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Four takeaways: Steelers defense shines in matchup of NFL’s best defenses

A.Hernandez25 min ago

Steelers defense claims the crown in battle of NFL's best defenses

The crowd for Sunday's Pittsburgh Steelers home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers could have expected many things - an active scoreboard should not have been one of them.

The two best scoring defenses in the NFL - Los Angeles entered with only 6.5 points allowed per game, Pittsburgh close behind at 8.0 - meeting meant similar paths to victory.

The Steelers did it best.

For the third straight week, the Steelers defense delivered, landing Pittsburgh an AFC North-leading 3-0 record, matched by only the Minnestoga Vikings after Sunday afternoon's games.

Mike Tomlin wasn't bashful about challenging his defense to show they were the best unit playing in Acrisure Stadium.

"We knew we were in for a fight. Styles make fights," Tomlin said. "They're assembled like we're assembled, so we knew it was going to be a great game. They're playing great defense. We're playing great defense. We had to challenge our defense to out-perform theirs. I thought they did."

Four-time All-Pro edge TJ Watt, who had three tackles and a sack, let the play do the talking.

"We have a confident group. Obviously, they knew they were a top defense," Watt said. "We don't do a lot of talking, we just like to go out on the field and play and have fun, and I feel like we did that today."

The Steelers registered five sacks, two from second-year pro Nick Herbig, who had a breakout game after edge Alex Highsmith left the game with a groin injury.

The Steelers held LA to just 61 rushing yards, only 44 from JK Dobbins, who entered the game averaging 133 yards through two weeks.

"This week was two trains on the track, two top defenses coming in," Watt said. "We know they love to run the ball, we love stopping the run. Haven't looked at the film yet, but it seems like we out-performed today, but that's a hell of a football team, and it means nothing if we don't get back in the lab and learn from all this and keep going."

Justin Fields has arrived

The story of Sunday's win was the emergence of Justin Fields, who had his best game in Black and Gold by going 25-for-32 for 245 yards with a TD and interception.

The crowd was on fire when Fields galloped into the end zone from five yards to tie the game 7-7 early in the second quarter.

It was made possible by an offensive line that was absent starters Troy Fautanu (ankle) and Isaac Seumalo. Broderick Jones, who was benched a week ago, showed resilience and the O-line kept Fields largely clean (2 sacks) and paved the way for 114 rushing yards, which largely came in the fourth quarter as the Steelers killed the game off. Najee Harris ran for a team-high 70 yards, including a long of 21.

"A lot of good football played. Then the fourth quarter, it wasn't our best," Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh said. "We didn't have the field position and we didn't get it finished. Not every game is going to be a fairytale ending. Give the credit to the Steelers in all three phases there at the end."

BETTING:

Receiving line

The Steelers finally saw signs of life from wide receivers not named George Pickens. Calvin Austin's 55-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter changes the perspective of what was a very close game that turned into a semi-convincing victory.

Austin caught four passes for 95 yards, Pat Freiermuth had a strong second half (four catches, 33 yards) and Scotty Miller (2 receptions, 31 yards) had a pivotal first-down catch on third and short that ultimately set up Fields' opening touchdown.

Turnover battle turned around

The Steelers lost the turnover battle - the game's lone turnover was Justin Fields' interception that caromed and bounced around in the air before being pulled in by Bud Dupree - but still won the game.

"I shouldn't have thrown the ball; got tipped," Fields said. "But at the end of the day, either should have worked the other side of the field, thrown it to the flat because they were so soft, or just thrown the ball away, especially since we were already in field goal range at the 40-yard line. That can't happen again."

The team that wins the turnover margin wins the game nearly 70 percent of the time.