Chargers' dangerous Alohi Gilman risk continues to look even more genius

As the Los Angeles Chargers came away with a massive victory over the Pittsurgh Steelers, 25-10, to bring themselves to a 7-3 record on the season, their defensive resurgence was the certainly the story of the night.

Yet, contained within that story was an even more subtle narrative: the fact that the strong performance of their secondary, and especially rookie safety RJ Mickens, continues to make their decision to trade away Alohi Gilman in exchange for an extra pass rusher look even more genius.

Against an offensively capable team in the Steelers, the Chargers dominated both against the pass and the run, locking down DK Metcalf and making a number of stellar defensive plays throughout the course of the night.

Ultimately, if this performance continues over the next eight weeks, Los Angeles could again have one of the best defenses in the league, and their Gilman trade could take a healthy share of the credit for such a development.

The Chargers' defense continues to look excellent following the Gilman trade

At the time, the move that the organization made to acquire Odafe Oweh and a seventh-round pick from the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for Gilman and a fifth-round pick seemed like a move to bolster a temporary weakness in star pass rusher Khalil Mack's absence with a vague hope that Mickens could step into Gilman's role for the time being.

Yet, as the team's pass rush continues to excel with Oweh as a rotational rusher and the secondary finds its dominant form yet again, the trade is starting to crystallize as a potentially season-defining move.

Against the Steelers, Mickens not only had an interception on a throw that sailed over Metcalf's head, he also made an excellent tackle in the open field on Kenneth Gainwell that ultimately resulted in a missed field goal for the Steelers at one of the game's most pivotal moments in the second quarter.

Moreover, rookie safety Nikko Reed, who has worked his way into the nickel in Tarheeb Still's absence, also made a highlight play, breaking up a pass to Calvin Austin that most certainly would have gone for a touchdown.

On the night, the Chargers only allowed 96 passing yards, holding Pittsburgh to just three points until the game had essentially been squared away.

The faith they had in the rookies and other secondary players has certainly been proven well-placed.

Therefore, this was undoubtedly Los Angeles's biggest defensive performance of the season so far, and Mickens' massive role in it serves as yet another reminder of how well the team's most important in-season trade has worked out.