The Steelers will take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football at ROKiT Field at Dignity Health Sports Park, a matchup of two teams that are looking to get back in the win column this week.
The Steelers go in with a 1-4 record, while the Chargers are 2-3 after dropping last week's game to the Denver Broncos, 20-13.
Chargers Coach Anthony Lynn knows the Steelers record is not indicative of the way they have been playing, being that they have been close in multiple games.
"They are leading the league in takeaways right now," said Lynn. "That is a huge stat when you talk about correlating to winning. That is why they have been in so many games. They lost three games by nine points. This team to me is not a 1-4 football team. It's a dangerous football team if you ask me.
"We know they are going to play tough and they are going to be physical. It's going to be Sunday night, so I expect their defense to show up and do what they have always done."
Lynn and others also weighed in on Mason Rudolph, Devlin Hodges and more.
Lynn on if he watches film of Mason Rudolph, Devlin Hodges or both this week:
"Mason has enough tape this year to look at. Hodges, we just saw a little snap of him last week. We'll go back and look at what he did in college. He broke Steve McNair's all-time passing records. There were times when he was on the big stage at Florida State, he only threw for 475 yards and two TDs, and he goes to Mississippi State and throws for 470 yards and four TDs. It just seems like being at a small school, every time he had the chance to play on a big stage he showed up.
"I watched him last week when he came in the game, he was very prepared. It was obvious. They went straight down the field and scored. He seems like a good football player."
Lynn on if he was aware of Hodges around the time of the draft:
"No, to be honest with you I wasn't."
Quarterback Philip Rivers on the Steelers defense:
"It's a good group. Its history stays with this team. You see that old Pittsburgh defense from a style standpoint, from a physical standpoint, somewhat from a scheme standpoint. They've got a young, two young safeties that are flying around, Pro Bowl veteran cornerbacks and a good front. It's a good defense. They are leading the league in taking the ball away.
"We know they have dealt with some injuries on the other side. It will be a tough challenge. You see with them some of the games they have lost, how they have been down to the wire also. It will be a heck of a game, as it seems like we have had a handful the last decade plus with Pittsburgh and they all come down to the wire. It will be a heck of a game."
Lynn on if the additions of Mark Barron, Devin Bush and Minkah Fitzpatrick strengthen and improve the defense in the middle of the field:
"On paper they are definitely better. Devin Bush…he can run, he can flat out fly. Barron, I have played against a few times, he is very athletic. In the back end with Fitzpatrick and (Terrell) Edmunds, two outstanding safeties. And then you have Joe (Haden) at the corner, so this is one of the best secondaries we have gone up against this year."
Lynn on Fitzpatrick:
"Boy, he's talented. He is good. He started making plays right away and he's learning their defense more and more each and every week. He's an outstanding football player. Edmunds, he's another good player. I thought they really improved at the safety position."
Lynn on the Steelers front seven:
"Their front seven is really good, but their front five is as good as we've seen, I can tell you that. They're led by T.J. Watt and (Bud) Dupree. They do a good job up front. It's a good front seven."
