The Chargers are on a three-game win streak after another stellar showing in primetime.
The Bolts put together a complete performance on Sunday Night Football against the Steelers in Week 10 with a 25-10 victory that moved them to 7-3 on the season.
Offensively, the Chargers put up over 300 yards of total offense and possessed the ball for over 37 minutes, while the defense held the Steelers to just 11 first downs and a total of two for 11 on third downs.
CBS Sports' John Breech gave the Bolts an ‘A grade’ for the performance, as things came together for a complete, complimentary performance.
Breech wrote:
The Chargers are a team that can beat you in multiple ways, and on Sunday night, their defense turned into a wrecking ball. A safety by Khalil Mack in the first quarter set the tone for a defense that only gave up one drive of more than 20 yards through the first three quarters. Offensively, Justin Herbert was under attack for most of the game, but that didn't seem to bother him. Despite getting sacked five times, Herbert still managed to throw for 220 yards and a TD. Kimani Vidal was an unsung hero with 95 yards and a TD on the ground
Get an inside look at the postgame celebration from the Bolts 25-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Presented by SoFi!
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
QB Justin Herbert (10)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and WR Keenan Allen (13)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
QB Trey Lance (5)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
General Manager Joe Hortiz and DB Deane Leonard (33)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), DL Teair Tart (90) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
OLB Bud Dupree (48)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
LB Denzel Perryman (6) and WR Keenan Allen (13)
LB Denzel Perryman (6) and WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), QB Justin Herbert (10) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), QB Justin Herbert (10) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
DL Naquan Jones (96)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
RB Kimani Vidal (30)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), QB Justin Herbert (10) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
DL Naquan Jones (96)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
C Bradley Bozeman (75), OL Austin Deculus (74) and G Zion Johnson (77)
K Cameron Dicker (11), C Bradley Bozeman (75), G Zion Johnson (77) and P JK Scott (16)
C Bradley Bozeman (75), G Zion Johnson (77) and P JK Scott (16)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13), CB Donte Jackson (26) and K Cameron Dicker (11)
WR Keenan Allen (13) and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
WR Keenan Allen (13) and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
TE Tyler Conklin (83) and WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), QB Justin Herbert (10) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
WR Keenan Allen (13) and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
WR Keenan Allen (13) and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
WR Keenan Allen (13) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
WR Ladd McConkey (15) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
LB Denzel Perryman (6) and WR Keenan Allen (13)
S RJ Mickens (27)
S RJ Mickens (27)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), QB Justin Herbert (10), CB Donte Jackson (26), K Cameron Dicker (11) and C Bradley Bozeman (75)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), QB Justin Herbert (10) and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20), DL Naquan Jones (96) and WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13) and TE Tyler Conklin (83)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13) and CB Isas Waxter (37)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, C Bradley Bozeman (75), S Derwin James Jr. (3) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, C Bradley Bozeman (75), S Derwin James Jr. (3) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, C Bradley Bozeman (75), S Derwin James Jr. (3) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, C Bradley Bozeman (75), S Derwin James Jr. (3) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, C Bradley Bozeman (75), S Derwin James Jr. (3) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
TE Tyler Conklin (83) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
TE Tyler Conklin (83) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
TE Tyler Conklin (83) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and LB Denzel Perryman (6)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and LB Denzel Perryman (6)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and C Bradley Bozeman (75)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
The defense in particular was key in shutting down the Steelers offense for the majority of the game.
The unit notched 3.0 sacks, five passes defensed and forced two turnovers as they kept the Pittsburgh offense uneasy throughout the night.
They've been a force over the last several weeks, and it's why USA Today believes they have one of the AFC’s best defenses.
They wrote:
Over their last three contests, the Chargers have allowed an average of 13.3 points per game. They have a nice mix of veteran talent at all three levels – highlighted by Khalil Mack, Denzel Perryman and Derwin James Jr. – but have also seen plenty of younger players, like Tuli Tuipulotu and Daiyan Henley, start to hit their stride. That's the recipe for a quality stop unit, and one that could help the Chargers greatly as they look to win the AFC West for the first time since 2009.
The Chargers now sit at 7-3 and currently occupy the No. 5 seed in the conference ahead of their Week 11 matchup against the Jaguars, who are in the seventh seed.
And with the Chargers only a game back from the AFC West, pundits are not overlooking the Bolts.
Breech wrote:
This is a tough team that can go toe to toe with anyone. When it comes to the AFC West, everyone keeps talking about the Broncos and Chiefs, but you might want to start paying attention to the Chargers because this team is dangerous (and they've already beaten both Kansas City and Denver).
Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski wrote:
They have enough talent to overcome key losses and win games with their physical identity ... but don't discount this team's playoff hopes and what it can do in January.
