The Chargers and Steelers square off on Sunday Night Football on Sunday, in a game that probably should have been flexed. This is the story of two teams with high expectations that have seen key injuries dramatically alter their season arc. The Steelers are onto their third quarterback while the Chargers are down to their third and fourth options at offensive tackle and safety. Today we will take a look at what’s left of each team’s offensive and defensive units and how they matchup in this crucial Week 6 tilt.

Chargers Offense Vs Steelers Defense

The Chargers offense is coming off of its worst performance of the season managing just six points last week. Heading into their last drive, when the game was out of reach, they had gained an abysmal 185 total yards of offense.

This week, the game plan for the team has to be cashing in on scoring opportunities. The Chargers had four trips into the red zone last week and came away with only three points while committing two turnovers. I expect when they get close this week they will look for Mike Williams, who is still looking for his first score after ranking 6th in the NFL with 10 touchdowns last season.

One battle in this game that I’m looking forward to is Austin Ekeler against rookie linebacker Devin Bush. Even with the return of Melvin Gordon, Ekeler managed a franchise-record 15 receptions in Week 5. The Chargers love throwing to their backs so the super athletic Bush should have plenty of 1-on-1 opportunities with Ekeler in the open field.

Another key matchup in this game is the Steeler’s stellar defensive line versus a weak Chargers offensive line. Tackles Trent Scott and Sam Tevi have been the weakest links and will have a tough time trying to stop T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward. The Steelers have already notched 19.0 sacks this year and will have another great matchup.

One way Los Angeles will try to combat the pass-rush will be running the football. The Steelers have a formidable front but they can be gashed on the ground. Melvin Gordon will have to muster up a better performance than the 12 carries for 31 yards he had against Denver. Expect the Chargers to try and use a lot of misdirections and jet sweep motions to attack the edge of Pittsburgh’s defense.