Los Angeles Chargers: Staff predictions for Chargers-Steelers

The Los Angeles Chargers are facing the biggest challenge in quite some time as the team is heading to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers in primetime.

The Los Angeles Chargers were flexed into their first (and so far only) nationally televised game this week. With the 8-3 Chargers traveling on the road to face the 7-3-1 Steelers, NFL fans should get a very entertaining game on NBC.

This has all the makings of being one of the more entertaining games of the year and one of the best Sunday Night Football games, as well. Even if the game itself is just decent, it is always great to see Philip Rivers under the bright lights.

While the Chargers have picked up wins over the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks, the team has not had an extremely tough schedule and lost against both the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams.

This is a great chance for the Chargers to prove that they are one of the best teams in the NFL and they could run through playoff competition if they stay hot. Here are our predictions for the Steelers and Chargers primetime matchup.

Jamaal Artis (14-3): 27-20, Pittsburgh Steelers

The San… Sorry, Los Angeles Chargers are heading into the perfect trap game. They face a Pittsburgh Steelers team on the road coming off a game they probably should have won.

Lamarr Fields (13-6): 30-24, Pittsburgh Steelers

This will be a close game, but I give the edge to the Steelers because they are at home and Melvin Gordon is out for the Chargers. I still think Rivers will put numbers to keep it close but the Steelers defense usually plays well at home, so they will pull it out late in the 4th quarter.

Redan Lopez (13-4): 38-34, Pittsburgh Steelers

I’m looking for this game to be one, if not the highest scoring game of the week. Quarterback Big Ben Roethlisberger is at home and one of the most trustworthy when at home.

The Steelers should establish the run early after running back James Connor has had two straight sub-par performances. Look for him to get back on track in this high scoring affair.

Meanwhile, the loss of running back Melvin Gordon for the Chargers will be a hard one to endure. The pressure will be on Quarterback Phillip Rivers to throw early and often.

I’m looking for the Steelers to edge the Chargers because of their superior offense.

Rams 38, Lions 17

Even though the Rams will be on the road, they will find a way to show just how explosive and lethal they are. Running vs. k Todd Gurley should get back on track against a weak Lions’ defense.

Jason Reed (17-3): 31-27, Los Angeles Chargers

Ya know, as a Charger fan I like to stay realistic and avoid from letting myself get too far ahead of the facts. When I was really thinking about this game a few days ago, I really leaned towards the Pittsburgh Steelers winning this game.

The Chargers are on the road without Melvin Gordon and the Steelers are coming off of the typical ugly loss. The Steelers have one or two of those every single season and rarely have them in back-to-back weeks.

However, I do not think this will be an ugly loss for the Steelers and instead will be a great win for the Chargers.

Austin Ekeler already knows the offense and is going to be just fine in both the passing game and running game. Philip Rivers is elite in December (36-18 record) and the Chargers have a defensive line that will pressure Big Ben and a secondary that will be decent enough to contain the Steelers’ elite receiving corps.

The Chargers will narrowly pull this one out as the defense will stop Big Ben and the offense from finishing the game-winning drive.