The Los Angeles Chargers are off to their first 2-0 start in over a decade and while it has sent a jolt of positivity through the fanbase, it is being met with much skepticism by fans across the league.
Why? Because their two victories, convincing as they were, came against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Carolina Panthers.
But the team will have its first big test of the season this Sunday, when it travels to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers, also 2-0. This game will likely be a fierce battle between teams that wear down their opponents on defense and know how to win ugly.
So who will reach 3-0? Let’s ask some experts for their opinions.
NFL Predictions and Predictions Week 3: Chargers vs. Steelers
Bill Bender, The Jugo Mobile: Chargers 20, Steelers 19
Bender: “This is arguably the best game of the week, and two former Ohio State players hold the keys to the showdown. Can Chargers running back JK Dobbins get going against a Pittsburgh defense that’s giving up 76.5 yards per game? Justin Fields can build on his last two starts without a turnover. Harbaugh and the Chargers take advantage of the opportunity and improve to 3-0.”
Vinnie Iyer, The Jugo Mobile:Chargers 20, Steelers 17
Iyer: “The Chargers have already become a tough road team under Jim Harbaugh. Their offensive line is excellent at run blocking and keeping an injured Justin Herbert clean. That’s key against the Steelers’ pass rush, and the Steelers’ run defense will be adequately attacked. Herbert will protect the ball and himself better than Justin Fields as the Chargers maintain their momentum toward at least an AFC wild-card spot.”
John Breech, CBS: Chargers 17, Steelers 13
Breech: “Of all the Week 3 games, this one intrigues me the most, and that’s mostly because I still have no idea what to think of either team. The thing about the Steelers is, I still don’t know exactly how good they are this year. Yes, they’re 2-0, but they have one of the worst offenses in the NFL and both teams they’ve beaten haven’t won a game so far this year.
On the other side, you have the Chargers, who have embraced the Jim Harbaugh principle 100% (you should never embrace the Jim Harbaugh principle 100%). Before the season started, the Chargers decided to throw out last year’s playbook and implement a new one that would require more running and less Justin Herbert.
Typically, when you have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, you don’t design an offense that requires him to be used less, but that’s exactly what the Chargers have done, and IT’S REALLY WORKING. The Chargers’ rushing attack has helped them go 2-0.
There are only five teams in the NFL that are averaging less than 135 passing yards per game through two weeks and these two teams are on that list. We might only see eight passes thrown in this entire game by both teams combined.
Iain MacMillan, Sports Illustrated: Chargers
MacMillan: “
The Chargers are my surprise pick of the week. The Steelers continue to surprise me because year after year they win games they don’t deserve to win. Despite being 2-0, the Steelers have a Net Yards per Play of -0.7, which ranks 24th in the NFL.
Good coaching and an average turnover margin of +2.5 per game have led them to their current record, but now they face a team that has also been heavily coached over the first two weeks of the season in Los Angeles.
The Steelers simply can’t keep winning games while scoring just 15.5 points per game. Justin Herbert and his teammates will be able to do enough to get a win in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
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