Charger Report

Justin Herbert and Chargers defense beat down the Steelers in primetime

Los Angeles' defense held the Steelers to 3 points before garbage time
Thomas Martinez|
Nov 9, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter of the game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Nov 9, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter of the game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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The Los Angeles Chargers hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football in the first matchup between quarterbacks Justin Herbert and Aaron Rodgers. The game was Rodgers first trip to Sofi Stadium.

This game had massive playoff implications for both teams.

The first quarter of football met the expectation of a good old fashioned slugfest ending with the Steelers ahead 3-2 and the second quarter started out with Steelers kicker Chris Boswell missing a 45 yard field goal.

A pivotal moment in the game came when Steelers edge rusher Nick Herbig circled around and sacked Justin Herbert from behind as he climbed the pocket and utilized a blatant hip-drop tackle. Herbig was not flagged for the tackle.

Herbert limped off after the sack and at the end of the series, he was attended to by the Chargers training staff and had his ankles taped.

This is not the first time a Steelers defender has made a questionable move on Justin Herbert as defensive lineman Cameron Heyward gave Herbert an extra punch on a tackle in their matchup in 2021.

The Chargers' defense came to life in the first half, and sixth-round rookie Safety RJ Mickens secured an interception off of Aaron Rodgers. The Chargers offense responded by executing the two-minute offense on a short field that was capped off by a touchdown throw from Herbert to Ladd McConkey. The Chargers took a 12-3 advantage into halftime of this physical battle.

The brawl continued in the second half. Chargers second year running back Kimani Vidal pounded out tough yards on the ground. The Chargers took advantage where they could including a 59 yard field goal by Cameron Dicker.

The Chargers' defense is the story of the game. Early in the fourth quarter, the Steelers managed to get deep into the redzone and Los Angeles' defense held, including a critical fourth down stop where cornerback Cam Hart broke up a pass in the endzone intended for wide receiver DK Metcalf.

The Chargers offense responded with the apparent death blow to the Steelers on the ensuing drive.

Chargers running back Kimani Vidal fought his way into the endzone a few play later to give the Chargers a 22-3 lead with less than ten minutes remaining.

The Chargers stood up to the visiting Steelers and their special teams unit rebounded with a better performance to keep the Steelers in bad field position. The Steelers special teams unit, this season, has been the better unit but a missed field goal and muffed punt highlighted the night for them.

The Chargers defense, came to scrap. They matched the Steelers physicality and dragged Pittsburgh into a slow moving and brutal game. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw two interceptions in the 25-10 loss.

The Chargers send Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers home with Aaron Rodgers' second lowest passing yards of his career.

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Thomas Martinez
THOMAS MARTINEZ

Thomas Martinez has covered the Chargers and the NFL draft since 2022. Born and raised as a Chargers fan, experienced the improbable Super Bowl run in the 94’ season as a child, survived Ryan Leaf, the Marlon McCree fumble and Nate Kaeding in the playoffs. He graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in Political Science and The University of Redlands with an MBA.

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