Steelers @ Chargers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4)

@ Los Angeles Chargers (2-3)

Current odds:

Pittsburgh Steelers: (+230)

Los Angeles Chargers: (-270)

• The line for this game is Chargers by 6 points.

• Undrafted rookie quarterback Devlin Hodges may be making his first career start when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night. Mason Rudolph suffered a concussion last Sunday and Hodges took the first-team reps on back-to-back days in practice as he prepares for the possible start. Hodges, who won the Walter Payton Award as the FCS player of the year at Samford last season, was cut by Pittsburgh in late August before being signed to the practice squad and later moving up the depth chart due to Ben Roethlisberger’s season-ending elbow injury. “It’s a crazy process, even from the beginning, just coming here on like a tryout,” Hodges told reporters. “If five years from now, or 10 years, if I’m still playing in the NFL, I think this whole kind of story will kind of just fit who I am. It just shows that with hard work and confidence in yourself and belief in yourself, you can accomplish your dreams.”

• Los Angeles doesn’t have quarterback issues with Philip Rivers set to make his 214th consecutive start, but the team is being viewed as a group of underachievers after losing three of its last four games. “We’ve been in this boat and kind of gotten rolling,” Rivers told reporters, referring to past seasons. “Hopefully, we weather the storm injury-wise and kind of find a way to win a game, and then, hopefully, we can string some (wins) together.”

• Pittsburgh’s defense has allowed at least 24 points in all four defeats, and coach Mike Tomlin is trying to keep his team focused as each game moving forward will have a must-win feel. “We have a group that is (ticked) off, to be quite honest with you, and appropriately so, but not displaced,” Tomlin told reporters. “We don’t see ourselves as misfortune. We have had control and opportunity to win these games. Our record is our record.” The Steelers rank third in the NFL with 19 sacks while rookie inside linebacker Devin Bush has stood out with a team-leading 45 tackles.

• Running back Austin Ekeler had 15 receptions in last Sunday’s 20-13 loss to Denver, matching the franchise record shared by teammate Keenan Allen and Hall-of-Famer Kellen Winslow. Ekeler (227 rushing yards, 356 receiving) is enjoying a standout campaign, but more of his running workload soon will go to Melvin Gordon, who gained 31 yards on 12 carries against the Broncos in his season debut following a two-month holdout. Melvin Ingram (hamstring) could miss his second straight game, but fellow defensive end Joey Bosa has registered a team-leading three sacks.

• The Steelers hold a 22-8 advantage in the all-time series, but the Chargers prevailed 33-30 in Pittsburgh last season.

• Los Angeles C Mike Pouncey (neck) was placed on injured reserve and will undergo season-ending surgery

• Pittsburgh RB Jaylen Samuels (knee) underwent arthroscopic surgery and will miss approximately one month.