After a big, 26-3 victory over the Carolina Panthers last week, the Los Angeles Chargers remained on the East Coast to prepare for their Week 3 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This marks the Chargers’ first trip to Pittsburgh with the new stadium name change in 2022 from Heinz Field to Acrisure Stadium.
The Chargers are looking to keep their momentum going and go 3-0 for the first time since 2002.
Here are four bold predictions for the Los Angeles Chargers’ Sunday matchup against the Steelers in a matchup of two, 2-0 squads.
Los Angeles Chargers strong run game continues
Offensively, the Los Angeles Chargers have relied on their running game, led by J.K. Dobbins, who leads the NFL with 266 rushing yards.
That has been a big reason why the Chargers are 2-0.
Although Pittsburgh has a better run defense than Carolina, Los Angeles has kept that momentum since the beginning of the season. It has been the offensive line, the tight ends, and the new starting fullback Scott Matlock that have opened up gaps for Dobbins and Gus Edwards to produce.
Dobbins has also had a solid performance during his time as a Raven when facing an AFC North foe in the Steelers.
In three career games against the Steelers, Dobbins has at least 15 carries and 93 rushing yards. In his only match in Pittsburgh in 2022, Dobbins recorded 15 carries for 120 rushing yards and a touchdown in a 16-14 Ravens win.
This is a game where Dobbins can have another strong game against the Steelers.
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Joe Alt vaults himself to the top of the OROY Odds
Los Angeles Chargers rookie offensive tackle Joe Alt gave Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby plenty of fits two weeks ago in his NFL debut.
Now Alt goes up against another premier defensive end in TJ Watt, who has been a First Team AP All-Pro in four of the last five years and the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Watt has also led the NFL in sacks in three of the last four seasons, including having 19 sacks last year.
Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said having to go up against Crosby followed by Watt in two of a player’s first three games is an offensive line nightmare, but not for Alt.
“As far as Crosby Week 1, now you’ve got T.J. Watt, ‘Merry Christmas,’” Roman said Thursday to the media. “Watt’s a great player.”
Alt, who is 6-foot-9 and 322 pounds, did not allow Crosby to have a single pressure. He now takes on Watt, who is five inches shorter than Alt and nearly 70 pounds less.
Since offseason training camp when Roman first started working with Alt, all the way up until this week, the comparisons between Alt and Watt have been endless.
One player includes Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden, who is an 11-time Pro Bowler, a four-time AP First Team All-Pro, a five-time AP Second Team AP All Pro and finished fifth in the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 1996. Ogden is also a Super Bowl Champion in his 12-year career.
Roman said the growth Alt has made thus far goes a long way and with more improvements to come, it is a recipe for long-term success, despite only being two games into his NFL career.
“I think the potential is limitless. I was with Jonathan Ogden many years ago and he has a chance to touch that stratosphere,” Roman said. “That’s a lot of work, time, knowledge, experience away. Right now, he is battling every day to get everything down. Empirical data is the best data and his ability to learn from experience has been great so far. His ability to file things away, move on to the next thing, very big.”
Another strong performance this week against Watt and the defense means that he could be the frontrunner for AFC AP Offensive Rookie of the Year through the first three weeks of the season.
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Justin Herbert has his best game of 2024
As much as the running game has been the focal point offensively in the two wins, the Los Angeles Chargers have not needed to rely on quarterback Justin Herbert’s arm.
Herbert has not thrown for more than 150 yards in his two games but does have three touchdown passes with two coming last week to wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
The passing game has continued to evolve and improve over the first two games. Herbert completed had a 5% increase from Week 1 to Week 2. Any improvement is crucial, especially when Herbert continues to adapt to this new offensive scheme.
As much as Herbert has not needed to throw, eventually, he is going to need his arm to boost the Chargers to a victory. This week Herbert has been dealing with a right ankle injury, the same foot that went through plantar fasciitis during the preseason.
“He’s getting better every day. Last time I checked with him at a meeting, said he was feeling much better and good today,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday to reporters.
Even if he has an ankle injury, his mobility might not be what it usually is, and the receivers need to execute a little more to get open against a solid defense.
The pain in the ankle will affect his statistics Sunday in Pittsburgh, but if he has the experience to gut it out and can reach at least 250 yards for the first time this season.
Related: Jim Harbaugh Gives Injury Update On Justin Herbert
Defense holds strong
Sunday marks a matchup between the top two defenses. The Los Angeles Chargers have allowed 13 points in two games while the Steelers have allowed 16 points.
Los Angeles has also allowed 455 total yards, the second-fewest in the NFL while the Steelers are fifth on that list at 521 total yards.
It is going to be a hard-fought game, a game that is going to be won on the defensive end, and the takeaway margin could be the difference maker.
The Chargers are going up against Pittsburgh’s No. 2 quarterback Justin Fields, who was traded in the offseason from Chicago.
In the first two games, Fields has yet to throw an interception, but he has been sacked twice in both games in Atlanta in Week 1 and in Denver for Week 2. Like Herbert, Fields has not thrown for more than 160 yards in a game this season yet.
Ultimately, the Los Angeles defense comes through winning the takeaway margin and continuing its streak of not losing in Pittsburgh since 2009.
Also read: What We Learned From The Los Angeles Chargers Dominant Week 2 Win