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Chargers make Aaron Rodgers look like a 41-year-old QB in defense-driven win
An end to the shutdown?
Not for the Chargers.
Their defense smothered the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 25-10 victory Sunday night, and limited Aaron Rodgers to a cosmetic touchdown at the end, intercepting him twice and sacking him three times — once in the end zone for a safety.
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Sam Farmer breaks down what went right for the Chargers in a 25-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
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Keenan Allen breaks franchise record for receptions in Chargers’ win
🏈 Chargers 25, Steelers 10 — FINAL
Behind a stellar defensive effort that forced Aaron Rodgers into two interceptions and sacked him three times, the Chargers earned their third consecutive win.
The Chargers held Pittsburgh to 221 total yards, and the Steelers didn’t find the end zone until the game was out of reach late in the fourth quarter.
With the game decided, Keenan Allen broke the Chargers franchise record for most career receptions (956) on a seven-yard pop pass just before the two-minute warning. Allen told NBC’s Melissa Stark after the game that he drew up the play.
Justin Herbert completed 20 of 33 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown despite being sacked five times. Ladd McConkey had four catches for 107 yards and one touchdown.
Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals as the Chargers improved to 7-3.
Rodgers completed 16 of 31 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown for the Steelers (5-4).
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Steelers finally find the end zone late in fourth quarter
🏈 Chargers 25, Steelers 10 — 2:57 left in the fourth quarter
Roman Wilson scored on a 27-yard run-and-catch pass from Aaron Rodgers for Pittsburgh’s first touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
The Steelers, who are out of timeouts, drove the ball 65 yards on eight plays. Pittsburgh failed to recover the ensuing onside kick, keeping the Chargers firmly in control.
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Chargers extend their lead after muffed punt by Steelers
🏈 Chargers 25, Steelers 3 — 4:54 left in the fourth quarter
Cameron Dicker kicked a 42-yard field goal — his third field goal of the game — to keep the Chargers in control late in the game.
The field goal came after Pittsburgh’s Ke’Shawn Williams muffed a punt and Del’Shawn Phillips recovered the ball on the Steelers’ 21-yard line.
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Donte Jackson picks off Aaron Rodgers in fourth quarter
🏈 Chargers 22, Steelers 3 — 8:39 left in the fourth quarter
Cornerback Donte Jackson intercepted an Aaron Rodgers pass that deflected off the hands of Calvin Austin III, giving the Chargers yet another chance to extend their lead.
It was Rodgers’ second interception of the game.
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Ladd McConkey’s 58-yard catch sets up another Chargers TD
🏈 Chargers 22, Steelers 3 — 9:26 left in the fourth quarter
Kimani Vidal scored on a two-yard run to give the Chargers a commanding lead in the fourth quarter.
The touchdown was set up by a 58-yard reception by Ladd McConkey, who found an open lane along the sideline before being brought down by Jalen Ramsey at the Steelers’ 13-yard line.
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Chargers stop Steelers on fourth down in red zone
🏈 Chargers 15, Steelers 3 — 12:41 left in the fourth quarter
On fourth down, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers failed to connect with receiver DK Metcalf under tight coverage from Chargers cornerback Cam Hart, keeping it a two-score game.
The incompletion capped an eight-play, 45-yard drive that included an 18-yard pass to Jaylen Warren.
The Chargers have held Aaron Rodgers to nine-of-21 passing for 91 yards.
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Cameron Dicker misses 55-yard field-goal attempt
🏈 Chargers 15, Steelers 3 — 45 second left in the third quarter
After the Chargers held the Steelers to another three and out, they had another chance to add to their lead, but Cameron Dicker missed a 55-yard field-goal attempt, with the ball hitting the left upright.
The attempt came after a 12-yard reception by Tyler Conklin following Pittsburgh’s fourth sack of the game allowed the Chargers to move into field-goal range.
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Cameron Dicker’s 59-yard field goal gives Chargers a 15-3 lead
🏈 Chargers 15, Steelers 3 — 6:07 left in the third quarter
Cameron Dicker kicked a career-best 59-yard field goal to cap a six-play, 36-yard drive and extend the Chargers’ lead.
Kimani Vidal had runs of 12 and eight yards to move the Chargers into field-goal range.
On the Steelers’ first possession of the second half, Tuli Tuipulotu sacked Aaron Rodgers for the Chargers’ third sack of the game.
It wasn’t all good news for the Chargers. Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II went to the locker room after sustaining a knee injury. He is questionable to return.
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Chargers take 12-3 halftime lead on Ladd McConkey TD catch
🏈 Chargers 12, Steelers 3 — HALFTIME
Ladd McConkey caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert to help extend the Chargers lead n the final seconds of the first half.
The touchdown capped a seven-play, 38-yard drive that included an eight-yard run by Kimani Vidal and a seven-yard reception by Quentin Johnston.
The Chargers capitalized on good field position after safety RJ Mickens picked off an Aaron Rodgers pass to put the ball on the Pittsburgh 38.
Herbert has completed 13 of 22 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Vidal has 49 yards in eight carries.
Rodgers has completed seven of 14 passes for 64 yards.
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Chargers take lead on Cameron Dicker field goal
🏈 Chargers 5, Steelers 3 — 7:32 left in the second quarter
Cameron Dicker kicked a 32-yard field goal to give the Chargers their first lead of the game after a 13-play, 51-yard drive fizzled in the red zone.
After a 16-yard catch by Ladd McConkey got the Chargers into the red zone, Justin Herbert threw three straight incomplete passes. Nick Herbig sacked him for a five-yard loss before McConkey’s catch.
