Steelers Have 1 Clear And Huge Advantage Over The Los Angeles Chargers Ahead Of Week 3 Showdown

The Pittsburgh Steelers were always expected to have a better first half of the season compared to the second, but nonetheless, it certainly must feel good in the locker room to be 2-0. The franchise will face its toughest test of 2024 in the home opener as the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers will make the trip to Acrisure Stadium. Both teams will look to remain unbeaten, and it's expected to be an old fashioned, run-heavy, hard-hitting football game. Head Coach Mike Tomlin, along with his foe Jim Harbaugh, have focused on strong defense and the run game through two weeks.

Tomlin and co. have a ton of familiarity with another individual in the Harbaugh family, but the Chargers' head coach is back in the NFL for the first time since the 2014 campaign. His style hasn't changed much, but the Steelers have a different kind of advantage that needs to be manipulated leading up to, and during, the massive Week 3 game.

As is per normal in the NFL when a new coach takes over, several of the former staff members are either fired or demoted. Harbaugh came into Los Angeles and mixed up the coaching staff significantly. One of the biggest acquisitions from a coaching perspective was Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman. The play-caller was with the Baltimore Ravens for six years from 2017-2022. There is a ton of familiarity there for Tomlin.

It goes just a little bit deeper for Tomlin and his team, however. He's not just familiar with Roman and his offensive playbook, but the biggest asset and number one play-maker for the Chargers has been JK Dobbins. The running back currently leads the league entering Week 3 with 266 yards on the ground. Pittsburgh is aware of his running style, and Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin and co. have their jobs cut out for them.

In a small sample size, Dobbins has dominated the Steelers in the three games he has received a carry against them. In total, the ball carrier has 47 rushes for 326 yards and a score. That ends up being 6.9 yards per rush. The unfortunate part of the upcoming matchup is the past history between Pittsburgh and Dobbins, but old game tape and Roman calling the plays in Week 3 give Tomlin and his staff a leg up when it comes to preparation.

It can't be forgotten that the Chargers' second-string running back, Gus Edwards, is also a former Raven. He hasn't been very effective in 2024 to this point, so the Steelers can expect a bulk of the workload to be given to Dobbins. Overall, the Steelers have the advantage on the defensive side of the ball because of that familiarity, and when it comes to offense, Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter is in his first professional season as a guy in charge of an NFL defense.

In the NFL, there are always going to be connections between coaching staffs and players competing on Sundays, but the Chargers having several old faces that come from one of the league's greatest rivalries needs to be taken advantage of by Tomlin. Using what he knows about Roman and Dobbins, shutting down the running game will be key to forcing a hobbled Justin Herbert to throw the ball and move around.

Steelers Starting Year 3-0 Is Vital With Daunting Late-Season Slate

Much has been made about Pittsburgh's difficult stretch to end the 2024 campaign. It was always known that games early on would be critical, but Week 3 brings a new dynamic with the matchup being between two teams that are 2-0, and both in the AFC. This will be the toughest test for Tomlin's group so far, but utilizing prior knowledge of a certain coach and running backs could prove to be the difference-maker.

Do you think that the Steelers will beat the Chargers in Week 3? Let us know in the comments below!

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