunday’s game. LA would net a negative five yards: a milestone that hasn’t been seen in the Steel City in 23 years.
The previous time an NFL team was held to minus-5 or fewer yards in a half was Jan. 9, 2022 when the Buffalo Bills held the New York Jets to minus 16 yards in the second half, per @EliasSports. https://t.co/nufIElRXQo
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) September 23, 2024