The Pittsburgh defense is constantly pressuring and hitting Herbert, who was limping slightly as he made his way to the sideline after the drive. Trainers added more tape to both of his ankles on the sideline.
Steelers cornerback Darius Slay is being evaluated for a concussion and is listed as questionable to return.
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Missed field goal keeps it a one-point game
🏈 Steelers 3, Chargers 2 — 13:10 left in the second quarter
Steelers kicker Chris Boswell missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt to keep it a one-point game.
The wide-right kick came after an 18-yard pass to tight end Jonnu Smith was ruled incomplete after video review, stalling a nine-play, 52-yard drive.
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Khalil Mack sacks Aaron Rodgers for a safety
🏈 Steelers 3, Chargers 2 — 5:09 left in first quarter
Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack sacked Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the end zone to get the Chargers on the board. Under pressure, Rodgers nearly fumbled the ball away before recovering as he was hit by Mack.
So far it’s been a defensive showcase for both teams. The Steelers went nowhere on their third possession after taking over from their six-yard line.
On the ensuing possession, the Chargers went three and out for the second time tonight. They have just one first down on three possessions.
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Steelers take early lead on 59-yard field goal
🏈 Steelers 3, Chargers 0 — 10:25 left in the first quarter
Chris Boswell kicked a 59-yard field goal to give the Steelers an early lead after the Chargers went three and out on their first possession.
The field-goal try came after JK Scott’s punt only went 34 yards, allowing Pittsburgh to take over on the Chargers’ 46-yard line.
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Chargers and Steelers go three and out on first possessions
🏈 Steelers 0, Chargers 0 — 12:04 left in the first quarter
The Chargers went three and out on their first possession after Justin Herbert couldn’t connect with rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II on third and nine.
The Steelers went three and out on the game’s first possession (Chargers won the coin toss and deferred to second half).
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Why NFL legends consider Justin Herbert and Aaron Rodgers virtuosos in the art of passing
Jim Harbaugh stood in a back hallway at Chargers headquarters and pantomimed the ideal way to toss a football, a throwback to his days as a first-round pick and 14-year career as an NFL quarterback.
“I can feel it coming off that finger,” the coach said, his right hand clutching an imaginary ball, “then that one, then that one, then the thumb, and then the last finger. When you hit it right, like a tuning fork goes off — oh, that was sweet. You feel it.”
When he finished, he struck the pose of an artist, with his right hand reaching forward as if holding a small, invisible brush to canvas.
Show me the Monet.
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Keith Browner, former USC linebacker and member of a large NFL family, dies at 63
Former USC and NFL linebacker Keith Browner died Tuesday morning in San Leandro, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau confirmed Wednesday. He was 63.
Keith Browner Jr. told TMZ that he talked to his father Monday night when the elder Browning was having stomach problems, vomiting and feeling tired. Browner Jr. said his father told him he would go to the hospital the next morning.
Browner was getting ready to go to the hospital Tuesday morning, according to TMZ, “when he curled over the side of a chair and collapsed to the floor next to his girlfriend.” TMZ also reported that “it appears” Browner suffered a heart attack and that his death was “unexpected and sudden.”
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Oronde Gadsden II one of the NFL’s biggest surprises? Not to those who know him best
Tre’ Harris watched as Oronde Gadsden II burst by him, the 6-foot-5 tight end chugging over the turf at Golden West College’s football field.
Months before Harris and Gadsden suited up as Chargers rookies, the duo were catching passes from Jaxson Dart — now the starting quarterback for the New York Giants — during pre-NFL Scouting Combine training sessions at the Huntington Beach community college as the trio took advantage of sunny weather in Southern California.
“I saw his talents immediately,” Dart said of Gadsden. “Skill set-wise, I thought he was a very unique athlete, being, you know, the stature that he is. I thought his footwork was some of the best that I’ve seen.”
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Trevor Penning eager to bolster Chargers’ big need to protect Justin Herbert
Trevor Penning couldn’t help but smile and chuckle after arriving in the brisk El Segundo weather from New Orleans early Wednesday morning.
It was fewer than 24 hours after he’d been told of the trade of which he wasn’t expecting, standing in front of his new end-of-the-hallway locker in the Chargers’ clubhouse. A placard listing Penning’s high school-recruiting rating, and the schools he attended, had yet to be placed atop his stall next to long snapper Josh Harris.
“It’s pretty crazy — overnight,” said the fourth-year offensive lineman, a former 2022 first-round draft pick of the Saints. “You get five more wins on [the record]. ... I’m excited to be here.”
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Joe Alt to miss remainder of season in another huge blow to Chargers’ offensive line
A bad situation on the Chargers offensive line just got worse, as the team announced Monday that standout left tackle Joe Alt will undergo season-ending ankle surgery.
Alt, who missed three games earlier in the season because of an ankle injury, re-injured the same ankle during Sunday’s victory at the Tennessee Titans when linebacker Jihad Ward was blocked into the back of his legs.
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Chargers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: How to watch, start time and prediction
On one side, Justin Herbert. On the other, Aaron Rodgers. They’re two of the prettiest passers in NFL history, and they’ll be meeting Sunday night at SoFi Stadium.
Both the Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off victories, with the Chargers winning in Tennessee, and the Steelers forcing six turnovers to hand the Indianapolis Colts just their second loss.
The Chargers lost left tackle Joe Alt to a season-ending ankle injury and once again have to reshuffle an offensive line that has been in a constant state of flux.