The sample size is small, but the start of the season from Chargers defense has been nothing short of stellar.
The unit has impressed early in all facets as they have allowed the fewest total points (13) through two games and have practically shut down opposing offenses.
Their approach every week continues to be laser-focused, and it has led to improvement as the success keeps rolling heading into Week 3.
"Very excited," Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said Thursday. "The guys are preparing really well, trusting each other, playing team defense and at the same time, gaining confidence.
"When you have success, you gain confidence," Minter added.
The Bolts rank first across the NFL in EPA per play (-0.465) and opposing offense success rate allowed (30.6 percent) entering Thursday Night Football. They also rank first defensive DVOA at minus-43.5 percent.
Minter's unit has been able to be steady for the most part in both games to open the season, swarming to the ball and allowing the second-fewest yards per game in the NFL (227.5).
Whatever way you look at it, the Bolts defense has impressed.
But as Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said earlier in the week, this upcoming game in particular will be an opportunity for the team to see where they are at this point of the early season.
"This is a week-to-week league," Minter said. "I told them there's greater challenges ahead, starting with this game.
He added: "It's a challenge we look forward to, but certainly happy and pleased with where we're at through two games."
The Steelers, who also come into the game with a 2-0 record, have followed a similar formula to the Bolts in terms of winning so far — playing physical on both sides of the ball.
Pittsburgh's defense ranks third in the league in EPA per play (-0.289) heading into the matchup.
Offensively, the Steelers have scored just one touchdown through the opening games but have been able to grind out wins running the ball and getting timely plays all while not turning the football over.
It's going to be a slugfest in Week 3, but as Minter points out his defense is no stranger to this kind of play.
Going against a Greg Roman offense all offseason gives the Chargers some experience going against the Steelers bigger personnel and physical style of play on that side of the ball.
"A lot of times, when you don't see it from your own offense for six weeks of training camp, it's really hard to get ready to play that style of football in one week," Minter said.
He added: "I've said this before, the offense that we get to defend, in my opinion, to be a good all-around defense that's kind of ready for it all, it's great for us. Greg does such a great job."
Check out the best photos from the first practice of Week 3 on Wednesday at UNC-Charlotte.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
The Los Angeles Chargers practice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at UNC-Charlotte in Charlotte, NC.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Steelers have run 37 plays in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends), 29 in 13 personnel (one running back and three tight ends) and four in 14 personnel (one running back, four tight ends). That makes up 51.9 percent of their offensive snaps so far this season.
The Bolts are ready for Pittsburgh's heavy formations, including ones with tight end Darnell Washington, who stands in at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds.
"They do a great job utilizing everybody in their offense," Minter said. "Great receivers, different tight ends, different styles of tight ends that they all do different things well."
"He's certainly a huge man. He's a really good in line blocker, he's good at securing the edge and then he can flex out and he's a matchup problem because of his size, catch radius," Minter added about Washington. "A guy we got to be aware of, just as all their guys are. I look forward to the challenge."
It will be a physical game played in a tough environment, but the Bolts defense is ready to continue to play their style of football.
"It's a great place to play, great fans, great environment, it's their home opener," Minter said. "They've played, stylistically, a brand of football for a long time. They've been one of those really, really stable organizations in the National Football League."
He later added: "Just having a little bit of awareness of that and sort of the aura you feel when you go into that stadium… but really at the end of the day in this particular situation, it's let's go play our style of football."
