Ladainian Tomlinson never had a chance to show what he could do.
“We got down so fast, we couldn't run the ball,” Tomlinson said after a night in which he carried just seven times for 15 yards.
In all, the Chargers gained just 16 yards on the ground, their lowest rushing total in a regular-season game since at least 1992.
“We had 15 plays in the first quarter-and-a-half,” head coach Norv Turner said after the Chargers lost 38-28 to the Steelers.
Tomlinson actually looked pretty good when he ran, executing his jump cut and finding some holes.
“I felt pretty good,” said Tomlinson, who missed the two previous games with a sprained ankle. “I'm still working my way back. I wouldn't say I was there. A little rusty.”
The Chargers' average of 53.8 yards a game rushing is worst in the league.