Pittsburgh Steelers vs Los Angeles Chargers predictions: Who will win clash of undefeated teams?

As Mike Tomlin has described it all week, the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Los Angeles Chargers should be a heavyweight fight between teams that want to run the football and play good defense. That is the basis of both teams, and it has worked for each team so far.

The Steelers and Chargers are zigging while everyone else is zagging. This game should feel like a throwback to the days when running the football was paramount to winning in the NFL.

PLAYERS ON THE SPOT: Watch out for the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle and Los Angeles Chargers’ interior offensive line. Whichever one of these groups handles their matchup better might be the ones who run the ball. Dan Moore Jr. and either Troy Fautanu or Broderick Jones have to slow down Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa at least. Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree are no slouches, either. The Steelers’ plan in Atlanta, which slowed down Grady Jarrett and Matt Judon enough, could lead this team to a win. Conversely, Trey Pipkins, Bradley Bozeman, and Zion Johnson must hold up against Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and Larry Ogunjobi. The Chargers will have difficulty running the ball if the Steelers can wreck the game from the inside.

DON’T BE SURPRISED IF … George Pickens is the key to breaking this one open. The Chargers do not have a force outside of JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards that can do what Pickens can do. Pickens cooked Pat Surtain II, and Asante Samuel Jr., Alohi Gilman, Ja’Sir Taylor, and Kristian Fulton will probably not slow him down, either. Pickens has run over 30 percent of his routes from the slot this year to get him away from double coverage and top cornerbacks. He has effortlessly won his battles. The Steelers will take shots down the field, too, even against the Cover 6 heavy looks the Chargers will give them. If Pickens has a big day, that might be the difference for the Steelers winning this one or losing this one.

George Pickens over 60 receiving yards (+134, FanDuel)

Jaylen Warren over 5.5 rushing attempts (-132, FanDuel)

JK Dobbins, anytime touchdown (+150, FanDuel)

PREDICTION: It would not shock me if this flips toward the Chargers, and before Justin Herbert’s murky injury situation, I probably would have picked them. However, Herbert’s lack of mobility and the poor weapons he has at his disposal, combined with the Steelers’ overwhelming advantage in the trenches, gives me an easy path to see the Steelers winning this game. Greg Roman offenses in the past have run on the Steelers, so I’m all in JK Dobbins’s props, but whether it is Easton Stick or Taylor Heinicke, the Steelers should force turnovers there. Coupled with George Pickens feeling like someone who can break this game open, I lean very slightly towards the Steelers eking this one out. Steelers 17, Chargers 13