Game 4: Chargers vs Steelers

Game 4 for the Chargers this season will be a Sunday night clash with the defending Super Bowl Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This will totally be a 'benchmark' game for the Chargers...in my opinion... and this is what I mean by a benchmark game...

First, let's be realistic, the Chargers haven't beaten a playoff team (except the Colts), during the regular season, in a long time. The Chargers rank next to last in rushing yards per game and tied for last for average yards per carry (less than 3 yards)...in fact the Chargers longest run from scrimmage, thus far, is 13 yards...13 yards??? Are you kidding me?

The Steelers, defending Super Bowl champs, coming off a second straight loss...at home and in prime time. The Steelers have a top 10 defense and their game plan will be similar to what they did last season to the Chargers in the playoffs and what other teams are doing to the Chargers this season... that is dictate the game. Opponents' offenses are able to establish long, time consuming drives against the Chargers defense. It is usually the fault of the offense via penalties or mistakes when they fail to get into scoring position...rarely is it due to the Charger defense. You then factor in that the Chargers will likely not be able to run the ball at all, it will mean the Steelers will be able to control the clock and the Chargers will likely be playing from behind and have to score through air...leaving the margin of error for the Chargers that much smaller.

I can foresee the same game we witnessed in January against the Steelers... it might be a close, hard fought game in the first half and then in the 2nd half the Steelers will simply hang onto the ball for most of the half... methodically moving down the field, knowing that the Charger defense is unable to stop them.

So back to the whole 'benchmark game' premise I began with...what I have done is just detail every reason the Chargers SHOULD NOT be able to win this Sunday and I would guess no one expects them too either. So the game could be used as a barometer to see just how far away the Chargers are from beating a solid squad this season...something they have yet to do.

Do the Chargers have any chance of winning this game? Absolutely...but both the offensive and defensive lines need to play at a level we have yet to see from them this season. Tomlinson was practicing yesterday so that may be an indication he plays on Sunday...will that improve the Charger run game...it will have to if the Chargers want to have a legitimate chance at winning.

Is it the end of the world if the Chargers lose? No...but it is just another disturbing trend from the Chargers...unable to beat quality teams during the regular season...to beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh on national television this week would be a good first step to getting some respectability...but a loss will just validate any need to start giving the Chargers respectability, something the media certainly has yet to lavish the Chargers with this season and with proper cause not too...the Chargers have yet to do anything to command respectability this season.