The Los Angeles Chargers secured a 25-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at SoFi Stadium, fueled by a strong defensive performance and a record-breaking moment from Keenan Allen.
The Chargers’ defense pressured and sacked Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers three times, including a crucial sack that resulted in a safety, helping to seal the win.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen set a new Chargers franchise record with his 956th career reception, surpassing the previous record held by Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates, who was present among the 72,174 fans in attendance.
With just over two minutes left in the game, Allen approached head coach Jim Harbaugh to suggest a simple play to achieve the milestone. Harbaugh relayed the request to offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who approved the plan.
“I was on the sideline and [Harbaugh] said, ‘We’re trying to get it to you,’” Allen explained. “I said, ‘Hey, just run the speed sweep. It’s the easiest catch I get. They actually called me a genius. Like, ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’”
Quarterback Justin Herbert then completed a 7-yard shovel pass to Allen on the right side.
Harbaugh said, “I thought it was a really good call. He wanted to do it in front of the home crowd and it was a great idea. We went with it and it was a great run, too. That was just tremendous.”
Keenan Allen’s strategic milestone catch and the Chargers’ relentless defense secured a convincing win over the Steelers, highlighting a memorable night at SoFi Stadium.