The Steelers have long been a consistent and competitive team in the AFC under Mike Tomlin. That continues to be the case this year, especially in a season where the rest of the AFC North has been bombarded
with notable injuries, including to star quarterback Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.
Pittsburgh has also long been associated with a tough and hard-nosed defense. That is the prime difference with this team compared to years past, however. They’re ranked 21st in the NFL with an average allowance of 24.4 points per game. They actually were even worse than that before putting a lid on the Colts in Week Nine.
Depending on which Steelers defense shows up could ultimately decide this matchup. That storyline, and several others, are amongst the things I’ll be watching closely when these two teams take the field on Sunday night.
1.) How will new OL Trevor Penning figure into the starting lineup?
The Chargers made a move just before Tuesday’s deadline to add former Saints first-round pick Trevor Penning. Penning was drafted to play left tackle but has since seen an entire season of starts at right tackle and has played all but three games this season at left guard before being dealt.
Penning won’t be playing left guard for the Chargers, but he’s essentially got the chance to play either tackle spot or right guard if Mekhi Becton remains out. However, I think it’s a safe bet that Penning will be one of the team’s starting tackles against the Steelers.
Is that a good thing? Well, most of Penning’s starts in his career have come at right tackle (17) during the 2024 season. His 70.1 run blocking grade that year is the best single-season mark of his young career when he’s played at least 300 snaps. However, he was called for 13 penalties that year and allowed 54 pressures with five sacks. The hope is that Penning cleans up his game under Jim Harbaugh and his over-aggressive nature becomes more of a positive than a drawback.
With Bobby Hart expected to be out this week, I foresee Penning playing left tackle this week while Trey Pipkins plays right. It keeps both Penning and Pipkins on the sides they’ve been on all season which only sounds logical given the circumstances.
2.) Jesse Minter must exploit Steelers weak edge protection
Entering Week 10, the starting tackle duo for the Steelers has allowed a combined 31 pressures and six sacks, per Pro Football Focus. Left tackle Broderick Jones leads the team with 18 pressures on the year and is responsible for all six of the aforementioned sacks.
Luckily, the Chargers have some pretty good edge rushers to try and exploit this weakness. Jesse Minter is seemingly getting the most out of Odafe Oweh as he’s recorded four sacks over the last four games, two of which came against the Titans in Week Nine. While he’s mainly played in a rotational/situational role, the Bolts are still getting consistent pressure from starter Tuli Tuipulotu. Khalil Mack isn’t stuffing the stat sheet at much in this phase of his career, but his presence is still felt off the stat sheet all the same.
I expect Minter to find a way to get Rodgers with some happy feet by shrinking the pocket as much as possible. Coming off his own game with a sack vs. Tennessee, linebacker Henley should be utilized once more on designed blitzes. In fact, add safety Derwin James to that list as well who has been phenomenal coming off the edge from his slot alignment.
Rodgers is as seasoned as they come so it’s fair to expect some chess to be played as he navigates and extends plays in a way only uber-experienced passers know how, but as long as the Chargers end up winning more often than not, they’ll be in a prime position to come out victorious in primetime.
3.) Oronde Gadsden could be in store for a big day vs. Steelers second-level defenders
Steelers starting linebackers Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen have coverage grades of 55.6 and 29.8 entering Week 10, respectively, by Pro Football Focus. Wilson has allowed 31-of-34 (91.2 percent) targets his way to be completed for 288 yards (169 after the catch) and two touchdowns. Queen has allowed 38-of-51 targets (74.5 percent) to be completed for 477 yards (277 after the catch) and two touchdowns, as well.
Those are prime numbers to see if you’re hoping for a big day by Oronde Gadsden II in fantasy football, but it also bodes well for his chances of a big day to help lead the Chargers to victory at home. While both Wilson and Queen are athletic linebackers in their own right, these statistics show there’s some discrepancy between what they’re physically capable of compared to the obvious lapses in coverage they’re suffering.
Either way, the young tight end being able to exploit this weaknesses could help take a lot of pressure off the shoulders of Herbert and the rest of the offense.
