NFL Monday Night Football takes place tonight with a big match up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers. Both teams currently sit in second place in their respective divisions, and both desperately need to win today if they are to keep up with their division leaders in the race for Playoff spots. Today's big game takes place from the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California and has a scheduled start time of 8.30 p.m. ET. The game can be watched on TV on the ESPN network or online through live stream via the link below.
Both teams come into this clash with 2-2 records, and both are chasing division leaders with perfect 5-0 records (the Denver Broncos is the Chargers' AFC West, and the Cincinnati Bengals in the Steelers' AFC North). That means this game could have huge Playoff implications when the margins are added up towards the end of the regular season, and neither team will want to give an inch tonight.
The Steelers will be without Ben Roethlisberger as he is out with a knee injury, and that could decisive in how today's game turns out. Pittsburgh's other star players will have to step up with big performances tonight to cover that absence, so this is a big night for Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown to step forward and lead the team.
Brown is still trying to get used to the change. He of course has never caught an NFL touchdown pass from any one else other than Roethlisberger and that chemistry is not easy to build with a new quarterback, especially with little notice.
However, as the days have passed Mike Vick and teammates have had the chance to gel that much more, and exactly how much remains to be seen in today's game.
Vick has said ahead of the game: "I feel so much better just having more time to practice, more time to build chemistry and learn the offense."
No doubt Vick and Brown will be targeting this Chargers defense that has struggled so far this season, and they could be vulnerable to big runs. The Chargers have allowed five 20+ yard attempts this season, which is the second highest in the NFL, and if they don't manage to tighten that up for today's big game then the Steelers are sure to target that weakness.
The Chargers themselves will be hoping Philip Rivers will continue his good form today, and so far this season he has completed 99 of 140 attempts for 1,248 yards and eight touchdowns.
Today's NFL Monday Night Football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers has a start time of 8.30 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the ESPN network or online through live stream by clicking here.
