5 things we learned Sunday

Five things we learned about Steelers 20, Chargers 10: 1. THROWBACK APPROACH Cameron Heyward never played for Mike Tomlin’s predecessor, but he heard enough stories and saw enough film to realize the game plan used by the Steelers would be embraced by the franchise’s former head coach.

“Those are the old Bill Cowher days,” Heyward said. “Three yards and a cloud of dust.”

In carving out a Hall of Fame coaching career, Cowher took pride in the Steelers displaying a physical brand of football, one that relied on defense and a power running game to put away the game in the fourth quarter.

Tomlin stole a page from that playbook. The Steelers held the Chargers to one first down after halftime and minus-5 yards in the second half, and then controlled the clock to polish off the win.

The Steelers held an opponent to the fewest yards (168) in a game in 13 seasons, and they haven’t allowed a touchdown in the second half during their 3-0 start. The Chargers, who had the NFL’s leading rusher in J.K. Dobbins, had 48 rushing yards at halftime but finished with 61, gaining 13 yards on six carries in the second half.

Conversely, the Steelers running game didn’t find its footing until the final 15 minutes. Through three quarters, the Steelers had 34 rushing yards on 19 attempts. They totaled 80 on 12 attempts in the fourth. On the drive that enabled the Steelers to run out the clock, Najee Harris had runs of 11 and 21 yards, and Cordarrelle Patterson reeled off runs covering 14 and 12 yards.

2. MAKING DO WITH A FEW For the first time in three games, the Steelers played with just four wide receivers.

Or did they? They appeared to be short-handed when Roman Wilson didn’t dress after being a full practice participant Thursday and Friday. Ben Skowronek, activated the first two weeks to help on special teams, was on injured reserve, and the Steelers didn’t make a move to elevate another receiver from the practice squad.

That left the Steelers with George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller. The number dwindled to three when Jefferson missed a big chunk of the game with an eye injury.

Tomlin, though, was quick to remind that Patterson was a receiving option, which meant the Steelers weren’t short on numbers at all. Patterson even was credited with the start at receiver when he lined up along with Pickens and Jefferson for the first snap. He lined up in the backfield on just four of his 23 offensive plays.

Patterson chipped in with three catches for 15 yards and four carries for 33. He still has not gotten a chance to test the new kickoff rules as opponents continue to kick the ball deep into the end zone.

Filling in for Jefferson was Miller, who had two catches for 31 yards. His 20-yard catch in the first half set up the Steelers’ first touchdown. His 11-yard reception in the third quarter led to the tying field goal.

3. CLEANING IT UP

After the Steelers committed 10 penalties for 78 yards in the game at Denver, Tomlin brought in officials to oversee practice for all three sessions leading up to the Chargers game. Typically, Tomlin only has officials on site on Fridays.

The extra scrutiny apparently got through to the players. The Steelers were penalized just three times for 15 yards, and they didn’t commit a single infraction in the first half.

Two of the penalties were for an illegal formation, which officials have emphasized in the first month of the season. The third was the rare defensive delay of game penalty on Keeanu Benton.

4. BLANKET COVERAGE

Kickoff returns continue to be lacking as teams are content with booming the ball deep into the end zone and giving the opponent possession at the 30. The Steelers are no exception as three of Chris Boswell’s kickoffs Sunday went unreturned. Ten of Boswell’s kickoffs for the season haven’t been returned.

But the Steelers did try to entice a return twice, and the kickoff coverage team was up to the task. Boswell placed two kicks just inside the end line, prompting Derius Davis to bring the ball out of the end zone.

His first attempt was stopped at the Chargers 12, the second at the 20.

Punter Corliss Waitman, in his second game back with the Steelers, allowed just one return by Davis for 5 yards. Waitman had a 50.3-yard net average on three attempts, his final punt traveling 56 yards to the Chargers’ 8.

Rodney Williams, activated from the practice squad, had one of the tackles on special teams. Long snapper Christian Kuntz assisted on another stop.

5. SNAP DECISIONS

Rookie fourth-rounder Mason McCormick’s integration into the offensive line involved playing 12 snaps at left guard in place of Spencer Anderson. With the Steelers breaking out their jumbo package for the first time, McCormick played another 13 snaps as an extra blocker when he lined up outside the tackles.

On defense, corner Joey Porter Jr. and inside linebacker Patrick Queen were the only players to log every snap. Queen had his most productive game since joining the Steelers, leading the team with eight tackles and nearly intercepting a pass.

With Alex Highsmith exiting because of a groin injury, T.J. Watt missed just two snaps, playing 44 of a possible 46. On the defensive line, Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi each played at least 70% of the snaps.

The defense, though, was on the field for just 15 plays in the second half.