Los Angeles Chargers vs Steelers Match Player Stats Breakdown (Sep 22, 2024)
Talk about a game of two halves! The Los Angeles Chargers vs Pittsburgh Steelers Week 3 matchup on September 22, 2024, started as a back-and-forth battle but ended with Pittsburgh cruising to a 20-10 victory at Acrisure Stadium.
Mike Tomlin’s crew now sits at 3-0 for the first time since 2020, while LA heads home with more questions than answers after Justin Herbert’s mid-game exit turned their offense ice cold.
Ready for a deep dive into who balled out and who struggled? The numbers paint a fascinating picture of this AFC showdown.
Quarterback Contrast: Fields Shines, Herbert Goes Down
Justin Fields is looking right at home in the Steel City. After Chicago shipped him off for a measly sixth-round pick, Pittsburgh might have found their next franchise QB on the cheap.
Fields brought the heat:
- 25/32 passing (78.1%)
- 245 yards through the air
- 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD
- 96.0 passer rating
- Only 2 sacks taken
This marks his third straight multi-touchdown game to open the season, something no Pittsburgh quarterback has pulled off since Ben Roethlisberger did it back in 2020. His completion rate was his highest since last December against Cleveland.
“Just trying to stack good days and keep this team moving forward,” Fields told reporters after the game. That tough 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter showed exactly what makes him such a dangerous dual-threat.
On the opposite sideline, Justin Herbert started hot before disaster struck.
Herbert pre-injury:
- 12/18 passing (66.7%)
- 125 yards
- 1 TD, 0 INTs
- 105.1 rating
Then everything fell apart. The $262 million franchise cornerstone went down with an injury, snapping his streak of 15 consecutive starts. It’s another tough break for a QB who missed time last season after starting his career with an ironman stretch of 62 straight games.
Taylor Heinicke never had a prayer once he stepped in. The journeyman backup got sacked three times while attempting just two passes. T.J. Watt and company welcomed him to Pittsburgh in the worst possible way.
Speed Kills: Austin’s Big Play, Pickens’ Consistency
Calvin Austin III needed just one play to put this game on ice.
The 5’9″ Memphis product turned a routine crossing route into a backbreaking 55-yard touchdown that put Pittsburgh up 20-10 in the fourth quarter.
Austin’s stat line:
- 4 catches on 5 targets
- Team-high 95 yards
- 1 game-breaking touchdown
- 23.8 yards per catch
Not too shabby for a guy who missed his entire rookie campaign with a foot injury. “Saw daylight and just turned on the jets,” Austin said of his fourth-quarter score that sent Steelers fans into a frenzy.
George Pickens has quietly become Fields’ go-to guy through three weeks. The third-year wideout from Georgia hauled in 5 passes for 57 yards, repeatedly moving the chains on crucial downs.
After a rollercoaster 2023 where his sideline antics sometimes overshadowed his play, Pickens has snagged at least 5 balls in every game this season, the longest such streak of his pro career.
Over in the Chargers’ camp, Quentin Johnston finally showed flashes of his first-round potential. His 27-yard touchdown grab was a thing of beauty, high-pointing the ball over a defender. After a rookie year with just 38 catches that had some whispering the “bust” label, Johnston needed this performance badly.
Rookie Ladd McConkey topped LA with 6 targets, catching 3 for 44 yards. The Georgia product looks promising in Jim Harbaugh’s system, but Herbert’s early exit killed any momentum in the passing game.
Ground Battle: Harris Grinds, Dobbins Struggles
The trenches belonged to Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Steelers’ rushing attack:
- Najee Harris: 18 carries, 70 yards (3.9 avg)
- Cordarrelle Patterson: 4 carries, 33 yards (8.3 avg)
- Justin Fields: 6 carries, 6 yards, 1 TD
Harris, the bruising Alabama product, looked rejuvenated with several punishing runs, including a 21-yarder where he dragged defenders for extra yards. This was his most productive outing of 2024, building on his 59-yard performance against Denver last week.
Veteran Patterson gave the Steelers a perfect change-of-pace option. His explosive 14-yard burst in the third quarter set up a crucial field goal. Pretty impressive for a guy who’s worn many hats during his 11-year NFL journey.
LA’s ground game never found its footing.
Chargers’ rushing woes:
- J.K. Dobbins: 15 carries, 44 yards (2.9 avg)
- Gus Edwards: 3 carries, 9 yards (3.0 avg)
- Derius Davis: 1 carry, 8 yards
Dobbins couldn’t find any running lanes all day. After four injury-filled years in Baltimore, the former Ohio State star hasn’t recaptured the explosiveness that once made him such a promising prospect. A 13-yard scamper was his lone bright spot.
That paltry 2.9 yards per carry highlights a concerning trend for LA’s ground game under Harbaugh. Without establishing the run, opposing defenses will keep teeing off on whoever’s taking snaps.
Defense: Herbig Crashes the Party
Who expected Nick Herbig to steal the spotlight? Not many outside Pittsburgh’s locker room.
The second-year Wisconsin product was unblockable, racking up 2 sacks and constant pressure. After tallying just 3 sacks during his entire rookie campaign, Herbig picked the perfect moment for his breakout game.
“Nick brings it every day in practice,” veteran Cameron Heyward praised afterward. “Today everyone else got to see what we already knew.”
T.J. Watt added another sack to his collection, giving him one in each game this season. The perennial All-Pro looks ready to challenge his own franchise record of 22.5 sacks if he keeps this pace.
Veterans Elandon Roberts and Heyward chipped in with a sack apiece. When your pass rush comes from four different players, you know your front seven is firing on all cylinders.
