(Photo: Steelers Depot)
AFC Game Of The Week
Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Chargers: The Jim Harbaugh impact is real. I understand it’s only been two games which means it’s early and there’s a ton of football left to be played, but I’ve seen more effort under Jim in two complete games this year than I saw in more games under Brandon Staley which leads me to another piece of analysis I’ve often used. Coaching does indeed matter, but experienced coaching is priceless. Everywhere Jim has gone, success has traveled with him. From his days with the Stanford Cardinal and coaching Andrew Luck to his first stint in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. Each year with San Fran, they made the NFC Championship game. His best stop was in Ann Arbor back at his alma mater with the Michigan Wolverines and he left on top as a National Champion. I remember when I recorded a phone call for Monday Evening Quarterback, I was asked about a dark horse team in either conference and I said the Los Angeles Chargers. Jim is a great football mind that knows how to give a team an identity. One issue I was having with them was how they were putting so much pressure on Justin Herbert to bail them out and do everything to lead them to a victory. Again, balance still wins in football, despite it being such a pass-happy game today. Under Jim, the identity is to run the football and run it some more until the defense can stop it. When they drafted Joe Alt with the fifth overall pick, that told me everything I needed to know and the direction they would go in as a team. It’s been an impressive turnaround so far. The Chargers will remain on the East Coast and face another 2-0 team this Sunday.
Steelers: One thing is for sure and two things for certain Mike Tomlin is still one of the best coaches in our league and he will work with what he has around him. It still amazes me to know that in all of these years, he’s still yet to record a losing season. During the off-season, they signed Russell Wilson after the Denver Broncos decided to release him and days later, Justin Fields was acquired from the Chicago Bears. Before the season started, it was announced that Russ was the starting Quarterback, but then he got hurt. In the first two games, Justin has been the starting Quarterback and they’re 2-0 despite him, not because of him. Watching the Steelers this year, they’re running the same offensive scheme they did in 2004 when a young Quarterback named Ben stepped onto the field for them. It’s a heavily-fused amount of the running game, all the Quarterback needs to do is simply control things. Make a throw when that opportunity presents itself, but most importantly, don’t put the team in a position to lose the game. Then, of course, the defense will handle the rest. That’s the recipe for Pittsburgh Steelers football. The running game and that stingy defense. Let’s look at the AFC North right now. Cleveland is in second place while the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens have both come out of the gates struggling at 0-2. The Steelers right now are on top with the 2-0 record. The big question is whenever Russ is healthy, do you put him in to start or do you stick with Fields? I’ve always been a firm believer in remaining with the hot hand and depending on where they are record-wise as a team, I’d stick with Justin. Even when Roethlisberger was asked, he said they should stick with Fields. Their home opener is Sunday!
Chargers X-Factor: Asante Samuel Jr.– Writing about him makes me feel old because I watched his dad play all those years ago. Asante plays with the mentality of a safety because he loves to tackle in the open field. In today’s NFL, you must be able to do multiple things on the field. In pass coverage, he knows exactly where to be to make a play, whether he’s deflecting the ball or he’s intercepting a pass. I love the reads he makes before attacking. He never bites nor does he over pursue anything. He stays in his lane and makes the best play.
Steelers X-Factor: Patrick Queen– The former Raven who left Baltimore to sign with the Steelers in the off-season. Patrick has been blessed with the ability to drop back in coverage and defend the pass. He’s quick enough to defend Running Backs and some Tight Ends. Patrick can also rush the passer and get home to the Quarterback when he has the green light. He knows how to sit back in coverage and will get an interception here and there as well.
Final Thoughts: We have two 2-0 teams here getting ready to battle it out. Both of these teams have done it with strong running games and stingy defense so with that being said, I’m expecting a defensive struggle in Pittsburgh on Sunday. If you like watching the ball fly all over the field, this may not be the game for you. Herbert looks much more relaxed this year than I’ve seen him in previous seasons. This Steelers defense has been phenomenal as they’ve given up only 16 total points in their first two games (10 against Atlanta and six against Denver). No matter what happens, you can always depend on an elite defense in Pittsburgh. This game comes down to which Quarterback I trust more to make a throw in key opportunities of the football game. While Pittsburgh has the better defense without question between the two, the Chargers are better offensively with Herbert which will make the ultimate difference. I like the Chargers to win another road game on the East Coast.
Prediction: Chargers 20, Steelers 17
