Justin Herbert stood at the 10-yard line with his fist raised high as Kimani Vidal powered in a two-yard touchdown to seal a 25-10 Chargers victory.
The final score might look lopsided — but the game was anything but.
The Chargers’ defense set the tone on Sunday night, holding the Steelers to 2-of-11 on third down, recording three sacks, and hitting Aaron Rodgers five times. Rodgers spent most of the night scrambling, searching for open receivers, but the relentless Chargers pass rush wouldn’t let up.
It was the kind of defensive performance coordinator Jesse Minter had been chasing all season — reminiscent of last year’s success. The return of defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand from injured reserve on Saturday provided a much-needed boost to the front seven.
Two defensive plays stood out.The first came late in the first half, when rookie safety RJ Mickens intercepted Rodgers, setting up a 15-yard touchdown pass from Herbert to Ladd McConkey (four catches, 107 yards, one touchdown) that made it 12-3.The second came in the fourth quarter, when Rodgers faced 4th-and-6 from the Chargers’ 10-yard line. He fired toward DK Metcalf in the end zone, but second-year cornerback Cam Hart broke it up. Minter sprinted onto the field to celebrate with his young corner.
The Chargers turned that turnover on downs into seven points, punctuated by Vidal’s short touchdown run that sent Herbert into celebration mode. Vidal finished with 25 carries for 95 yards and the game-clinching score.
How the Game Unfolded
The Chargers’ special teams have been shaky this season, and those struggles showed up early. Cameron Dicker’s opening kickoff sailed out of bounds, giving the Steelers possession at their own 40. Fortunately, the defense forced a quick three-and-out.
But the Chargers’ offense stumbled out of the gate too. After a three-and-out deep in their own territory, punter JK Scott took too long to get his kick off, barely avoided a block, and shanked a 34-yarder to give the Steelers great field position at the L.A. 46.
On third down, Tuli Tuipulotu pressured Rodgers into an off-balance throw toward Metcalf that just missed. Chris Boswell then drilled a 59-yard field goal to put Pittsburgh ahead 3-0.
Two drives later, with the Steelers pinned deep, Khalil Mack sacked Rodgers in the end zone for a safety — making it 3-2, one of the rarest scores in football.
The Chargers’ offense continued to sputter, with penalties and pressure disrupting rhythm. But they finally found momentum on their fourth drive. Herbert connected with Tre Harris and Quentin Johnston for back-to-back 13-yard gains, and Vidal added several strong runs. However, Herbert was sacked by Nick Herbig and slow to get up after the linebacker rolled onto his left ankle. Moments later, Herbert hit McConkey over the middle for 16 yards before Dicker converted a 32-yard field goal to give L.A. a 5-3 lead.
The teams traded punts until Mickens intercepted Rodgers late in the second quarter. Herbert capitalized, hitting McConkey for a 15-yard touchdown to make it 12-3 at halftime.
Second-Half Control
Coming out of the break, the Steelers struggled to sustain drives. The Chargers’ defense continued to swarm Rodgers, with Tuipulotu adding another sack.
Herbert opened the third quarter with a play-action strike to McConkey for 18 yards, and Vidal kept the chains moving on the ground. The drive stalled, but Dicker nailed a 59-yard field goal — tying his career high — to extend the lead to 15-3.
After another defensive stand, the Chargers moved into scoring range again, but Dicker missed from 55 yards, hitting the upright.
Pittsburgh showed some late life behind Jaylen Warren, who totaled 36 yards on one drive. But on 4th-and-6 from the Chargers’ 10-yard line, Rodgers’ pass to Metcalf fell incomplete under tight coverage from Hart, sealing the Steelers’ fate.
That was all she wrote.
The win pushes the Chargers to 7-3 and into second place in the AFC West.
The offensive line remains a concern — Herbert was sacked five times and hit nine — and that could spell trouble with upcoming matchups against the Broncos, Chiefs, Eagles, and Texans, all of whom boast strong defensive fronts. Still, the team showed it can overcome adversity with balance and creativity.
The Chargers now head to Jacksonville, returning for the first time since their infamous 2023 playoff collapse.At 7-3 (6-1 in the AFC), they’re in a strong position entering the final stretch.
