The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Week 3 home opener against the Chargers. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Plenty of terrible towels waving as we get ready to kick this one off. Boswell will kick it away.
• Patrick Queen just leveled J.K. Dobbins.
• The defense comes out and sets the tone early. Hold the Chargers to a three and out.
• The Steelers offense was just as inept. They come up with a three and out and give it right back.
• What looked like a first down conversion for the Chargers came back on a holding penalty (should be more of those), and the defense holds to three and out again.
• Fields starts this drive by getting sacked for the second time in the game. He seems to be holding the ball a little longer than I would like at this point.
• Steelers now playing from way behind the sticks and they’re not built to do it.
• How about another big loss on a swing pass on second down. I think they might as well just punt it here.
• The offense is looking terrible. The defense can’t score I don’t think the Steelers will win this one.
• Blown coverage by the Steelers secondary gives up a touchdown. Not looking like a good home opener for the Steelers. Charger 7, Steelers 0.
• It’s not only that the Chargers scored on that drive, it’s that they drove the ball easily and saw little to no resistance from the Steelers defense.
• The Steelers offense is doing absolutely nothing. How long until we start hearing the chants of bring back Canada? Okay maybe that’s a stretch, but still.
• End of the first quarter. Chargers 7, Steelers 0.

2nd Quarter

• Muuuth!!! And that’s another Pittsburgh Steelers….. First down!
• There’s a Scotty Miller sighting on that third down conversion.
• Steelers face a 3rd & 3 on the 5-yard line. Fields keeps and runs it in for the touchdown! Finally a good looking series from the offense. Steelers 7, Chargers 7.
• Looked like the Steelers might hold to a three and out again, but they let J.K. Dobbins escape in the backfield and rush for the first down.
• I’m seeing a lot of very large gaps in the Steelers zone coverage. Making it very easy for the Chargers to convert first downs.
• Another wide open receiver.
• I thought the Steelers were supposed to be able to stop Greg Roman offenses? That isn’t happening these last two drives.
• Anyone who doesn’t think Cam Heyward can still play is fooling themselves.
• The defense stiffens enough at the 10-yard line and forces the field goal attempt. Chargers 10, Steelers 7.
• Steelers failed to convert on 3rd & 4 coming out of the 2-minute warning and will punt.
• Another huge gap in the middle of the Steelers defense but the Chargers get out from the shadow of their own end zone.
• Steelers could have gotten the Chargers off the field but give up the first down conversion on 3rd down.
• I’ve decided that the old adage that prevent defenses prevent you from winning is definitely true.
• Highsmith misses a sack and Queen misses an interception on the same play.
• The defense does force the punt.
• There’s George Pickens doing some George Pickens things.
• Boswell is going to get a chance to kick from 60+
• Bos might have had the distance, but missed it right.
• The Chargers throw a Hail Mary that comes up incomplete. At the half Chargers 10, Steelers 7.

3rd Quarter

• Three straight runs for a first down. That’s a good start.
• Negative 4 on first down puts the Steelers behind the sticks.
• Face mask call has the Steelers in good position. But it’s followed up by an illegal formation on a nice throw to Muth.
• On 3rd and 15th that was a beautiful catch and run by Calvin Austin III.
• The Steelers have entered the red zone.
• I’m not understanding these tosses to Najee that lose four and five yards every time. Why do the Steelers keep calling them?
• Negative plays have been killing the Steelers drives all season. They will have to go for the field goal attempt here.
• Boswell is good. Steelers 10, Chargers 10.
• Nick Herbig with the strip sack, but unfortunately the Chargers recovered it.
• The defense keeps the Chargers pinned inside the 10-yard line and force a punt. This should be good field position for the offense.
• A short punt and a player running out of bounds on their own for the Chargers will have the Steelers take over on the Chargers 41-yard line.
• Fields passes deflected and intercepted. Just when it looks like things are going the Steelers way something like this happens.
• Get down Mr President! Elandon Roberts just obliterated Justin Herbert.
• Herbert is now leaving the game. He took one more snap but is now limping off the field.
• Steelers defense does its job after the turnover and will get the ball back for the offense.
• The offense quickly faces a 3rd & 4. It is complete to Muth for the first down, but wait there’s a flag. Wow, the penalty was on the Chargers. Tack on 15 more. The tackler led with the helmet.
• Nobody picked up the blitzer and Fields never saw him. Steelers will be faced with another third and long.
• The Chargers get knocked for a roughing the passer call and the Steelers will pick up the first down.
• Finishing this drive with a touchdown would be huge.
• Having Cordarrelle Patterson on the team is kind of nice. The guy can run the ball, he’s a good receiver and can line up outside, he can be a bit of a mismatch nightmare.
• A flag on the third down play I want to see if this is a hip drop tackle. If so then I do not understand what one is.
• Was not the hip drop tackle but was holding on the defense. The drive will continue for the Steelers.
• The end of the third quarter. Steelers 10, Chargers 10.

4th Quarter

• Well there went that toss play again. Najee fights to just make it a no gain. Quit running that play.
• The Steelers drive stalls as I didn’t like the play calling going into the fourth quarter. Boswell will come on for a field goal.
• The field goal was good, not by much but it was good. Steelers 13, Chargers 10.
• Third down and two and the Chargers make a nice pass play over the middle. Getting off the field there could have been huge for the defense.
• JPJ comes through and drops the running back for a loss.
• T. J. Watt!!! With the sack on third down.
• We love us some George Pickens.
• Calvin Austin III. That guy is pretty fast once he gets the ball in his hands. He takes the catch and run for the touchdown! Steelers 20, Chargers 10.
• This might be the best I felt during a game all year.
• Okay defense, time to assert your will on the opposing team’s offense.
• And right off the bat Nick Herbig comes in with a sack. That’s amazing!
• Old man Cam Heyward gets in on the action. He gets a sack, that might be split with T.J. Watt.
• I really liked the usage of Cordarrelle Patterson in his game. He just ran that ball for a first down. But he has spent a lot of time lined up at wide receiver as well. The guy has talents and the Steelers are utilizing them properly at the moment.
• The Steelers are now running the ball at will. This is how the Steelers are supposed to close out games. Run the ball down the other team’s throat.
• Najee runs it down to the 1 yard line, and the Steelers line up in victory formation.
• For the record I want people to check out the staff score prediction article and notice who nailed this one. That would be one Big Bro Scho.
• 3-2-1 WIN!!!! 3-0 Baby!!!

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with a me and Kyle, you just don’t have to go to another room because of my screaming at the television (sometimes Kyle leaves the room). Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me so I can ready myself for the Week 4 matchup at home against the Colts. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.