As the Los Angeles Chargers came away with the victory, 22-10, over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10, it's needless to say that their performance on the defensive side of the ball was overwhelmingly impressive, holding the Steelers to just 221 total yards from scrimmage on the night.
Moreover, in the process, they overcame the deficiencies they currently have on their offensive line, squeaking out enough offensive efficiency to stay competitive as their defense held the opposing team in a vice grip.
Given the injuries that the Chargers have endured so far this season, this can and must be their blueprint for success as the season continues if they want to have any shot at remaining competitive.
The Chargers will need to remain elite defensively for the rest of the season to stay competitive
Although Los Angeles has now settled into a 7-3 record, and have a genuine shot at sneaking up behind the Denver Broncos for control of the AFC West, the true storyline of this season has been the injuries they have been forced to deal with.
As the Chargers head into Week 11, they have now lost both starting tackles for the season, lost numerous other offensive linemen to minor injuries, lost lead back Najee Harris to an Achilles tear and lost rookie running back Omarion Hampton for multiple weeks with an ankle injury.
The three defeats they have suffered, frankly, can all be blamed in one way or another upon these injury concerns.
Yet, against Pittsburgh, the team found their run game yet again, with Kimani Vidal going for 95 yards and a touchdown on 25 attempts, allowing Justin Herbert to create enough time and space for himself to read the defense when needed on passing plays.
Given the concerns heading into the game about how the Steeler's lethal pass rush might exploit Los Angeles's battered line, their offense put up a distinctly impressive performance. Herbert, it seems, can be counted upon to put up 20 points on any given night.
Nevertheless, any hope they have at being seriously competitive this season rests in the continued dominance of Jesse Minter's defense. Although there has been flashes of this level of performance throughout the season, the inconsistencies have been glaring to this point (especially in their embarassing loss to the Indianapolis Colts).
Yet, against Pittsburgh, the team seemingly made all the right plays, getting pressure on Aaron Rodgers throughout the night, stuffing the run, making tackles in the open field, and even popping off a couple of interceptions throughout the course of the night.
It's not necessarily a controversial statement to say that this offense will struggle as the season wears on given the state of their protection. However, if the defense can solidify themselves as, say, a top-five unit in the NFL, this team could remain seriously dangerous long enough to squeak out a playoff win or two.