INSIDE SLANT

NFL Team Report - Los Angeles Chargers</h2><br>Chargers have to make do without RB Gordon<p></p> The Los Angeles Chargers are eyeing an old foe in the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday while seeing if they can survive without Melvin Gordon.<p></p> The Chargers (8-3), winners of seven of the past eight games, face a Steelers (7-3-1) squad in a battle of AFC heavyweights. Both are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs and both will be relying on backup running backs.<p></p> It worked out OK for the Steelers as James Conner replaced Le'Veon Bell.<p></p> But that was different.<p></p> Austin Ekeler will be part of the crew filling in for Melvin Gordon after he sprained his knee in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals.<p></p> Bell is out for personal reasons while Gordon's are physical.<p></p> "Collectively we all have to pick up when you're down one of your best guys," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "It's a group effort to pick up."<p></p> Compensating for Gordon might not be a short-term deal, with reports that his sprained knee ligament will cost him 1-3 games. But it's all about this game and how to survive and start a grueling final month of the season.<p></p> Ekeler knows his way to the field and there's a confidence in him which is tangible. The undrafted rookie in his second year has scored four touchdowns this year and has a reliable pair of hands.<p></p> "We have a lot of faith in him," Rivers said. "He's strong. It's his balance and how low he is cutting in and out of holes. He's powerful and tough to bring down. The first guy that hits him usually doesn't bring him down."<p></p> The Chargers defense has been on the rise and is coming off blanking the Cardinals in the second half. It must contend with Ben Roethlisberger, one of the other celebrated quarterbacks drafted with Rivers in 2004. While Roethlisberger is more mobile, the pair do have common traits.<p></p> "We both like standing in there and holding on to the ball until the last second and take a hit," Rivers said. "He's been a heck of a player for a long time."<p></p> There's not a much time left in the season that underscores the importance of Sunday's game. The Chargers have played well on the road this year and they get to prove they are a good away team on another occasion.<p></p> "I just know it's a heck of a place and their fans are into it," head coach Anthony Lynn said. "And that's a tough football team."<p></p> SERIES HISTORY 14th regular-season meeting, Steelers lead series, 22-7 and are a gaudy 14-1 against them at home. The Chargers got that one win in their last visit when prevailing 34-24 in 2012. Of course, the biggest win the Chargers ever had over the Steelers came in Pittsburgh when then-San Diego was a nine-point underdog in the 1994 AFC title game and won 17-13. </div> <div class="flex gap-2"> <div class="font-bold text-gray-600">The Sports Xchange</div> </div> <div id="comments" class="pt-6"></div> </div> </div> <div class="py-6 space-y-6"> <div class="space-y-4"> <h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Recent Stories</h2> <a href="/feature/testing-buffalo-bill-page" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Testing Buffalo Bill Page</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> Joe Horrigan knows the Buffalo Bills </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/06e3032cec6e442ab60a7fd8ae1b3701" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Steelers positional analysis: Kenny Pickett stands alone in QB room</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> 2/17/2024If the Steelers were concerned about the uncertain future at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger retired, the outlook at the position might not be any more ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/07f24b7086b24e9e83c29e8bf9cd913b" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">49ers coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t deserve criticism since Super Bowl</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> Globe StaffUpdated February 17, 2024, 9:38 a.m.Kyle Shanahan has been on the defensive all week following the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Super ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/2ae9263e12c74de88c5fb4aa552a1f3e" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">New Raiders GM expected to be aggressive in search for top QB</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> February 17, 2024 - 4:19 PMIf Tom Telesco’s past offers clues about his future, expect the Raiders’ new general manager to be aggressive in bringing in a top-level ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/features?skip=22" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium"> <span>Read More Stories</span> <span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="space-y-4"> <h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Latest Player Notes</h2> <a href="/note/65f70668f166e2567ab51b31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Mar 15, 2024 Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b24" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Mar 15, 2024 Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b11" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How can UW recruit its best class ever? 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