CARSON, Calif. -- The Steelers were down to their third-string quarterback, a player who didn't even make the team's roster coming out of training camp.
They were without their two biggest free agent additions from the offseason as both cornerback Steven Nelson and linebacker Mark Barron missed this game because of groin and hamstring injuries, respectively.
They lost defensive end Stephon Tuitt -- who had arguably been their best defensive player in the first five weeks of the season -- in the first quarter.
James Conner bullied and bruised his way to 119 total yards and a pair of scores before a quad injury left him standing on the sideline in the fourth quarter.
And corner Joe Haden left the late in the game with a groin injury, meaning not only was Artie Burns in the lineup late in this game, so was Cam Sutton.
Yet they found a way to win, 24-17, here over the Chargers.
It wasn't always pretty. They let the Chargers back into it late because, well, that's just what happens in the NFL when you're playing a future Hall of Fame quarterback such as Philip Rivers on his home (?) field.
"There were times when I was looking around to see who was left," Cam Heyward said. "It doesn't matter who's out there, we have got to get the job done. Guys stepped up today."
As much as fans might hate hearing Mike Tomlin talk about the "next-man-up" mentality, his players believe it.
That's how you come here against a team that was 12-4 and tied for the best record in the AFC a year ago and win with Devlin Hodges at quarterback and backups playing all over the defense by the time this thing ended. With rookie Benny Snell gaining 75 yards on 17 carries.
The players believe Tomlin's mantra. And that's all that matters.
• Of all the injuries the team suffered during this game, the one to Tuitt seemed the most dire.
Tuitt left the locker room without speaking, but Heyward didn't sound optimistic when speaking about his bookend.
"I'm hoping it's not as bad as it looks," Heyward told me. "He's a key part of our defense. I'll go to war with him every day. I don't know what's going to happen. I'm hoping it's just a little time off and then he comes back to us."
Tyson Alualu and Daniel McCullers both stepped up their games in Tuitt's absence.
"He's been balling out," Heyward said of Tuitt. "I was really proud of the way he's been playing. We're going to need him back."
When that might be is anyone's guess at this point.
• The Steelers ran the ball 36 times in this game. They threw it 20, with 15 completions, eight of which went to their running backs.
That was a winning formula in this game -- in part because the defense helped out by scoring a touchdown and setting up another.
But they also stayed on track offensively, converting eight of 13 third downs. Of those eight conversions, only one was more than four yards.
Hodges was a part of that at quarterback. But when Mason Rudolph is ready to return -- and he will be for the team's next game in two weeks against the Dolphins -- he should be the starter at quarterback.
That's nothing against Hodges. He got the job done in this game. But Rudolph is the better long-term prospect. And more importantly, he's the better quarterback for this team moving forward.
• This was a big game for Burns.
The former first-round draft pick didn't have his option year picked up for 2020, so he'll be a free agent at the end of the season. And he played a pretty good game in this one.
No, that touchdown caught in the back of the end zone by Hunter Henry was not his responsibility. He peeled off when he saw the ball in the air and tried to get there, but the Steelers were in a zone and Burns had the back corner. He nearly forced Henry out of the back of the end zone.
It's a perfect example of why you don't necessarily just "get rid of player X" when fans give up on him.
"I thought I did good," Burns told me. "I started to get into a rhythm. I've got some things I can work on, but I thought I did good."
Tomlin must have thought so, too. Not only did he give Hodges a game ball, he gave one to Burns, as well.
• Speaking of players some felt the Steelers needed to "just get rid of," yes, that was Donte Moncrief out there making a tough diving catch in the second half.
And it was Moncrief out there on the hands team when the Chargers were attempting an onside kick.
The Steelers never make moves until they absolutely have to do so. And it's cases like those of Burns and Moncrief that show why.
• It's always a good time for a bye if you ask any player. Their bodies can always use a break.
But with so many injuries right now, it comes at an absolutely great time for the Steelers, especially after a win.
They're now 2-4, get a week off and then return to face the hapless Dolphins.
It's almost like getting a double bye week. Sure, they'll have to go out and play against the Dolphins. And when you play football, there's always a chance of injury.
But while they're off next weekend, the Ravens head to Seattle to face the red-hot Seahawks before they have their bye in Week 8.
The Browns are off this week as well, but they come out of their bye week with a game in New England against the Patriots.
There's a good chance that the Steelers will find themselves alone in second place in the AFC North in two weeks, just a game behind the Ravens for first place.
• The Steelers already have 15 forced turnovers this season. They forced 15 all of last season.
Now, the chances of them finishing this season with 30 or more -- which is what they're on pace for -- is unlikely.
Then again, Devin Bush alone has accounted for six turnovers -- four on fumble recoveries and two on interceptions.
"When I'm home, I'm always sitting around with a ball in my hands," Bush said. "I think that's a good thing. (It's) good luck I guess."
Perhaps. But it also helps to always be around the ball. When you do that, good things happen.
• It wasn't all good for Bush. After hurting his foot, he missed some tackles in this game.
He got shrugged off on one play by receiver Mike Williams.
"Today was the first time I've gotten shrugged off," he said.
First time ever?
"Yeah, it was bad," Bush said. "I was disappointed in myself. I mean, you play the game long enough, it happens."
Did he learn anything from that?
"Try to hit them harder," Bush said.
• It's beginning to look like this team is going to stop opposing running backs every time out.
The Chargers had 32 yards on 13 carries by their running backs in this game and the Steelers are now allowing 3.8 yards per carry to opposing running backs. And that's after playing the 49ers, Seahawks and Ravens, three of the top rushing offenses in the league.
"When we're doing that, we make an offense one-dimensional," said Haden. "They have to go to pass mode."
That helps with the turnovers, as well. The Steelers weren't nearly as stout against the run last season, and we saw the result. The Steelers entered the week leading the league with 40 tackles for a loss. And they added four more such tackles in this game.
• Critics might point to the fact Henry had eight catches for 100 yards in this game. And while that's not ideal, it was better than allowing Keenan Allen to go crazy again.
It's really tough to take two premiere targets out of a game. And the Chargers really have three or four in Henry, Allen, Austin Ekelar and Mike Williams.
Ekelar and Allen came into this game as Rivers' top targets, with 39 and 38 receptions, respectively.
They combined for five catches for 47 yards on 10 targets. That's a pretty good day at the office for the pass defense.
But Rivers finally found other ways to beat the defense -- namely throwing to Henry. He just found that option too late.
