Steelers vs. Chargers, Week 6: Instant reactions following LA's 24-17 loss
The Los Angeles Chargers fell Sunday night to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers. Here are some instant reactions and observations from the game.
Chargers go scoreless during first half in back-to-back weeks
Earlier in the season, the Chargers offense managed to move the ball efficiently even if their point total didn't suggest it. The month of October has seen the unit move in an entirely different direction.
Los Angeles didn't put up any points during the first half unless a fumble returned by the Pittsburgh Steelers for a touchdown counts. This marks the second time in two straight games that Philip Rivers and company have gone scoreless heading into halftime. Before last week, they hadn't gone scoreless during a first half since a December 2015 tilt with the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, they've managed to do it in back-to-back weeks.
Injuries and absences have played a role in the Chargers' stagnating offense, but not to the same degree they have limited the defense. Tight end Hunter Henry made his return Sunday and contributed as a receiver and blocker. Mike Williams and Melvin Gordon have returned to the lineup. Dan Feeney has enough practice and game experience to fill in capably for the loss of Mike Pouncey. Los Angeles certainly has enough to score in the first 30 minutes of football.
Steelers simplify offense for Devlin Hodges
For the second time this season, the Steelers had to adjust to the loss of a starting quarterback. Ben Roethlisberger went down in Week 2 with an elbow injury, forcing second-year pro Mason Rudolph into action. Rudolph held down the fort until last week when he sustained a gruesome concussion. That blow put undrafted rookie signal-caller Devlin Hodges onto the field, and he made his first NFL start Sunday.
The Steelers didn't take the ball out of Hodges' hands, but they didn't ask him to do much out of his comfort zone, either. The rookie attempted just one pass of over 10 yards the entire first half. He wouldn't throw another until late in the third quarter. The rest of the Pittsburgh offense consisted of James Conner and Benny Snell each receiving double-digit touches and short -- in some cases, extremely short -- passes from Hodges.
Even with the limited play-calling palette, the Steelers managed to put together multiple long drives, draining the clock and keeping the Chargers' already cold offense off the field. Given the personnel limitations, Pittsburgh's coaching staff did a tremendous job.
Rivers' "bad day" could turn into bad month
On Wednesday, Rivers described his two-interception performance against the Broncos as "a bad day." That didn't seem unfair given how the game fell far below his usual standards. It certainly didn't seem unreasonable to expect Rivers to rebound over the coming weeks as players like Henry returned to the lineup.
However, Rivers delivered a comparably poor performance against the Steelers. He threw a ball backward while attempting to kill a play, leading to a scoop and score for Pittsburgh linebacker Devin Bush. On the very next possession, Rivers committed another bad turnover inside Los Angeles territory, an interception to Bush. The Steelers capitalized on the takeaway seven plays later when James Conner punched the ball in from 12 yards out. The Chargers quarterback would toss another pick before the night ended, a last-minute desperation heave.
The Chargers haven't seen back-to-back games from Rivers this poor in some time. They still have hope for a turnaround, especially with Derwin James and other core players nearing a return. The offense doesn't have to put up 30-plus points each week, but it can't give away possessions as frequently as it has against the Broncos and Steelers. If Rivers' bad day turns into a bad month of October, Los Angeles won't have a season to salvage.
-- Jason B. Hirschhorn is an award-winning sports journalist and Pro Football Writers of America member. Follow him on Twitter: @by_JBH
