The shorthanded Chargers managed to not only beat the Steelers, but they overwhelmed Pittsburgh to the tune of a 25-10 score and two interceptions off future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Rodgers.
Jesse Minter’s
defense was stellar as they made the veteran quarterback uncomfortable all night long and were at their best when their best was needed, specifically in the red zone with their backs up against the wall.
It was a fun game to watch in the end, but you had to make it through a rather ugly start for both teams.
Below are my three winners and two losers from the Chargers’ latest victory!
Winners
WR Ladd McConkey
McConkey caught four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers to help put away the Steelers in primetime. His 58-yard catch-and-run was the longest play of the day for either team and it directly led to one of LA’s touchdowns when Kimani Vidal bowled into the end zone two plays later.
McConkey has three touchdowns and over 400 yards receiving over his last five games and it’s no surprise the Bolts are 4-1 over that span. He’s played a big part in the Chargers offense staying afloat despite the injuries.
RB Kimani Vidal
For the third time over the past five games, Vidal has totaled over 100 yards of offense while also finding the end zone. Against the Steelers, he didn’t have to break any long runs to keep the Chargers offense churning. Consistent gains of six, seven, and eight yards was just what the doctor ordered for an ugly game between two AFC squads who were looking to boost their resumes for the postseason.
Omarion Hampton isn’t expected to return, at the earliest, until after the team’s Week 12 bye, which means Vidal has at least one more game to start before the first-rounder is back. If he puts together another strong outing, the coaching staff may be forced to split carries more than they initially planned to.
EDGE Khalil Mack
Mack had one of the plays of the night when he forced Aaron Rodgers to exit the pocket backwards into the end zone before sacking the quarterback for a massive safety early in the game. He finished with three pressures in all and made his presence felt once again in the trenches.
Losers
OT Austin Deculus
Deculus somehow won the starting left tackle job against the Steelers over Jamaree Salyer in Week 10 before going on to be the team’s lowest-ranked player on offense via Pro Football Focus with a 35.1 overall game grade. His run block grade of 37.1 was the worst among the starting five linemen and his 39.8 in pass blocking was somehow just the third worst. Still, when you consider that a 60.0 is an average grade, it shows you just how underwhelming he was.
Entering Week 10, he was 13th in pressures allowed by offensive tackles (despite only playing four full games) and proceeded to allow four more to the Steelers on Sunday night.
OG Mekhi Becton
Becton ended Sunday night allowing a team-high five pressures to the Steelers, including a sack. His 36.6 pass block grade from PFF was the worst on the team and he was also called for a penalty.
The giant right guard has been in and out of the lineup all year with various injuries and it’s been tough to watch in a year where the Chargers already lost their two best linemen. Becton was supposed to help reinforce the interior, but he’s often been sidelined for one reason or another and even when healthy, he hasn’t been all that great as of late.
