PITTSBURGH — Two teams that showed up to the North Shore wanting to run the football Sunday had to turn to Plan B. For the Steelers, that was Plan Breakout, as quarterback Justin Fields had by far his most productive outing of the season so far, and Plan Backup, as role players became game-changers in a 20-10 win against the Los Angeles Chargers at Acrisure Stadium.

The Steelers moved to 3-0 after Fields threw for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 25-of-32 passing as the Chargers (2-1) made him beat them. They held the run-first Steelers to just 14 yards rushing in the first half, though they weren’t able to do much on the ground themselves.

Once again, the Steelers defense dominated, getting sacks from Cam Heyward, Elandon Roberts, T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig, the last of whom had two and stripped Herbert for a forced fumble on the first. It didn’t hurt that starting quarterback Justin Herbert, who came in playing through a high-ankle sprain, left the game in the second half and was replaced by journeyman backup Taylor Heinicke.

The Chargers also dealt with injuries to both starting offensive tackles and star pass rusher Joey Bosa, but the Steelers lost their own stud outside linebacker Alex Highsmith to a groin issue in the first half. It was a battle of attrition, as projected with two physical teams going at it, and the Steelers showed they can win in a more wide-open style — at least for one week.

It was over when: Najee Harris ripped off a 21-yard run to the Chargers goal line coming out of the 2-minute warning and appeared to wisely go down at the 1 so the Steelers could kneel out the clock the rest of the way.

Player of the game: Fields. Is this the end of the Russell Wilson era in Pittsburgh? Fields completed his first 11 passes, used his legs when necessary and took care of the ball again other than a throw into traffic that was intercepted early in the second half. Fields showed how valuable he can be in the red zone when he pulled the ball on a read-option and scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown five minutes into the second quarter. He would’ve had more to show for his efforts if not for a Pat Freiermuth drop in the final minute of the first half. Fields threaded it through three defenders and stuck it right into his No. 1 tight end’s chest, which followed a completion to George Pickens down the left sideline after he extended the play and kept his eyes downfield. He wasn't perfect but he keeps getting the job done and playing his part in a tried-and-true Steelers script.

Trending up: Calvin Austin III. In a game in which the Steelers only suited up four true receivers and then lost starter Van Jefferson to an eye injury in the first quarter, Austin stepped up in a major way. He caught four passes for a game-high 95 yards, including the 55-yard touchdown that broke the game open in the fourth quarter. Austin’s speed, quickness and effort never has been in question, but now it looks like he might have an offensive coordinator who can take advantage of that despite his lack of size. Honorable mentions here go to Nick Herbig and Scotty Miller, both of whom made splash plays when needed as backups thrust into larger roles like Austin was.

Trending down: Spencer Anderson. Three weeks into his audition replacing the injured Isaac Seumalo as the starting left guard, Anderson saw himself rotating with rookie Mason McCormick throughout this one. Anderson didn’t appear to make any egregious mistakes in real time, and even if it’s simply the coaching staff being high on their fourth-round pick and wanting to see more of him, it’s not as if the second-year seventh-rounder was benched at all the first two games. Seumalo could be back as soon as next Sunday in Indianapolis, but if he’s not, McCormick could get the nod. Unless the Steelers just really love rotating offensive linemen mid-game these days.

Up next: A third road game in four weeks to start the season, this time a road trip to Indianapolis for the third consecutive season against the sub-.500 Colts.

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