Steelers (1-4) at Chargers (2-3)
Steelers schedule
L ... at New England ... 33-3 L .......... Seattle .......... 28-26 L ..... atSanFran . ..... 24-20 W ....... Cincinnati ....... 27-3 L .... Baltimore .... 26-23OT Oct. 13 at L.A. Chrgrs 8:20 Oct. 20 ............. BYE ............. Oct. 28 ....... Miami ....... 8:15 Nov. 3 ..... Indianapolis ..... 1 Nov. 10 ... L.A. Rams ... 4:25 Nov. 14 at Cleveland 8:20 Nov.24...atCincinnati...1 Dec. 1 .... Cleveland .... 4:25 Dec. 8 .... at Arizona .... 4:25 Dec.15 ........ Buffalo ........ 1 Dec.22 .... atN.Y.Jets .... 1 Dec. 29 ... at Baltimore ... 1
Chargers schedule
W ..... Indianapolis ..... 30-24 L ........ at Detroit ........ 13-10 L ......... Houston ......... 27-20 W ........ atMiami ........ 30-10 L .......... Denver .......... 20-13 Oct. 13 ... Pittsburgh ... 8:20 Oct. 20 at Tennessee 4:05 Oct. 27 ...... at Chicago ...... 1 Nov. 3 .... Green Bay .... 4:25 Nov. 7 .... at Oakland .... 8:20 Nov. 18 .. K.C. (Mex.) .. 8:15 Nov. 24 .............. BYE ............. Dec. 1 ..... at Denver ..... 4:25 Dec. 8 at Jacksonville 4:05 Dec. 15 ... Minnesota ... 8:20 Dec. 21 or 22. Oakland .TBD Dec. 29 .. at Kansas City .. 1
Sunday, 5:20 p.m. PT, Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
TV: NBC
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 51⁄2
Steelers’ keys to victory: Pittsburgh is without injured QBs Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph, which means rookie Devlin Hodges will get his first NFL start. It also means the Steelers will have to rely heavily on RBs James Connor and Jaylen Samuels against a Los Angeles rush defense that is suspect. Defensively, the Steelers must prevent QB Philip Rivers from having time to sling it to his favorite target, WR Keenan Allen.
Chargers’ keys to victory: Even though QB Philip Rivers is one of the best under pressure, the offensive line can’t afford for him to be under duress facing a Steelers team that ranks No. 3 in sacks with 19. Rivers might struggle against a defense that has not allowed 200 yards passing the past two games. Instead, Los Angeles needs to get the running game going. Defensively, the Chargers’ pass rush will need to make the rookie quarterback feel the heat.
Matchup to watch: Steelers’ defensive line vs. Chargers’ offensive line. This game will be won or lost in the trenches. The Steelers could capitalize if they dominate a lackluster offensive line. The only way the Chargers can have success offensively is if the guys up front are in control.
Who wins? The Chargers are missing a lot of key players, but the Steelers are playing without their top two quarterbacks. The Steelers have been stringing good defensive outings the past couple of weeks, and the Chargers have struggled to move the ball and are giving up big plays that ultimately determine the outcome.
Steelers, 14-10 Chargers