3 Chargers who need to thrive in important Week 3 vs Steelers

The Los Angeles Chargers are off to a flying 2-0 start, as Jim Harbaugh's emphasis on running the football and playing strong defense has helped the Chargers surrender just 13 points in their first two games and thoroughly dominate both the Raiders and Panthers.

The challenge quotient will be ramped up this week, however, as LA is set to do battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite constant quarterback uncertainty and a lackluster offense, the wizardry of Mike Tomlin somehow has them as a 2-0 team with Justin Fields as the starting quarterback and one passing touchdown to their name.

Expect yet another low-scoring, hard-nosed game. If the Chargers, who have started 2-0 for the first time in over a decade, want to announce their presence as a team to worry about in the AFC, these three players need to play a big hand in what could be a road upset of a very well-coached Pittsburgh team.

3 Chargers who need to thrive in important Week 3 vs Steelers

3. TE Hayden Hurst

Hurst has outsnapped Will Dissly through two games, but he has managed just three catches. With the tight ends frequently a major pass-catching option in the Greg Roman offense, and with Hurst still carrying more potential as a receiver than Hurst, the Pittsburgh game could be a launching point for him to find a groove as a pass-catcher in this offense.

2. RB Gus Edwards

While JK Dobbins has been one of the best running backs in the league during the first two weeks, it seems unlikely that he is going to run for well over 100 yards in every single game. The Chargers are committed to this two-back system, as Edwards has actually earned more carries than Dobbins through two games.

Edwards has just 85 yards on 29 carries so far this season, which is a far cry from the player who would routinely top 5.0 yards per carry with the Ravens. With Dobbins starring, Edwards needs to show Chargers fans that he can be a quality back in a run-heavy offense and not just a product of the Lamar Jackson fear factor.

1. QB Justin Herbert

Herbert being handed a Roman offense was always going to upset those who loved to watch him chuck bombs down the field. While LA has been winning through two weeks, the same Herbert who threw for 5,000 yards during his second year in the league has amassed just 144 and 130 passing yards in his first two games.

The Chargers will win games this year irrespective of the banged-up Herbert due to the improvements elsewhere, but they won't be able to make any postseason noise unless Herbert starts playing like the star fans know he can be. A Steelers defense that features TJ Watt up front is not exactly a get-right game for Herbert, but he has had better games against better defenses in the past.