Steelers @ Chargers: Official Game Thread

In week 5, the Steelers lost to the Ravens in OT at Heinz Field. Now the Steelers travel to Dignity Health Sports Park to play the Chargers.

For the Steelers to win:
The Steelers need to play a complete game (Offense, Defense, Special Teams for 60 min.).
The Steelers defense needs to contain the Chargers running game.
The Steelers need to run the ball effectively.
Devlin Hodges needs to play smart football and take a few calculated shots downfield to loosen the Chargers defense.
The Steelers need to score TDs when in the red zone (and when not).
The Steelers need to protect the ball. They need to win the turnover battle.
Artie Burns needs to play at a starter level.
Alejandro Villanueva, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, and Matt Feiler need to play well as a unit.


From Steelers Depot:
Steelers Versus Chargers Week 6 Projected Inactive List

Roosevelt Nix – Sunday will mark the fifth consecutive game that Nix has missed due to the knee injury he suffered in Week 1 in the loss to the New England Patriots. Nix once again failed to practice any this past week and was ruled out for the Sunday night game against the Chargers on the Friday injury report.

Mason Rudolph – The Steelers quarterback suffered a concussion in the third quarter of the Week 5 home game against the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday and while he did practice on a limited basis on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, he was reportedly limited in his participation and only ran the scout team. Rudolph was officially ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Chargers on the Friday injury report and the team promoted quarterback Paxton Lynch from the practice squad to be the backup to quarterback Devlin Hodges Sunday night against the Chargers.

Jaylen Samuels – The Steelers backup running back required a Monday knee scope to fix an issue after suffering an injury during the team’s Sunday Week 5 home road loss to the Ravens. Samuels was not mentioned as being injured immediately after the loss but by Tuesday he had been ruled out by head coach Mike Tomlin for roughly the next month. With Samuels now sidelined, rookie running back Benny Snell Jr. will be the backup to James Conner. The Steelers also signed running back Trey Edmunds off their practice squad on Friday to add depth at the position and to provide the team another core special teams player.

James Washington – The Steelers second-year wide receiver suffered an AC shoulder injury during the third quarter of the Week 5 Sunday home loss to the Ravens and failed to return to the game. By Tuesday, it was being reported that Washington’s injury will sideline him a few weeks and after not practicing this past week the team officially ruled him out on their Friday injury report. This will mark the first game this season that Washington has missed due to injury. Washington’s injury should allow veteran wide receiver Donte Moncrief a chance to dress and play Sunday night against the Chargers.

Mark Barron – A hamstring injury suffered during the first half of last Sunday’s home game loss to the Ravens will result in Barron missing his first game of the regular season. With Barron out, the Steelers will play veteran inside linebacker Vince Williams alongside rookie inside linebacker Devin Bush in the team’s base defense. Williams just returned last Sunday from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss a few games.

Steven Nelson – Last weekend against the Ravens, Nelson apparently suffered a groin injury that resulted in him being limited in all three practices this past week. While Nelson said earlier in the week that he expected to play Sunday night against the Chargers, he ultimately ended the week listed as questionable on the team’s Friday injury report. After failing to make the trip with the team to Los Angeles Saturday morning, Nelson was downgraded to out on the Week 6 injury report. Fellow cornerback Artie Burns is expected to start in place of Nelson Sunday night against the Chargers. Rookie cornerback Justin Layne is also expected to dress again Sunday night with Nelson sidelined.

Isaiah Buggs – With six easy inactive choices out of the way, the seventh one is a bit of a guessing game. It likely comes down to three players in Buggs, tight end Zach Gentry and tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. With Steelers tight end Vance McDonald still not completely over the shoulder injury he suffered a few weeks ago, the Steelers might decide to dress Gentry. Additionally, the Steelers might decide to dress Okorafor on Sunday just to have an extra offensive line body as depth. Okorafor can also be used as an extra blocker should the need arise. Buggs, who has yet to dress for a game this season, seems like he might be the choice to be the seventh and final inactive Sunday night purely from a deductive reasoning standpoint.

 

Keys to the game:

Arthur Moats: Get The Running Game Going
Tunch Ilkin: Stop (#30) Austin Ekeler
Missi Matthews: Get Into The Endzone

 

Did Moncreif find his hands finally? Stay tuned...

 

"Steelers probably a more hard luck team early"

Today is the day to turn it around.

 

If we don’t we’re done

 

I’m pushing the HYPE-TRAIN (counter to my natural D&G tendencies)... so enjoy the push. Honestly, I’m ready for the MR2 era and I agreed with Tim that Mason was the best QB in his draft class. I’m hoping Ben goes on a fishing trip and realizes he’d rather have a sport fishing show instead taking on more NFL-grade hits.

 

It’s a safety dance

 

Let the duck chuck

 

This game has gone as well as anyone could’ve dreamed so far. Bush forcing 2 turnovers. Constant pressure, running the ball. 14 point lead for Ducky

 

Hopefully Tuitt's injury isnt serious

 

That’s a big loss. A high pectoral strain is generally minor, a mid to lower strain is generally more serious. I’m not a Dr but did stay at the Holiday Express last night.

 

Wow is about all you can saynso far.

 

Conner with his 2nd TD! 26 yard pass, broke a tackle was able to jog into the end zone! 21-0

 

This is the team I expected

 

Aww chic that was a gift

 

I am in two fantasy leagues. First place in one. Close to last place in another. In the latter one, I started Hodges, Conner, and Steelers defense. They just might take me from a 1% chance of winning earlier today to a victory!

 

Nooooooo

 

Dupree is having a hell of a year.