No D for Chargers = No win in Pittsburgh

Halfway through the third quarter at Heinz Field the Steelers were up 28-0 and on their way to a total laugher. The Chargers offense had been shut down by Pittsburgh, and their defense was equally inept in trying to contain the Steelers offense. Many of the Steeler faithful had already departed, figuring they had the game in the bag. But one thing the Chargers have proven to their fans and opposing fans alike is that with them the game is never over till it’s over. And by the time the fourth quarter was nearing an end the Chargers had pulled to within one touchdown.

The Steelers wasted no time getting their offense going and abusing the Chargers defense. On the game’s opening drive Pittsburgh went right down the field for a touchdown, seemingly unchallenged. The Chargers couldn’t even force them into one third down situation as the Steelers converted one first down after another and ended the drive with a one yard touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall. It was a sign of things to come for the Chargers, for by game’s end Mendenhall, playing for an injured Willie Parker, would have rushed for over 160 yards with two touchdowns.

Stopping the Steelers rushing attack wasn’t the only problem for the Chargers on Sunday night. They also had to deal with Ben Rothlisberger and had virtually no success against him as well. After Mendenhall’s touchdown the Chargers went three and out, and the Steelers marched right back down the field again. Big Ben threw his first of two touchdown passes to Mewelde Moore for 19 yards. Rothlisberger torched San Diego all night with a lot of help from his offensive line and his typical elusiveness in the pocket. He finished up with 333 yards passing and for the most part the Chargers pass rush could not lay a finger on him.

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Pittsburgh opened the second half with a 21-0 lead and would soon add another touchdown to go up 28-0. It wasn’t until the final minutes of the third quarter that the Chargers got on the scoreboard. Phillip Rivers’ touchdown pass to Antonio Gates made it 28-7, and that’s when the game started to change with some wild plays. In the fourth quarter after another three and out, San Diego punted the ball to Stefan Logan who got held up at the Pittsburgh 41 by several Chargers. Jacob Hester ripped the ball out of Logan’s grasp and ran it back 41 yards for a touchdown. The Steelers quickly responded with another score to go up 35-14, but just couldn’t seem to shake off San Diego.

The Chargers scored again when Rivers hit Antonio Gates for a 30 yard touchdown, and on the ensuing play, recovered an onside kick with 5:48 remaining. With the help of a pass interference call and three straight completions by Rivers, the Chargers converted their fourth touchdown of the game and had drawn to within seven points. But with four and half minutes left on the clock it was going to be up to the San Diego defense to do something they had struggled to do all night long, get a stop. They didn’t even come close as Rothlisberger got the Steelers going again and moved the ball into position for a field goal. Jeff Reed’s kick made it 38-28 with hardly any time left. It was finally the final nail in the coffin.

And so the Chargers losing streak in Pittsburgh continues, now reaching 14 straight losses. On the season they are 2-2 and heading into the bye week where they’ll need to regroup, especially on defense. The biggest game of their season to this point awaits them when they return to Qualcomm Stadium following the bye to face their divisional rivals the Denver Broncos. Denver has gotten off to a fantastic start at 4-0 and they now lead the Chargers by two games. It’ll be their first meeting since last year’s season finally in which the Chargers ruined the Broncos hopes of making the playoffs and won the AFC West title. It’s still early in the season but this game could go a long way to deciding who wins the division title this year.

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