Los Angeles Chargers: Three biggest games of the 2017-2018 season
By Jason Reed
2. Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers — Week 13 — Dec. 2
The last time the Los Angeles Chargers played the Pittsburgh Steelers the team was in San Diego and Qualcomm stadium hosted about 75 percent Steelers fans on Monday Night Football. This go around, the Chargers travel to the Steel City to face off against the Steelers in a game that may have huge implications towards playoff seedings.
As this point of the season, it will be pretty clear who the playoff teams are going to be. Of course, there still is going to be battling for divisions and wild cards, but after week 12, we really get an idea of a core group of teams that are a lock for the postseason.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers very well may be locks by the time this game comes around. And while this game will not be the sole deciding factor, it could play a huge role in who gets home-field advantage once the playoffs get going.
Philip Rivers is absolutely incredible in the month of December, so the Steelers are going to have some work cut out for them. Rivers is 36-18 in his career in December and that is with playing on some pretty bad Chargers’ teams in the early 2010s.
This game may be the ultimate wake-up call that the Chargers are indeed title contenders. Even a close loss here would cement LA in the elite group of AFC teams alongside the Steelers and the Patriots.
However, the Chargers have the perfect recipe to disrupt Ben Roethlisberger. With Rivers chopping up the defense, LA could have a huge statement win in week 13.