Knee Jerk Reactions to the Steelers 25-10 Week 10 Spanking At the Hands Chargers

The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Week 10 game against the Chargers. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• The truly bad part of another Sunday night game is having to listen to Chris Collinsworth.
• Chargers win the toss and defer Steelers to receive the kickoff.
• The opening kickoff goes out of bounds. Steelers will take over on the 40.
• Andrus Peat finally gets onto the field and has a false start right away.
• And because of the penalty the Steelers end up going three and out to start the game.
• The Steelers return the favor and hold the Chargers to three and out. Nice start by the defense.
• On third down and five Rodgers was under pressure and just missed hitting DK Metcalf for a touchdown.
• Boswell comes into attempt to field goal from 59 yards. Is anybody surprised that it was good? Steelers 3, Chargers 0.
• The defense stuffs the third and short play, but weren’t able to stuff it again on 4th down.
• The third down pass almost picked by JPJ. The Chargers will punt, but a turnover would have been better.
• Steelers have a long field ahead of them after the punt.
• Caleb Johnson gets his first carry, but he looks slow when he gets the ball. Loses two yards.
• Rodgers holds onto the ball a little longer than I’d like to see. Gets it knocked away but is able to fall on it. Unfortunately he had to fall on it in the end zone. Two points for the Chargers. Steelers 3, Chargers 2
• The defense does its job after the offense gave up points. Quick three and out gets the ball back to the Steelers.
• And Rogers gets one to Metcalf right off the bat for almost 20 yards. Need some more of those.
• Mount Warshington over the middle. Yes I spelled that in my best Pittsburgheese.
• End of the first quarter. Steelers are driving. Steelers 3, Chargers 2.

2nd Quarter

• Muuuuth!!!
• Noooooo, they hit my boy Fautanu for a hold.
• The hold ends up costing the Steelers a chance of a touchdown. Boswell on to attempt a field goal. I can’t believe it. Boswell missed. What is going on? I now have a really bad feeling about this game.
• Come on defense second and 10 and give up a 12-yard run.
• Oh here’s a surprise Darius slay is down on the ground hurt. Same as every other week this season.
• And the defense is not being able to get off the field.
• Nick Herbig gets in for a sack.
• The very next play the Steelers give up a first down. They’ve got the string some plays together on defense.
• 3rd and 10, there’s a tipped ball and Kyle Dugger nearly comes up with the pick.
• Chargers make the field goal. Chargers 5, Steelers 3.
• And on the Steelers first play Aaron Rodgers is sacked. I don’t know what’s going on tonight but this whole game is just weird.
• On 3rd and 8th Rodgers throws deep and it’s not complete. The offense turns right around and goes three and out.
• After holding Jonathan Taylor in check last week the Steelers are letting the third string running back for the Chargers run all over them.
• The Steelers accept the holding penalty on the Chargers, but give up more yards on the next play than if they have just declined the penalty. So the Charger’s now have a shorter third down try than if the Steelers would have declined the penalty.
• Thank you Keeanu Benton for coming through with the sack on third down.
• And Rodgers throws an interception. Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes.
• The defense continues to get gashed by the run.
• The Chargers are going to end up scoring right before the half and then get the ball coming out of halftime. The Steelers could be in real trouble here.
• How about we let a wide receiver run uncovered down the seam for a touchdown. I’m disgusted. Chargers 12, Steelers 3.

3rd Quarter

• T.J. Watt bats down the pass. 3rd and long, can the defense get off the field?
• Easily converted first down. Back to the problem of not being able to get off the field for the defense.
• 3rd and 10 for the Chargers, the defense needs to make a play.
• Alex Highsmith with his first sack of the game!
• Jaylen Warren doing his best Edwin Moses impersonation.
• The Steelers have to take a time out, and after the time out Rodgers gets sacked so the Steelers will punt.
• Two plays from the Chargers and they are in Steelers territory. Sunday night games have not been going well for the Steelers this year.
• Cam Heyward comes through and bats down the pass.
• Chargers to attempt a 59-yard field goal. It’s good. Chargers 15, Steelers 3.
• Incomplete on first down, a 1-yard run-on second down, and the Steelers will face third and long. Looks like another three and out coming.
• Guess what? It’s another three and out.
• I guess the big difference this week is that the defense hasn’t played horrible, but the offense has done absolutely nothing.
• On 3rd and 6 Herbert takes off running and gains 20 yards.
• Highsmith with a second sack in the game.
• Chargers to attempt a field goal from 55 yards. It doinks off the left upright. Steelers take over.
• The third quarter ends with a catch by Muth to get the Steelers into Chargers territory. Chargers 15, Steelers 3.

4th Quarter

• Jaylen Warren takes the screen pass and is down near the 10-yard line.
• Another play where the Steelers try to get cute in the red zone and Rodgers has to throw it away.
• Rodgers throws high again. That is at least five balls I’ve seen tonight that he is thrown high. He is not having a good game.
• Steelers have to go for it on 4th and 6. They run a play hoping for a flag and don’t get it. Steelers turn it over on downs.
• Rodgers is 9 of 21 passing in this game.
• The Steelers are 0 for 9 on third down and 0 for 1 on 4th down.
• Steelers get them to 3rd and long only to give up a long pass play. Chargers in the red zone.
• A 10-yard run has the Chargers at first and goal.
• And the Chargers run it in. This game’s over. Chargers 22, Steelers 3.
• Where is Don Meredith when we need him to start singing. The Steelers are going to have a lot to look at this week after this pathetic performance.
• Maybe that’s why I’m so angry. The Steelers either play really well or really bad. Tonight is really bad.
• If that doesn’t just explain what the night has been. Calvin Austin is wide open and doesn’t catch the ball and instead tips it up for the Chargers to intercept.
• The Steelers defense was supposed to eat up this patchwork chargers offensive line, they have done anything but that.
• And what other kinds of things could happen for the Steelers? The defense gets a sack to force a punt and the Steelers muff the punt and give it right back to the Chargers.
• Not sure I’m going to let this team fool me anymore. I don’t know that I will pick them to win another game this year.
• The Chargers hit another field goal. I got their score right at 25, but I had the Steelers scoring 27. Three is a long way from 27.
• Roman Wilson gets a junk time touchdown. Chargers 25, Steelers 10.
• So Keenan Allen sets a Chargers record for receptions, but to get it they did a pop pass behind the line of scrimmage. I’m not sure I would feel so good about that record right now.
• I am tired of staying up on Thursday nights and Sunday nights to see the type of football we’ve gotten from the Steelers on those nights.
• This one mercifully comes to an end. Chargers 25, Steelers 10.

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with a me and Warren, you just don’t have to go to another room because of my screaming at the television. Now time to process it, do some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me as we move on quickly move on to Week 10, when the Steelers play next Sunday against the Bengals. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.