The Chargers return to Heinz Field

This Sunday the Chargers will return to the stadium where two of their most gut wrenching losses took place from a year ago. San Diego lost both games they played at Heinz Field against the Steelers last season. The first defeat came in week eleven when they came up on the short end of an 11-10 final, which was by the way, history in the making as no NFL game had ever ended with that same score. The second loss of the two ended the Chargers season in the divisional round of the playoffs with the Steelers posting a 35-24 win. It also continued the Steelers dominance over the Chargers in Pittsburgh where the Steelers are a perfect 13-0 in regular season games. This weekend the Chargers will try to snap that long painful streak.

Injuries concerning this game bring a bit of good news and bad news for the Chargers. The good news is that LaDainian Tomlinson has practiced and could return to the field after missing the last two weeks. His contributions are sorely needed for a running game that has been anemic in his absence and has finished last in the AFC with around 66 yards per game. As for the bad news it comes in the form of one, Troy Polamalu. Polamalu has missed the last two games as well ever since injuring his knee in the season opener. In the two meetings between these teams last year, Polamalu was a thorn in the Chargers side, especially in the 11-10 game when he made a spectacular interception that will be in the NFL films highlight reels for years to come.

Polamalu is clearly a force on the football field and if he does return it will make the Chargers bid for ending their losing streak in Pittsburgh even more difficult. Polamalu consistently makes plays in the secondary, but he’s also effective against the run. Already, the Steelers defense is ranked near the top in run defense so for the Chargers to be successful they’re going to need a good mix of pass and run offense. Through the first three weeks Phillip Rivers has continued to prove that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, averaging over 315 yards passing per game. However, he has three interceptions to go along with his three touchdowns so far this year. With or without Polamalu in the secondary, Rivers will have to be more careful with the football, for a game like this will likely be tight and one turnover could make all the difference between winning and losing.

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Last week against the Dolphins, the Chargers run defense had its best performance to this point in the 2009 season. They may be in a bit of luck this week as the Steelers run game has not played well. The Steelers are ranked 27 th in the league with an average of 81 yards per game, and Willie Parker is a bit nicked up with a toe injury. But what might counteract this for San Diego is the injury to Shawn Merriman who was sidelined with a groin injury late in the game against Miami and is still listed as questionable for the showdown at Heinz Field.

The Steelers have lost two games in a row to the Bears and Bengals to drop below 500 at 1-2. For the Chargers it’s a toss up as to whether they’re meeting Pittsburgh at the right or wrong time. One thing for sure, the defending champions will fight them for every inch to avoid falling to 1-3. The Chargers will have to match their intensity if they want to keep pace in their own division where they trail the undefeated Broncos (3-0) by one game. Nevertheless, Sunday’s game should be a hard-hitting, down to the wire contest between two perennial playoff teams with Super Bowl aspirations.

By Steven Mondelli
ProFootball-fans.com San Diego Chargers Correspondent