Chargers’ Offense Proves a Complete Bust : AFC: San Diego averages less than a yard per carry and loses to Steelers, 16-3.

In what is becoming a rare sight in the NFL, San Diego’s offense was on the field for a touchdown. Pittsburgh, however, was the team that scored.

San Diego committed three critical turnovers and averaged less than a yard per carry in a 16-3 loss Sunday.

One of the miscues--a fumble by quarterback Stan Humphries in the third quarter--was returned by Steeler linebacker Levon Kirkland 16 yards for the only touchdown of the game.

The Chargers’ two victories this season came when John Carney provided all the points on field goals. Neither team had an offensive touchdown in this one, either, but the Steelers’ big-play defense and Gary Anderson’s three field goals were enough.

San Diego (2-3) was held without a touchdown for the third time in five games. The Chargers’ running game managed only 19 yards in 20 carries as Greg Lloyd, Kirkland and Kevin Greene teed off on quarterbacks John Friesz and Humphries.

Barry Foster, held to 36 yards in the Steelers’ 23-6 victory at San Diego last year, ran for 110 yards as the Steelers (3-2) won their third in a row to tie Cleveland for the AFC Central lead.

With Pittsburgh leading 6-3, Friesz--making his first start since 1991--drove the Chargers to a first down at the Steeler eight midway through the third quarter. But he was intercepted by Darren Perry as Greene slammed him to the turf, forcing Friesz out of the game with a mild concussion.

That brought on Humphries.

On his first series, Humphries was blindsided by Lloyd--the Steelers blitzed on nearly every down in the second half--and Kirkland scooped up the ball and carried into the end zone. That made it 13-3, an insurmountable disadvantage the way the Chargers were moving the ball.

“The touchdown was easy, but I thought I was going to go out of bounds,” Kirkland said. “But my high school running back instincts took over.”

San Diego averaged only 2.7 yards per play in totaling 138 yards.

Pittsburgh’s offense wasn’t much better, managing only Anderson’s field goals of 37, 34 and 35 yards. Neil O’Donnell appeared to throw a two-yard scoring pass to Jeff Graham with 7:47 to play, but referee Gary Lane ruled Graham out of bounds in the rear of the end zone.

Graham threw his helmet in protest, drawing a 15-yard penalty, and the Steelers settled for Anderson’s third field goal, which moved him past Lou Groza into ninth place on the NFL’s all-time field goal list with 265. Anderson is eight for eight on field goals this season.

“What bothered me most is that after the touchdown call was made, the refs had to huddle and then change their call,” O’Donnell said. “If they had called no TD right away, that’s not so bad. I feel bad for Jeff because he made a great catch.”