Across the field, Daiyan Henley tried valiantly to keep LA’s defense together. The Washington State product tallied a career-best 9 tackles in a losing effort. The second-year linebacker showed why the coaching staff has been so high on his potential.
Pro Bowl safety Derwin James added 5 tackles and a sack, reminding everyone why he remains one of the league’s most versatile defenders when healthy.
Former Steeler Bud Dupree had the game’s only interception, picking off his old teammate Fields. After six seasons in Pittsburgh, Dupree has bounced around Tennessee and Atlanta before landing in LA this year.
Joey Bosa leaving early with a hip injury killed LA’s pass rush hopes. The four-time Pro Bowler has now missed significant time in four consecutive seasons, appearing in just 24 games from 2021-2023. Without their premier edge rusher, the Chargers couldn’t generate nearly enough heat on Fields.
By The Numbers: Pittsburgh Takes Control
| Stat Category | Pittsburgh Steelers | Los Angeles Chargers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 346 | 168 |
| First Downs | 20 | 11 |
| Time of Possession | 33:51 | 26:09 |
| 3rd Down Success | 7/14 (50%) | 3/12 (25%) |
| Yards Per Play | 5.3 | 3.2 |
Check out how dramatically different the QB play was:
| QB Comparison | Justin Fields | Herbert/Heinicke Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Comp/Att | 25/32 (78.1%) | 14/20 (70.0%) |
| Passing Yards | 245 | 149 |
| TD/INT | 1/1 | 1/0 |
| Sacks Taken | 2 (-13 yards) | 5 (-44 yards) |
The running back battle wasn’t even close:
| RB Comparison | Najee Harris | J.K. Dobbins |
|---|---|---|
| Carries | 18 | 15 |
| Rushing Yards | 70 | 44 |
| Yards Per Carry | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| Long Run | 21 | 13 |
| Catches | 5 | 3 |
| Receiving Yards | 16 | 10 |
How The Game Unfolded
The scoring tells the story of a complete momentum shift:
First quarter:
- LAC 7-0: Johnston hauled in a 27-yard TD from Herbert (7:46)
Second quarter:
- PIT 7-7: Fields bullied his way for a 5-yard TD run (10:17)
- LAC 10-7: Dicker knocked through a 28-yard field goal (3:13)
Third quarter:
- PIT 10-10: Boswell connected from 38 yards out (9:05)
Fourth quarter:
- PIT 13-10: Boswell drilled a 30-yarder to take the lead (14:14)
- PIT 20-10: Austin zoomed 55 yards for the dagger TD (7:02)
According to CBSSports, the Chargers’ offense totally flatlined after Herbert left. Pittsburgh scored the final 13 points while LA’s attack stalled completely.
The second-half shutout with Herbert starting the game has only happened twice before in his career. That stat alone shows how badly his exit wrecked the Chargers’ chances.
Why Pittsburgh Won: Taking Over After Herbert’s Exit
Looking at the numbers from Pro-Football-Reference tells you all you need to know about why Pittsburgh now sits at 3-0.
The Steelers nearly doubled LA in total yards (346 to 168), held the ball for almost 34 minutes, and converted half their third downs while the Chargers couldn’t move the chains after Herbert went down.
Tomlin’s squad wore down the Chargers in typical Steelers fashion, controlling the clock, playing suffocating defense, and hitting one huge play when it mattered most.
This victory gives Pittsburgh their first 3-0 start since 2020, when they reeled off 11 straight wins to open the season. For Fields? It marks his first three-game winning streak as an NFL starter, a career revival that’s making Chicago’s decision look more questionable by the week.
FAQ: Los Angeles Chargers vs Steelers Match Player Stats
Who played better at QB before Herbert got hurt?
The numbers were neck-and-neck. Herbert posted a better passer rating (105.1 vs 96.0), but Fields added a rushing score. Herbert was on track for a 250+ yard day before leaving. If both had played four quarters, we might’ve seen a classic QB duel.
Who was the offensive standout?
Fields deserves props for his all-around game, but Calvin Austin’s 55-yard TD was the play of the day. Those 95 receiving yards were his most since Week 1 of 2023 against San Francisco, showing his big-play potential is for real.
Which defender changed the game most?
Nick Herbig came out of nowhere with his career-best 2 sacks. Nobody expected T.J. Watt’s backup to steal the show, but that’s exactly what happened. His constant pressure directly contributed to Heinicke’s nightmare relief appearance.
How’s the Steelers’ running game trending?
Their 114 yards on the ground continues a strong pattern through three games. They’ve topped 100 rushing yards every week this season. Harris looks more explosive than last year, and Patterson gives them a home-run threat they’ve desperately needed.
How much did Herbert’s injury change this game?
Night and day. LA led 10-7 with Herbert playing. Without him? Zero points and barely any first downs. Their win probability plummeted the moment he left the field. The offense looked completely lost with Heinicke at the controls.
What does this tell us about both teams?
For Pittsburgh, it proves they’re for real in the AFC North race. Fields has found his groove, the defense remains elite, and Tomlin has them playing disciplined football in all three phases.
For LA, everything revolves around Herbert’s health. Without him, they lack the firepower to hang with playoff-caliber opponents. Harbaugh’s run-first philosophy also needs work, as 61 rushing yards won’t cut it against top defenses.
The Los Angeles Chargers vs Pittsburgh Steelers matchup revealed two teams on different trajectories. Pittsburgh keeps rolling with a perfect record, while LA limps home wondering what might have been had their franchise QB stayed in the game.
