Too many snaps, too few stops for Steelers' defense in loss to Chargers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — For all the extra work being applied by the Acrisure Stadium grounds crew this season, it pales in comparison to the time spent on the field by the Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

Another case of the Steelers defense working overtime with little tangible result was on display Sunday night in a 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.

Repeating a theme that has been as consistent at the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, the defense played more snaps than the offense for the ninth time — or every game the Steelers have played in 2025.

The Chargers (7-3) ran 69 plays to the Steelers’ 50 and possessed the ball for 37 minutes, 35 seconds while sending the Steelers (5-4) to their third loss in the past four games.

“Good defenses spend a lot of time on the bench,” outside linebacker T.J. Watt said. “We haven’t been doing that enough in totality this year.”

Coach Mike Tomlin pointed to his offense going 0 for 9 on third-down attempts before they converted twice on a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter that established the final score. Those setbacks contributed to the Steelers possessing the ball for a season-low 22:25.

Players on a defense that largely has underachieved this season refused to use the offense’s shortcomings as an excuse.

“Getting off the field is important,” Watt said. “When you’re not able to get off the field on defense, you’re not able to rotate like you want to, and you’re playing more snaps that you want to. It’s unacceptable.”

For the sixth time in nine games, the discrepancy in number of plays run by each team reached double digits. It was the fifth time in the past six games the Steelers had such a significant gap in plays. That includes their previous game against Indianapolis when the Steelers ran 13 fewer plays than the Colts.

The Steelers won that one, 27-20, thanks to a defense that forced five of six turnovers, which offset the offense mustering just 225 yards of offense.

Against the Chargers, the Steelers didn’t force a turnover. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. came the closest, dropping an interception in the first quarter that could have given the ball back to the offense in Los Angeles territory.

“We’re an advantageous group,” said Watt, who had one of the Steelers’ five sacks. “We feel like we have the opportunity to get a turnover on every play. We’re punching at the ball, doing everything we possibly can but we weren’t able to get the ball out. On those days when you’re not getting the ball out, you need to bow up on those big-time third-down situations, and we weren’t able to do it.”

Not after the first quarter, at least.

The Chargers were 0 for 4 on third down in the first 15 minutes and 1 of 7 until a conversion late in the half set up a 15-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert to Ladd McConkey that gave the Chargers a 12-3 lead.

“I thought we started the game well, got a lot of pressure on the quarterback,” defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said. “There were plays to be made on defense that we didn’t make.”

In the second half, the Chargers converted 4 of 9 chances on third down. That contributed to the Chargers offense being on the field for more than 20 of the final 30 minutes as they pulled away for the win.

“We have to figure out why the second half wasn’t like the first half,” inside linebacker Patrick Queen said.

A case can be made that the Steelers wore down in the second half, another common trait. The Steelers entered the game having allowed more fourth-quarter points than any NFL team this season, and the Chargers scored 10 points in the fourth Sunday.

“It’s all a combustion,” Heyward said. “It all plays a factor. Sometimes you just have to bow up and get off the field.”

Despite the significant gap in plays and time of possession, the Steelers held the Chargers to 314 yards, their second-best performance of the season. The Chargers also had just 18 first downs, the fewest permitted by the Steelers this year.

On the other hand, running back Kimari Vidal gained 95 yards on 25 carries and scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter to provide a 22-3 lead. Slot corner Brandin Echols, his playing time extended because of Jalen Ramsey’s move to safety, had matchup problems with McConkey, who had a 58-yard reception in the second half and finished with four catches for 107 yards.

“We’re too much up and down,” Heyward said. “It has to be more consistent from top to bottom.”