JAY PARIS COMMENTARY: Chargers must get physical in Pittsburgh


SAN DIEGO ---- The trap is set, and the Chargers don't care. To them, it's time to complete some unfinished business.

The Chargers have put Sunday's victory over the Miami Dolphins in the Chargers Park aquarium, setting their sights on different bodies of waters: the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio.

It's on the Three Rivers banks where the big, bad and nasty Steelers dock. Come Sunday, the defending Super Bowl champions will welcome the Chargers, a team that was a mere speed bump on Pittsburgh's road to the NFL's ultimate prize.

The Steelers whipped the Chargers twice last season, and the boys in blue absorbed the welts to prove it. When tangling with the Steelers, it's imperative to be, and get, pumped up.

The meek shall not apply. Teams relying on finesse ---- a tag that the Chargers can't shake ---- are usually disposed of and wiped clean by the 53-player equivalent of a Terrible Towel.

But Sunday also presents a snappy opportunity. Defeat the Steelers, and suddenly the Chargers' label of being flour-tortilla soft gets cooked.

"If you want to make a name for yourself, it's almost like you go after the giant,'' outside linebacker Shawne Merriman said Monday. "If you want to get the respect of people, you go after the best.''

Whether Merriman (groin) and running back LaDainian Tomlinson (ankle) can play will be determined as the week progresses. But something already front and center is the challenge awaiting the Chargers.

How big is that mountain of coal they need to climb? The early betting line installed the Chargers as a 6 1/2-point underdog.

Hear their bark, and it's clear that they won't slide into the Steel City with their collective tail between their legs. But can a team that hasn't proven it can run the ball (ranked No. 31 in the league) or stop the run (ranked No. 26) match muscles with the Steelers?

"Obviously, coming out of the Baltimore game, we weren't very good and we understand that,'' safety Eric Weddle said, referring to the Chargers' 31-26 loss to the Ravens in Week 2. "And we took it upon ourselves, from the coaches down to the players, that we wanted to be more physical and play to our capabilities.''

Be careful what you wish for.

Not only will the Steelers (1-2) be rolling up their sleeves to reveal their guns, but they'll be spitting bullets. The Bengals did the Chargers no favors by knocking off the Steelers on Sunday.

"We know how tough a team they are and coming off a loss like they did against Cincinnati, they are going to be revved up,'' said Weddle, who played a key role in the Chargers' January playoff loss in Pittsburgh when a punt ricocheted off him during a wacky third quarter.

"Obviously, they don't want to go 1-3 and we don't want to go 2-2. So it's going to be both teams fighting and giving everything they got to try and get this victory.''

The Chargers are fresh from their second triumph, but red flags are still flapping.


