The LA Chargers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football in what was a thrilling game for most NFL fans but a stressful one for Charger fans. It felt like another primetime Chargers meltdown was coming but when it was all said and done the Bolts were able to get the job done.
It certainly was not the prettiest win but a win is a win at the end of the day. This win was huge in keeping the Chargers in a playoff spot without losing any ground in the AFC West title race with the Kansas City Chiefs.
If the Chargers are going to cement their spot in the playoffs and potentially win the division they are going to have to clean some things up. Let's dive into what exactly the team needs to focus on.
1. The LA Chargers need to commit fewer penalties
The penalties on Sunday night were atrocious. Typically, there is a bone to pick with the referees as the officiating has not been that great this season. However, for the most part, everything the refs called was justified.
Sure, there was some missed calls here and there but for the most part the game was called correctly and the Chargers continued to shoot themselves in the foot. The worst of it all was a seven-play sequence that completely shifted the game.
The Chargers punted to the Steelers in the fourth quarter and then had to punt again because of offsetting penalties. That punt was blocked, setting up the Steelers with first and goal. The defense was able to buckle down and get the stop on fourth down only for Tevaughn Campbell to commit a pointless pass interference on a pass that 90% would have been incomplete anyway.
The Chargers committed 12 penalties for 75 yards and they always seemed to come in the most inopportune times. The Chargers average the 11th most penalties per game and that is something that the team needs to clean up.