Chargers make Aaron Rodgers look old in win over

An end to the shutdown?

Not for the Chargers.

Their protection smothered the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 25-10 victory Sunday night time, and restricted Aaron Rodgers to a beauty landing at the end, intercepting him twice and sacking him 3 times — once in the end zone for a security.

“This one was won by strong, tough men,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Physicality and heart. I like the games of strategy and preparation, but this was one that came down to toughness and guts.”

Aaron Rodgers has thrown more landing passes than anybody on “Sunday Night Football,” yet the Chargers made him look every bit of his 41 years. The Steelers moved the ball and scored on their ultimate possession, when the result had already been determined, but before that had been 0 for 9 on third down.

Put bluntly by Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin: “We stunk it up tonight.”

The Chargers didn’t look particularly crisp, either, and quarterback Justin Herbert took another beating behind an offensive line that has had 19 different mixtures in 10 video games. He was sacked 5 instances — bringing his complete to 11 in the past two video games — and hit 9.

At one level in the second quarter, he was hit low from behind and lay on the turf for a second before gingerly climbing to his ft. On the sideline, trainers taped both his ankles and he didn’t miss a snap.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert scrambles against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

“Just got rolled up,” he explained. “A little bit of pain. But I thought we did a good job of talking about it on the sideline. I came off and felt like I was safe, comfortable to go back out there.”

The Chargers began slow offensively but started to collect a little momentum in the second quarter when Cameron Dicker kicked his first of three area targets, and Ladd McConkey scored on a 15-yard landing reception with 12 seconds remaining in the first half.

Pittsburgh was as cold as a Western Pennsylvania winter, even when cheered on by a SoFi Stadium full of followers. It was a black-and-gold takeover.

“We didn’t run the ball super effectively in the first half,” Rodgers said. “I missed some throws, for sure. At times guys were open and I didn’t hit them; other times, we just weren’t getting open. Just couldn’t put it all together.”

For the Steelers, that was a big letdown from the week before, when they handed the Indianapolis Colts just their second loss. In that recreation, Pittsburgh compelled six Colts turnovers. Sunday night time, the Chargers received the turnover battle, 3-0.

Chargers linebacker Bud Dupree dances after sacking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Not only did the Chargers cling onto the soccer, but they grabbed some staff data along the best way. Most notable Keenan Allen, who set a membership file in the waning moments of the sport with his 956th profession reception. He eclipsed the mark of Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates, his former teammate.

Allen spoke with Harbaugh on the sideline and prompt the play, which the receiver said would primarily be a assured reception. He started to dash from left to proper across the formation before the snap, then caught a completely timed shovel cross as he ran past Herbert, turning upfield and amassing seven yards.

“He’s one of those guys who’s always open,” Herbert said of Allen. “Even when he’s covered he’s open.”

Dicker kicked a 59-yard area aim, tying a membership file that he already shared. Khalil Mack, who corralled Rodgers for the security, grew to become the second participant in NFL historical past with at least 35 sacks for three different franchises. The late Hall of Famer Kevin Greene was the only other participant to do that.

The Chargers have received three in a row for the first time since their first three video games. Their offensive line stays an issue, and the staff certainly can be working in the newly acquired sort out Trevor Penning for Sunday’s recreation at Jacksonville.

The particular groups, which gave up a punt-return landing at Tennessee the week before, collected a muffed punt by Pittsburgh in the fourth quarter.

Harbaugh said the rumors of the demise of the Chargers offensive line and particular groups had been untimely, praising both models. It’s clear, though, that Herbert’s protectors still have a long means to go.

As for the protection, however, that turned in a gem.

“The interior guys, the edge guys, everybody worked together,” linebacker Denzel Perryman said. “It was rush and cover, cover and rush. That’s how you get numbers like that.”

If the Chargers can keep getting to quarterbacks — and do a better job of defending theirs — they’ve potential to be a headache in all the suitable methods.