Two undefeated teams will battle in Pennsylvania this weekend as the surprising Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0), who currently sit in first overall in the tough AFC North through the first two weeks of the season, host the Los Angeles Chargers (2-0). Neither team was expected to come out this strong, but continued momentum is critical if both franchises hope to contend for their respective division titles. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM EST on September 22nd at Acrisure Stadium.
“Defense First” is definitely the first phrase that jumps to mind when analyzing the strategy of both teams heading into Week 3, as neither side has given up more than ten points in a single game in back to back outings. Los Angeles only allowed a single field goal all game in Week 2 against Carolina, while Pittsburgh surrendered just two field goals on the road in Denver last weekend.
Look for both head coaches to prioritize establishing the run early on Sunday afternoon, as controlling the majority of possession time has been critically important in their four straight combined wins. It will certainly be interesting to see how much Justin Herbert gets to use his arm in this matchup after his passing attempts have basically been halved in his first season under Jim Harbaugh, as the Steelers have shown a tendency to shut down opponents entirely on the ground to start the year.
Matchup Details, Betting Market Information and Where to Watch
Oddsmakers opened this game up with the Chargers listed as 2.5-point road underdogs. The spread has narrowed significantly after early betting, as Los Angeles is currently available at +1 on most sportsbooks. The total for this matchup is 36 points. Viewers hoping to watch the game should note that it will be televised on CBS. In Canada, the game will also be available on DAZN.
Los Angeles Chargers Punish Panthers On The Road
It was a relatively stress-free outing for the Chargers in Carolina in Week 2, as Los Angeles jumped out to an early 20-0 lead in the first half and never looked back en route to a decisive 26-3 win. Justin Herbert completed 14 of 20 total passing attempts for two touchdowns and 130 yards through the air, while J.K. Dobbins continued his resurgence on the ground with 17 carries for 131 rushing yards and a touchdown.
After a slow start from the receiving corps in Week 1 against Las Vegas, Quentin Johnson put on a clinic against a below average Panthers secondary by hauling in five catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns. Ladd McConkey and Joshua Palmer were relatively quiet though, combining for only 45 total yards.
On the other side of the ball, the Chargers were dominant against a struggling Carolina offense, holding them to just three total points the entire game. Los Angeles tormented QB Bryce Young all afternoon, limiting the slumping sophomore to just 84 total passing yards while also forcing several turnovers.
Pittsburgh Steelers Dominate Defensively In Denver
The Steelers offense didn’t have to do very much to grind out a win in Week 2, as their defense limited Denver to just two field goals all afternoon in an ugly 13-6 road victory for Pittsburgh. QB Justin Fields was consistent for a second straight outing in his new role as a game-manager, throwing for 117 yards and a touchdown without committing any turnovers.
Najee Harris continued to lead the way on the ground, rushing for a game-high 69 rushing yards on 17 carries. It was a much better outing for Jaylen Warren out of the backfield against the Broncos after he barely saw the field in Week 1, which should put to rest any rumors of Harris potentially being tasked with increased usage under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Without the dominant play of Pittsburgh’s defense through their first two games, the AFC North standings would look drastically different right now. Denver was no match for the Steel Curtain in Week 2, as they failed to score a touchdown while also coughing up multiple turnovers.
Our Chargers vs Steelers NFL Betting Prediction and Pick
There isn’t a lot separating these two teams on paper, as the Chargers likely have a small edge on offense while Pittsburgh likely has the slightly stronger defense. With the spread betting market looking pretty efficient overall, I don’t really think there is a lot of value with either team in this matchup.
If this game was being played in Los Angeles, I could understand taking a shot with Herbert and Co. at home, especially when considering that Justin Fields has historically struggled with turnovers. However, even though it is still a small two game sample size, Fields appears to have turned over a new leaf with Pittsburgh and has been relatively mistake free to start the 2024-25 NFL season.
Game Total Betting Market Tip: Under 36
Oddsmakers currently have this game listed with one of the lowest game totals on the entire Week 3 schedule, so scoring is expected to be at a premium on Sunday afternoon. Therefore, I think the sharpest play in this particular spot is the Under on 36 total points scored in what looks to be a defensive battle in a slower-paced game environment between two evenly matched opponents.
Through their first two games, Los Angeles has given up a total of only 13 points. Scoring defense has been equally impressive on the Pittsburgh side, as the Steelers have surrendered only 16 total points through their first two games. Throw in the fact that both offenses haven’t scored more than four total touchdowns combined in a single weekend to start the year and I think that the Under offers great value. Avoid betting against a tough spread and look for these two teams to continue to put defense first here in Week 3.
