Hello StormCloud, Stacey Mallory gives his thoughts on the L.A. Chargers tough loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, losing key players to injury, and now with a depleted offensive line the coaching Staff must put together a game plan to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in SoFi.
The Chargers came into Pittsburgh with momentum after starting 2-0 in their first two games, playing stellar defense and boasting a power running game, with a rejuvenated J.K. Dobbins returning to his playmaking form. In their quest to make a statement and prove they are a team to be taken seriously, they put up a courageous fight, going blow for blow with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Unfortunately, Joey Bosa and Justin Herbert entered the game nursing injuries from last week’s matchup with the Carolina Panthers. Bosa had to leave after the first series due to a hip injury. The Chargers managed to match the Steelers’ physicality, with both defenses doing a great job of taking away the opponent’s ground game in the first half. Quentin Johnston continued to improve, scoring his third touchdown of the season. At halftime, it was anybody’s game, with the Chargers leading 10-7.
At the beginning of the third quarter, the Chargers had several opportunities to get the defense off the field, but penalties and missed tackles by Asante Samuel, along with personal fouls on Derwin James, allowed the Steelers to extend drives. Darius Davis took the first Chargers possession of the second half out of the end zone, only to be tackled at the 10-yard line. That’s when the tide began to change.
With Rashawn Slater in and out of the game due to a pectoral injury, Justin Herbert was later sacked and injured when Cameron Heyward fell on his already injured ankle. Greg Roman called for three straight passing plays, and Pittsburgh took advantage of the injuries, overwhelming the Chargers’ offensive line. Joe Alt eventually left with a lower leg injury, leaving the offensive line depleted and dominated in the trenches by the end of the third quarter. The Chargers finished with just 61 rushing yards, 44 of those coming from Dobbins.
Defensive players from both teams were flying all over the field, and it was clear that this game would come down to one or two key plays. The Chargers’ defense rose to the challenge and played well for most of the game. However, a blown assignment led to a big pass across the middle in the fourth quarter, resulting in a touchdown that iced the game for Pittsburgh.
We knew Pittsburgh’s game plan was to shut down the Chargers’ potent running game, one of the NFL’s best. Surprisingly, in the third quarter, the Chargers gave up on the run too soon, becoming one-dimensional—a move Pittsburgh exploited. The Chargers, worn down from being on the field too long, began to feel the physical toll as the second half progressed.
The Harbaugh-Hortiz regime is working to change the culture and narrative of this Chargers organization, long plagued by injury and disappointment. Although the Chargers lost this hard-fought, tough, physical game, there was plenty of praise from Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin, who said, “They are built like us, they are well-coached, they are a good team, and we knew if we were going to win, we had to be at our best, and it wasn’t gonna be easy.”
Losing Slater and Joe Alt are huge blows to the offensive line, two of the biggest reasons why J.K. Dobbins had back-to-back great games and Justin Herbert had a clean pocket. Unfortunately, injuries—something that has haunted the Chargers since the late 2000s—reminded fans that there is still work to be done. However, having a regime in place like Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh is a great step forward for this organization. They know how to change cultures, build teams that can win consistently, create an identity, and understand what it takes because they’ve been there before.
The excitement of having Jim Harbaugh, Joe Hortiz, Greg Roman, and Jessie Minter has brought new energy and hope to an organization that’s been missing it for far too long. But Rome wasn’t built in a day. While the Chargers have the right people in the building to turn things around, it’s going to take good drafting and a continued reworking of the roster. I truly believe that before it’s all said and done, Jim Harbaugh will have this team competing for a championship sooner than most think.
Until then, the Chargers must put their best foot forward as they face a big test this week at SoFi Stadium against the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. I don’t know how this game will play out, but I can assure you that after coming off a loss, Jim Harbaugh, Greg Roman, and Jessie Minter will have a plan. This team, despite key injuries, will be ready to play inspiring football—because there’s no other choice.
No one in the league will feel sorry for the Chargers and their injuries. Regardless of who’s on the field, when you continue to battle, fight, and execute, great things eventually happen. What I’m looking for in this game against the Chiefs is how this Chargers team responds—how they handle the adversity staring them down in Week 4. This weekend’s game will tell us a lot about where the players are from a mental standpoint.
Some good back and forth on this excellent post by Stacey. I respectfully disagree with those who are advocating just conceding the loss to the Chiefs and resting up going into the bye. That acceptance of defeat in itself could be as injurious to this team’s season as the risk of further injury.
