Nick Canepa grades the Chargers following Sunday’s 25-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Inglewood:
Quarterbacks: B
Forced to play at home before thousands of Steelers fans, Justin Herbert started tentatively, as if a sack (certainly possible) was behind every tree. Limped after the first sack, but hung in there. Looked better, after the second sack, with ankles taped. Finally found Ladd McConkey for a touch. Sacked again. And again. And again.
Running backs: A
Kamani Vidal, expected to be quiet with this O-line, had a nifty 12-yard run on the team’s first meaningful drive. And then one for a first down, then another first down. He ran hard and smart and scored on a short TD run to put his team up 22-3.
Receivers: C+
McConkey also had a huge 58-yard catch in the fourth. Tre Harris the rookie is starting to get more work. The big rookie, Oronde Gadsden banged his knee and sat. McConkey got open. Keenan Allen had his first catch two minutes into the third. Quintin Johnson was fairly quiet, but still made plays.
Offensive Line: INC
Missing their two starting tackles, there was Trey Pipkins III on the right, Austin Deculus (big early motion penalty) on the left, and neither is a candidate for Canton. Center Bradley Bozeman can be overwhelmingly overwhelmed. Zion Johnson had an untimely hold.
Defensive Line: A
Run stopper Da’Shawn Hand was welcomed back after a prolonged absence and he had a nice night. Heck, most everybody had a nice night. The defense was splendid.
Linebackers: A
Khalil Mack had a quick sack on Aaron Rodgers that became a safety. Denzel Perryman continues his role as a tackling machine. Bud Dupree came up with his first sack. Sack leader Tuli Tuipulotu had a big one.
Secondary: A+
Rookie RJ Mickens had a big pick near the half’s end that led to a TD. Elijah Molden hit L.A. like a bad Santa Ana. Cam Hart got hurdled in an embarrassing fashion, but nothing came of it. Hart then had a great end zone defense. Donte Jackson had a pick off a tip in the fourth.
Special Teams: A-
Cameron Dicker The Kicker opened festivities by sailing the opening kickoff out of bounds, and JK Scott’s first punt got to their own 46, which led to a 59-yard FG. Dicker then had a — FG to baseball his team to a 5-3 lead, then a whopping 59-yarder, then missed a 55-yarder. Del’Shawn Phillips recovered a muffed punt.
Coaching: A+
Jim Harbaugh should have gone for it fourth-and-1 from Pittsburgh’s 36. But no matter. This may have been his best coaching job, certainly in L.A. He managed to get a running game going, and his defense played its best overall game in ages in a hostile environment.
Next Opportunity: at Jacksonville: A
Jax is 5-4, but last in The League in team sacks, with 10, which is like having no defensive front whatsoever. And the Jags just blew a 19-point fourth-quarter lead to the Texans and backup QB Davis Mills. So it figures to be close.