The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) face the Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) on Sunday Night Football at SoFi Stadium, with the Chargers favored by 2.5 points amid significant offensive line injuries. Pittsburgh aims to leverage its strong pass rush against a vulnerable Justin Herbert, while containing a deep Chargers receiving corps led by Ladd McConkey and rookie Oronde Gadsden II. Analysts like Breiden Fehoko and Jon Gruden predict a Steelers upset.
The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Inglewood, California, for a Week 10 primetime matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on November 9, 2025, kicking off at 8:20 p.m. ET. Both teams vie for AFC positioning, with the Steelers leading the AFC North by two games and the Chargers sitting second in the AFC West. The all-time series favors Pittsburgh 25-11, including wins in two of the last three meetings.
A major storyline is the Chargers' battered offensive line. Starting tackles Rashawn Slater (torn patellar tendon) and Joe Alt (ankle surgery) are out for the season, along with reserve Bobby Hart (knee and ankle). Guard Mekhi Becton is limited by a knee issue but expected to play. These injuries have led to Justin Herbert being sacked 29 times this season. Herbert, who leads all quarterbacks with 305 rushing yards at 6.6 yards per carry and one touchdown, completed 220 of 325 passes for 2,390 yards, 18 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. In their 27-20 win over Tennessee last week, he threw for 250 yards and two scores while rushing for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Pittsburgh's defense, which recorded five sacks and six turnovers against Indianapolis in Week 9, is poised to exploit these weaknesses. Former player Breiden Fehoko, who has experience with both teams, predicts a 27-14 Steelers victory, citing the Chargers' thin line and run-heavy scheme under coordinator Greg Roman. "The Steelers’ d-line are going to be teeing off like a pack of hungry ass wild dogs," Fehoko said on X. T.J. Watt and the pass rush tormented the Chargers last season, limiting them to 61 rushing yards and sacking Herbert and backup Taylor Heinicke five times.
The Chargers' receiving threats add complexity. Ladd McConkey has 47 catches for 524 yards and three touchdowns, while Oronde Gadsden II has exploded for 24 receptions, 377 yards, and two scores over his last four games. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin highlighted Gadsden's emergence: "The rookie tight end really complicates matters because if you didn’t already have your hands full with the other three, now there’s another one to be concerned about." Pittsburgh has struggled against tight ends this year but contained Indianapolis' Tyler Warren last week.
On offense, Aaron Rodgers has thrown 17 touchdown passes despite the Steelers ranking near the bottom in passing yards. Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf has 29 receptions for 467 yards and five scores. Cornerback Brandin Echols emerges as an X-factor in the secondary, especially in the slot against McConkey or Keenan Allen (over 500 yards). Former coach Jon Gruden picks the Steelers outright, noting Herbert's vulnerability: "You can't get hit as much as Herbert’s getting hit. The Steelers are going to pepper him."
The over/under is set at 44.5 points, with models projecting 47 combined.