Herbert is going to play if he can walk out there. And he should. If you hold him out, there’s no guarantee that after resting for three weeks and getting healthy, he won’t get injured on the first play of the game after the bye. It happens; you work around it. You don’t concede games. Yes, they’ll have to cobble together the best o-line possible with the pieces available. But let’s be honest, that what Herbert’s been playing behind for most of his career.
As for the game, KC doesn’t look so intimidating this year, and this is exactly the kind of improbable win that the Chargers seem to play hardest for. Our defense has played well, and isn’t crippled – Bosa is always hurt anyway, so we have to scheme for Derwin being out, basically.
I say play the game with the intention to win it, and with the players we have available. That magical day when everyone is “healthy” never really comes and you can waste a lot of time worrying and hoping for it. I trust Harbaugh & Co. to pull Herbert if he can’t be protected or if the game is no longer winnable.
My 2 cents,and probably not worth even that.
I’m gonna say it right now….if Harbaugh plays Herbie this Sunday with the state of the offensive line, he’s gonna lose a fair amount of my support. I think it would be a terrible decision.
Buck – assuming Herbert plays, I think the type of game plan they put together needs to be factored in to decide whether you lose respect for Harbaugh. But you’re entitled to feel how you feel. And I respect it.
Herbert has played behind similar depleted lines before. My issue will be with who plays where on the O line. You have proven LT with Salyer and proven RT with Pipkins. You play Mustipher at RG – 40 starts in the league since 2020 and Sarrell only sees the field if one of the tackles gets hurt.
I would not play Pipkins or Sarrell at LT. If that happens I will agree with you about not playing him.
if the line is atrocious, and Herbert is getting killed take him out. Sure. But if he is healthy enough to start, then he should play. Mahomes played a number of games with a high ankle sprain. If memory serves late in the season in a run up to winning a Super Bowl two seasons ago. Yes a better line but it was banged up some and Mahomes was nowhere near as mobile. Reid just called the game differently and Mahomes played well enough to win. It can be done.
Another point which I failed to bring up initially is that Harbaugh knows the QB position very well since he played the position. I’m sure he’s played through a similar high ankle injury like Herbert’s. I trust that they will put together a game plan which involves a heavy dose of running the ball & getting the ball out quick to minimize the chance of him aggravating the ankle. This is a violent game, guys get hurt. You can’t control everything but you can at least put Herbert in a position that minimizes his chances of getting hurt again.
I think the other messaging you are sending the team if you protect Herbert too much (when he can play and protect himself) is that you are conceding a game to your main rival. That is not a message Harbaugh wants to send or will send. I also agree with your point about Harbaugh playing the position. He is specially qualified as a head coach given his playing in the NFL as a QB to assess the situation and make the right call.
I also don’t think Harbaugh will ignore the bigger picture of making the playoffs in making his decision. If he thinks there is a high likelihood Herbert will get more seriously injured and be lost for a longer stretch, he will factor that into his calculation.
Thank you.
Thanks for the write-up Stacey.
I read that Pipkins, Alt and Slater DNP in Wednesday’s practice. That would mean… Salyer at LT, Sarell at RT and McFadden at RG?
The Chargers went into Pittsburg intending on making the game a physical test and got their asses beat. To me, that’s more disappointing than the loss.
I smell disaster.
Ha ha ha. Coming from New Jersey I’ve invested a lot of money in tickets for me and my son, the Hotel, the Flight, Rental Car etc. Even if I wanted to cancel, I will lose majority of my money so i have to go out there and try to make the most of it. And Yes that Sucks.
Tough on us East Coast guys seeing our Bolts play. I broke down & got NFL Ticket after doing the math on bar spending…lol.
Hoping to get out to SoFi next year. No live games in my sights this year but that’s ok….by next year I hope we’re kicking ass & taking names.
Worthy of another. 🙂
Tonight.
I’m nearly always on the optimistic side of realism but I can’t imagine any reasonable scenario where the Chargers win this. With a week 5 bye coming, I say shut down the injured guys and give them as much time as possible to heal. That seems to me to be the responsible, long-term approach.
I also respect the opinion of others on the immediate path going forward. I just can’t see jeopardizing the player’s health and rest of the season for this upcoming game….no matter how much I’d love to beat KC.
Thanks as always for these articles and your perspective, Stacey. You add a lot to this burgeoning community.