Steelers Force Three Philip Rivers Turnovers, Hold On Late to Beat Chargers 24-17

One week after a head-scratching loss to Denver at home, the Los Angeles Chargers doubled down and lost to a battered up Pittsburgh Steelers team also in LA.

When the season started, the Week 6 edition of Sunday Night Football looked to be another battle of former 2004 first-round-pick quarterbacks. Instead of Ben Roethlisberger vs. Philip Rivers, we saw Devlin Hodges take on Rivers.

Hodges, a 2019 undrafted QB from Samford, outplayed his veteran counterpart. The Steelers were determined to not let Hodges make mistakes that would cost them the game.

The Pittsburgh offense consisted of a lot of runs and checkdowns. That is until Hodges threw a questionable interception in the third quarter. The real story of SNF belongs to how the Steelers defense tortured Rivers.

The Chargers QB turned the ball over twice (a fumble and an interception) in the Chargers first three possessions. The fumble went for a touchdown, which Devin Bush ran back nine yards. The interception, which Bush caught, eventually led to Pittsburgh’s second first quarter touchdown.

The Steelers led 14-0 in the first quarter and 21-0 at halftime.

The Chargers did put up a fight in the second half, outscoring Pittsburgh 17-3. After getting within 24-17, the LA defense held the Steelers on three plays, which forced a punt. However, the kick was downed at the one yard line.

With 99 yards to go in 63 seconds and no timeouts, it looked impossible for Rivers to drive down and tie the game. It was. On 1st and 10, Rivers was nearly intercepted, but on 2nd down Cameron Sutton did pick him off.

A fitting end to the game. The Steelers built a 14-0 lead off Rivers turnovers. In the end a Rivers turnover clinched the win for Pittsburgh.

Both teams move to 2-4 on the season.

Steelers 24 – Chargers 17

Here are the highlights from Sunday Night Football:

1st Quarter

Devin Bush 9-yd Fumble Return TD, 7-0 Steelers