Defense, Justin Fields shine as Steelers charge past L.A., improve to 3-0 on season
Riding a defense that continues to excel in the second half and using one flick of Justin Fields' arm for a big play, the Pittsburgh Steelers remained unbeaten Sunday when they came back for a 20-10 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers at Acrisure Stadium.
The defense shut out the Chargers in the second half, holding the visitors to minus-5 yards after intermission, and have yielded just six points in three games this season. That enabled the Steelers to rally from a 10-7 halftime deficit for a win that improved their record to 3-0.
The Chargers, who entered the game having allowed the fewest points in the NFL, dropped to 2-1.
Fields scored on a 5-yard run in the first half and provided a 10-point lead in the second half when he threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin with 7 minutes, 2 seconds to play.
Questionable to play because of a high ankle sprain, quarterback Justin Herbert started and led the Chargers to a three-point halftime lead, but he exited with the score tied late in the third quarter and did not return.
The Steelers had all five of their sacks in the second half. They harassed backup Taylor Heinecke, sacking him three times in the fourth quarter. Nick Herbig, playing because of a groin injury to Alex Highsmith in the first half, had two of the sacks.
It was the second time this season the Steelers, who entered the game having allowed the second-fewest points in the league, didn't allow any points after intermission. They have yet to allow a second-half touchdown, and they held NFL rushing leader J.K. Dobbins to 44 yards on 15 carries.
Fields completed 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception, his first of the season. Herbert completed 12 of 18 for 125 yards and one score before departing.
Chris Boswell, who missed a 62-yard attempt late in the first half, connected from 38 yards on the first drive of the second half, and the Steelers tied the score 10-10.
Boswell's 30-yard field goal with 14:14 left gave the Steelers their first lead. It came on a drive in which the Steelers benefited from two personal fouls against the Chargers and a holding call that wiped out a third-down sack of Fields.
Heinecke's first full series in place of Herbert ended when he was sacked for an 8-yard loss by T.J. Watt, forcing a punt. The Steelers then scored on Fields' 55-yard touchdown pass to Austin with 7:02 remaining to take a 20-10 lead.
Herbig and Cameron Heyward sacked Heinecke on the next drive, forcing a three-and-out. The Steelers churned out the remaining 4:59, moving the ball all the way to the Chargers 1 before Fields kneeled twice to run out the clock.
The Chargers held a 10-7 halftime lead.
Neither team got a first down until their third possession. Each responded with a touchdown drive.
The Chargers struck on Herbert's 27-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston, a play in which corner Joey Porter stopped to focus on another receiver. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was late providing help, and Johnston raced down the left sideline for the score.
The Steelers responded by driving 70 yards in 13 plays. Fields capped it when he kept the ball on a third-and-3 play and scored on a 5-yard run. Fields faked the handoff to Jaylen Warren, cut to his left and skipped into the end zone for the Steelers' second touchdown of the season. The score was set up by Scotty Miller's 20-yard reception.
The Chargers regained the lead when they ended a 12-play, 60-yard drive with Cameron Dicker's 28-yard field goal with 3:13 left in the half. It came after Herbert threw the first incomplete pass by either quarterback. Until then, he and Fields were a combined 19 of 19 for 159 yards.
