CHARGERS (2-0) at STEELERS (2-0)
When: 10 a.m. PT Sunday
Where: Acrisure Stadium
TV/radio: CBS (Ch. 2); 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Steelers by 1½ points
Notable injury designations
Chargers: OUT: LB Junior Colson (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: OLB Bud DuPree (illness), S Alohi Gilman (knee), QB Justin Herbert (ankle), WR Joshua Palmer (elbow/calf), CB Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula).
Steelers: OUT: TE MyCole Pruitt (knee), G Isaac Seumalo (pectoral). QUESTIONABLE: OL Troy Fautanu (knee), QB Russell Wilson (calf).
What’s at stake: The Chargers haven’t started a season with a 3-0 record since 2002, when they ended up with an 8-8 record and were third in the AFC West in Marty Schottenheimer’s first season as their coach. The Steelers can start the season 3-0 for the fourth time under head coach Mike Tomlin (2007, ’10 and ’20).
Who’s better: The Chargers have given up 6.5 points per game through two games, tops in the NFL. The Steelers have given up eight points per game through two weeks, second behind the Chargers. So, does that mean the Chargers are the better team going into their clash with the Steelers? Well, the oddsmakers have made the Steelers a slight favorite, the first time the Chargers haven’t been favored. So much depends on whether Justin Herbert is sound enough to play, and if he does play, how effective he can be against the best defense he’ll face so far.
Matchup to watch: Joe Alt, the right tackle who was the Chargers’ first-round draft pick in April, did well in his NFL debut against the Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby. He’s going to get another strong challenge from Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, and it will be a matchup worth watching Sunday. The Chargers asked their offensive line to improve from Week 1 to Week 2 and again from Week 2 to Week 3. Alt earned an 87.2 rating from Pro Football Focus after the Chargers’ victory over the Panthers, tops among all tackles in the NFL.
Chargers win if: Herbert revealed Friday that he suffered a high ankle sprain during the Chargers’ victory over the Panthers, the worst kind of sprain. Recovery and rehabilitation typically take longer than with other types of sprains. No question his mobility would be limited if he does play and it could even trouble him while simply handing off the ball. Easton Stick is slated to start if Herbert is sidelined. Stick was 0-4 last season as Herbert’s replacement after Herbert suffered a season-ending finger injury. So, you do the math. It doesn’t add up if Herbert can’t play.
Fantasy sleeper: J.K. Dobbins led the NFL with 266 yards going into Week 3. He is the first Chargers running back in their history to rush for back-to-back 100-yard games to start the season. Only six players in league history have rushed for 100 or more yards in three consecutive games to start a season, led by Jim Brown, who started the 1958 season by gaining 100 or more in six consecutive games. Dobbins isn’t there yet, but if we’ve learned nothing from the Chargers’ first two games of the season, they’re going to hand him the ball again and again. Dobbins and Gus Edwards have teamed to make up a punishing backfield duo.
Prediction: If Herbert plays, expect the Chargers to stick to their ground game if it proves to be effective against a formidable defensive opponent. If he doesn’t play, then it will be up to Stick to play to his strengths. Either way, it might be a long afternoon for the Chargers’ offense. Steelers 17, Chargers 16.
