Varsity & JV: Winners and losers of the Steelers' Week 3 win over the Chargers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-0. Insert Paul Rudd's “Who would have thought?” meme here.

Pittsburgh defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 20-10, handing the Bolts their first loss of the year. As always, we'll look at the players who made the biggest difference – both good and bad. Here are this week's Varsity and JV players.

University

Quarterback Justin Fields

Fields had his best game as a Steeler and looked adept doing it, completing 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards, a passing touchdown and a running touchdown. The run score tied the game at 7-7 and capped a 12-play, 70-yard run. The 55-yard pass score to Calvin Austin put the Steelers up by double digits and sealed the win. Fields has always been known as more of a run-first dual threat, but only ran for six yards in this game – this was all about passing the ball into tight windows and jumping up when the team needed him. We saw Baker Mayfield find a home in Tampa with the Buccaneers after being banished from Cleveland, and it looks like Fields will find his home in Pittsburgh.

EDGE Nick Herbig

Herbig had the best game of his young career. He had two sacks, one of which was a strip sack. He constantly shows how great his jump off the snap is, and his first step off the edge is incredible. He is a rising star in the league.

WR Calvin Austin III

Speaking of best games as a pro, hello Calvin Austin. The Memphis product had a career-high 95 yards, including the aforementioned 55-yarder. Pittsburgh needed another receiver not named George Pickens, and they got that in Austin.

DT Cam Heyward

Heyward was Relocation boys on Sunday. He had his way with the Chargers' offensive line, making two tackles for loss and a sack in the backfield. Even in his late 30s, Heyward is one of the best interior linemen in football.

LB Patrick Queen

Queen had his best game as a Steeler. He had eight tackles, the most on his team, and flew all over the field.

LB Elandon Roberts

Don't forget Elandon Roberts. He had a sack and a tackle for loss, as well as four total tackles on the day. He was one of several defenders who helped the Steelers hold the NFL's best ground attack to just 61 yards and 3.1 yards per carry.

EDGE TJ Watt

To do this, press CTRL-ALT-DEL.

Meet TJ Watt, Joe – he's the best player in football. Watt had a sack, which is a sack in every game for number 90. If not for a holding call on Alt, he probably could have handed Justin Herbert off for another sack early in the first half. He's the best defensive player in the game, the best overall football player, and a total spoiler.

Close

The Steelers' running game was weak all day, but Najee Harris and Cordarrelle Patterson put the game away on the final drive of the game. They combined for 69 rushing yards and tied the sack. That included a 21-yard run by Harris to get to the one, which led to two kneel-downs that brought the clock down to three zeros.

Junior University

Missed opportunities

There was one play on defense that stood out. Alex Highsmith missed a sack and then Patrick Queen dropped an interception. Both are paid highly for these plays. This defense is way too expensive to let plays like that slip away. Pat Freiermuth also dropped a pass from Fields over the middle of the field. That's not to say the guys have to play 100 percent perfect – no one can. But in critical moments, they are expected to make those game-winning plays.

Let the ball run

Going into the final drive, the Steelers had only rushed for 45 yards. Thankfully, the passing game picked up when it needed to, but they need to get their running game woes under control and put on a complete performance.

Moves

If I see one more throw with a shotgun or pistol lose four yards, I'll put a brick through my TV. Art, you're doing great, but throw the game in the Monongahela.