Chargers vs. Steelers Week 3 Free ATS Pick: Clash of the Undefeated

Los Angeles Chargers (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS)
NFL Football Week 3
Date/Time: Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 1PM EDT
Where: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: CBS

The Los Angeles Chargers come to Acrisure Stadium on Sunday for a week three AFC matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. For the fans and those who have backed both teams with bets, it’s been all uphill in the first two games of the season, each team at 2-0 straight-up and against the spread. The Steelers followed their week one road win over Atlanta with a 13-6 win over the Broncos at Mile High on Sunday and now make their home opener at home against the Bolts. On Sunday, the Chargers were fairly dominant in a road win over the Carolina Panthers, 26-3, using a good run game with some stingy defense to get to 2-0 in Jim Harbaugh’s first season at the helm, but this road spot should be a lot tougher. Who should we get behind in this Sunday showdown in Pittsburgh?

Points to Consider

It should be a pretty enthusiastic home-crowd in Pittsburgh, getting their first home game in week 3 with the Steelers having won two road games to start the season. The Chargers, meanwhile, are covering a lot of ground after opening the season at home, with a road game in Charlotte followed by a trip to Pittsburgh. We saw Justin Herbert hurt last game, but still not missing a snap, leading one to think that lower-leg injury won’t be an issue in this spot. It’s still something to watch leading up to Sunday. With the Steelers, Justin Fields has started the first two games, winning both, but one would suspect Russell Wilson is nearing readiness, leaving them with a decision. Fields has done what’s been asked and adds a different dimension than Wilson with his legs, but 273 combined yards passing in two games could be enough for head coach Mike Tomlin to make the switch. Early signs out of Pittsburgh seem to suggest another Fields start this week. Either way, this will be something to watch in the days leading up to the game, as early-week info in this might be tough to get.

You can’t really say the Steelers had it easy to start the season, being sent on two road games and only now getting their home opener. But against Atlanta with an off-key Kirk Cousins and taking on a rookie QB last week gave them a good opportunity to shine. Their defense was able to control both games, while they more or less got what they could on offense. And it hasn’t been a disaster offensively, despite the lack of aerial production, as they have been running the ball decently, something aided in a big way by Fields. But Justin Herbert and this Chargers’ offense offers a different look and feel to the game. The Steelers might not be able to turn this into a big, sloppy defensive grind with a running game and field goals ruling the day. They might need to keep pace with a better offense in this game.

Still, with a largely-revamped offensive core on the Chargers, Herbert isn’t exactly off to a rampaging start, with 274 yards passing through two games, just one more than Fields. Let’s say he has trouble connecting with this new receiver core that could be without Joshua Palmer. They’ve had great success running the ball, with JK Dobbins starting the season with two huge games. But this matchup is a lot tougher and can Dobbins really be that guy all season? You’re used to a lot of production from Herbert, but the aerial package might be either too depreciated or it needs time to come around, in which case, this Pittsburgh defense might not have that bad a matchup on their hands.

Questions for Pittsburgh

After two offensive struggles against Atlanta where they scored no touchdowns and then last week’s 13-point output, how comfortable are you taking this Steelers’ offense? The Chargers defense hasn’t had it that tough to open the season but has still given up just 13 combined points in two games while flexing a lot of playmaking throughout that unit. The Steelers’ offensive line will have more of a battle on their hands. And if the first two weeks were any indication, points aren’t that easy to come by for this group. They have some weapons, guys like George Pickens or even TE Pat Freiermuth, but they need to get them the ball. Otherwise, it’s a running game that, while capable, doesn’t have a lot of electricity. The Chargers haven’t gotten much going aerially, but can at least create some excitement when they get Dobbins out in space. For a Pittsburgh backer, it’s exciting to be back at home for the opener at 2-0 with a Chargers team in town that looks to have lost a lot of its bite aerially. But the prospects of Dobbins going nuts again and that defense coming into town should temper some of that excitement.

Lay the Short Number on the Home Favorite

This is not an easy call to make. But with Tomlin, this defense, and their overall offensive outlook, I suspect that they’re maybe more comfortable in this kind of game, especially with it taking place at home in an opener in this context. With this Steelers’ defense, I suspect this won’t be the week where Herbert starts connecting wildly with his receivers, while Pittsburgh greater tests that Chargers’ offensive line and that newfound production in the running game. With the short spread, I’ll take the Steelers in this spot. I’m going with Pittsburgh.

Loot’s Prediction to Cover the Point Spread:

I’m betting on the Pittsburgh Steelers minus 1.5 points.