Justin Fields hooked up with Calvin Austin III on a 55-yard touchdown pass that broke open a close game in the fourth quarter, and the Steelers improved to 3-0 with a 20-10 win over the Chargers at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday.
Fields was 25-for-32 with 245 yards, running for one touchdown and passing for another, to Austin, with one interception off a tipped pass. That was his first interception of the year. Austin caught four passes for 95 yards.
The Steelers defense clamped down on the Chargers in the second half, limiting them to minus-five yards and sacking Chargers quarterbacks five times in the game. Nick Herbig had two of the sacks, subbing for Alex Highsmith, who left the game with a groin injury.
LA’s Justin Herbert was 12-for-19 passing for 125 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game after reaggravating his high ankle sprain. J.K. Dobbins, who was leading the NFL in rushing coming into the game, was held to just 44 yards on 15 carries.
Coach Mike Tomlin was happy to see the Steelers step up against one of the NFL’s better teams.
Tomlin says his defense is a proud unit and wanted to show its stuff against a potent Chargers offense.
The coach says his defense gets after it when they are challenged.
The Steelers ran for 114 yards on 31 attempts, but had only 34 yards rushing in the fourth quarter when they finally wore down the Chargers’ defense. Tomlin knew it was going to be a battle up front.
Linebacker TJ Watt had another sack for the Steelers, giving him one in each of the team’s three games. He says the defense got stronger as the game went on.
Watt says Herbig, a second-year linebacker, was a force filling in for Alex Highsmith.
Watt credits the Steelers for developing quality backup so they can rotate into the lineup and keep everyone fresh.
Fields is completing 73.3 percent of his passes this season, a career high by far. He says his confidence is high.
Fields says Tomlin urged the offense to take control of the game in the second half.
Fields is enjoying being a Steeler and is ready to start preparing for this Sunday’s game against the Colts.
In addition to Highsmith’s groin injury, the Steelers lost cornerback Cory Trice Jr. and running back Jaylen Warren to apparent hamstring injuries.
The Steelers play the Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday at one o’clock (WDAD). The Colts are 1-2 after a 21-16 win over the Bears yesterday.
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