It was a fantastic victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, but the celebration must come to an end. They head to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers, which isn't a winning environment for this team under the direction of Mike Tomlin. His teams struggle on the West Coast, and it might lead to many picks and predictions going against Pittsburgh in this AFC clash.
Everyone has Justin Herbert circled, facing off against the Steelers' defense, which has been on a roller-coaster ride this season. They have struggled to perform against solid quarterbacks thus far, and Herbert is one of the best in the NFL this year. Pittsburgh's defense showed up big against a strong Colts offense last week, and they must continue their turnover trend this time around.
There are different factors that will determine the outcome of this game, but the main one will be turnovers.
Which every team forces the other into an extra turnover or two will lead their group to victory. It won't be easy, but the Steelers have a clear path to getting a win in Week 10 of their campaign. Now is the time for them to step up and separate themselves in the standings.
Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 10 Still Curtain predictions provide cautious optimism
"The Steelers had their get-right game a week earlier than I thought they would. This week feels like it is set up for disappointment. However, things are gelling, and you are facing a very banged-up Chargers team. I'll cautiously give the edge to the Steelers." - Andrew Falce (Steelers 24-20)
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"The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off their biggest win of the season. The six takeaways created against the Cots overshadowed an otherwise forgettable performance from Aaron Rodgers and the offense. Now they get another tough task on SNF. The Chargers have an exploitable defense and are missing their bookend offensive tackles. There's not a chance the Steelers create as many takeaways in Week 10, but this matchup plays to Pittsburgh's strengths."- Tommy Jaggi (Steelers 24-21)
"The Chargers are 1-3 this season when turning the ball over two or more times, but are undefeated with one or fewer. The game plan is simple for Pittsburgh this week: replicate last week's defensive successes. Do that, and Pittsburgh picks up another critical win at the top of the AFC." - Jacob Harrison (Steelers 26-20)
Final prediction barely fends off the Steelers season long rollercoaster vibes
Final prediction: Steelers 26, Chargers 24
On one hand, it’s easy to assume the Steelers’ defense will perform well against an injured offensive line; on the other hand, they’re known for playing down to competition. It's a Sunday Night atmosphere between these two playoff hopefuls, so each player will try their best to stand out. Pittsburgh has seen this story too many times not to be fearful of a disaster.
Herbert is a quarterback who can look fantastic at times, but also shows moments of vulnerability.
Pittsburgh must take advantage of a poor offensive line this week and do exactly what they did to the Colts. If they play with that kind of edge, Herbert will force some turnovers. The key to victory is forcing the Chargers to commit turnovers and ensuring the Steelers’ offense capitalizes on those opportunities.
Our Still Curtain panel's picks all went in Pittsburgh's favor. They are not afraid to show their cautious optimism, though. They have seen this story before under Tomlin, and it could continue during Week 10 of this season.
Most predictions will be tight for this game, but if Herbert gets the ball out quickly and the Steelers defense struggles, it could become a recurring nightmare.
The path to victory for the Steelers is pretty simple. Don't turn over the football, and create pressure on Herbert on a routine basis. Los Angeles is missing plenty of help on the offensive side of the ball, and that should be their end. Aaron Rodgers and company need a bounce-back performance after a rough outing last week, and the Chargers' secondary allows a lot of yards.