--QB Philip Rivers is impressed with the Steelers defense, which is ranked near the top of nearly every defensive category. "You turn on the tape and it certainly shows that," Rivers said. "We will have our work cut out for us on the road. It's going to certainly be a December, January playoff type atmosphere. It is a huge game. We're going to have to play well but we certainly feel we have some weapons and matchups that they don't feel great about."

--OLB Shaun Phillips welcomes the trip to Pittsburgh. "We look forward to the challenge if football is easy we shouldn't be playing it. We just want to go out there and do what we do. We go into every game with the mindset of stopping the run first." Phillips, though, said bringing down Ben Roethlisberger is also on the to-do list. But it will take a solid hit. "You have to be the one to deliver the blow," he said. "If you go out with that mind-set, you will make the tackle."

--Since 2004, the Chargers and Steelers have combined for a 90-38 record.

--Signed RB Michael Bennett (5-9, 207), an eighth-year pro, has rushed for 3,627 yards and has a career average of 4.4 yards per carry. He was recently released from Tampa Bay. He also has 151 receptions in 94 NFL games.

--The Chargers have played 12 times in Pittsburgh and lost all 12 -- in the regular season. They have swept the two playoff games there.

--The Chargers are 1-4 on the road and 0-3 when playing in the Eastern Time Zone.

--In their last three games, the Chargers have one sack and no interceptions.

--In six of the last seven weeks, the Chargers have owned the worst pass defense ranking in the league.

BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Super Bowl rings won by quarterbacks drafted in the 2004 first round. Philip Rivers still seeks his; Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger and the Giants' Eli Manning have theirs.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "They had turnovers that kept them from winning the game against Indianapolis. We'll have to go play our best." -- Coach Norv Turner, on the challenge awaiting the Chargers in facing Pittsburgh after a loss, their second straight at home.