However on the primary play from scrimmage, Fields’ cross to Cordarrelle Patterson was batted into the air the place it was intercepted by former Steelers outdoors linebacker Bud Dupree on the 34 for the sport’s first turnover.
Elandon Roberts sacked Herbert on first right down to push the Chargers again, and after a three-and-out, the Steelers acquired the ball again at their very own 15.
The Steelers marched downfield with the assistance of three Los Angeles penalties – together with private fouls on security Derwin James and Khalil Mack – to arrange a 30-yard discipline objective by Boswell for a 13-10 lead with 14:14 remaining within the recreation.
“(We) performed nice for a very long time. Performed nice on offense for a very long time. Performed nice on protection for a very long time,” mentioned Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. “After which the drive with the three penalties, even that drive, they had been capable of maintain to a discipline objective, 45 yards of penalties.”
Herbert and left sort out Rashawn Slater had been each injured on the earlier drive, Herbert aggravating an ankle harm that had compelled him out of shape all week, Slater with a pectoral muscle harm. That compelled backup Taylor Heinicke into the sport for Los Angeles.
The Chargers moved the ball out to midfield, however T.J. Watt picked up a third-down sack, ending the risk and forcing Los Angeles to punt.
Taking on inside their very own 20, the Steelers moved the ball out to midfield when Fields discovered Austin in the course of the sphere by himself within the Chargers’ zone protection. Austin caught the ball, turned upfield and outraced security Elijah Molden to the top zone to present the Steelers a 20-10 lead with 7:02 remaining within the recreation.
“They had been simply within the zone. Quartering, you are actually simply high-lowing that hook defender,” mentioned Fields. “The hook defender took (Pickens) beneath and Calvin was proper behind him. Nice play name.”
Herbig and Cam Heyward each recorded sacks on Los Angeles’ subsequent possession, ending any probability the Chargers would have of a comeback.
The Steelers’ offense made {that a} moot level, working out the clock the remainder of the way in which, with Najee Harris ending issues off with a run to the 1 on the two-minute warning.
The Steelers rushed for 114 yards, with Harris, regardless of a sluggish begin, ending with 70 yards on 18 carries.
“They only needed to be the most effective protection on the sphere,” Tomlin mentioned of his protection, which entered the sport having allowed the second-fewest factors (16) this season to Los Angeles (13).
“They reply to these issues and take these challenges very personally, they usually performed prefer it.”