PITTSBURGH — There was a point in the second half of the Steelers-Chargers game Sunday where it sure felt like the Chargers defense wasn't having much fun out there. It seemed like the entire unit was looking at the clock and counting down the minutes until they could get back on the bus to the airport to take their flight home to sunny California.

It wasn't an illusion, either, as I won't go as far as saying the Chargers quit, but it was clear they didn't have the same effort and energy as they did in the first half. There is a reason for that, too, and it is because the Steelers offensive line had worn them down, imposed their will on the game and then feasted on the Chargers once they smelled blood in the water.

"Playing physical football, that's what we are trying to do," said tackle Dan Moore Jr. in the locker room after the game. "You could definitely tell [we wore them down]. It was clear to the offensive line that [the Chargers] were just done.

"I think it was that first drive coming out of the half, that first long drive that we had, we didn't finish with a touchdown but we put three points on the board. I think at that moment we felt the energy shifting, and then obviously our defense feeding off of that, it just felt like it was going our way."

Many think what the Steelers are doing on offense is dull, boring and borderline unwatchable. I understand that sentiment, as watching a team grind away with the run game and take very few chances in the passing game in today's pass-happy world of football can be frustrating at times.

It isn't sexy, but the goal is to win football games and, quite frankly, the Steelers have found a formula that will give them a chance to win every game they play. That's especially true if the offensive line continues to improve, gets more connected and bullies defenses the way it did Sunday.

That is why I would argue what the Steelers did on offense was a thing of beauty. Forget about the defense; we knew the defense was going to be a problem for opposing offenses and would feast off of game-changing plays. It is the offense that has had the most to prove, and so far they have shown the potential to be both physical and efficient.

The Steelers didn't run for big yardage in this game, as they carried 31 times for 114 yards and only averaged 3.7 yards per carry. But their patience with it, their willingness to keep hammering away, and their commitment to being as physical as possible at the point of attack absolutely did wear down the Chargers and cause them to crack.

That's why on the final drive when the Steelers ran out the clock, the Chargers were powerless to stop them. The Steelers went 10 plays, drove 65 yards and took a knee at the goal line. They ate the final 4:59 off the clock and all but one play was a run — and the pass was a little swing to Najee Harris that went for minus-2 yards.

In other words, the Steelers took the ball with about five minutes to play and told the Chargers, "We are running right at you until the game is over and you can't stop us" ... and then did it.

Center Zach Frazier has made a career of being a bit of a mauler, both in football and in wrestling, and he said Sunday was one of the most fun games he has been a part of because the Steelers just physically dominated the Chargers. He said there was a point where he could sense the Chargers had cracked, and that only fueled the offensive line to push even harder.

"The runs started getting longer and longer," Frazier said. "We were driving them down the field further and further and then just finishing. And at the end, they didn't want to be out there any more, especially that last drive, you could tell that they were tapping out.

"Coach [Arthur] Smith said this week that if you keep pushing, the dam is about to break, and that is exactly what happened on that last drive. I enjoy wearing your opponent out and making them tap out, and that is fun. When you get the ball like we did and then close the game out, that's a special feeling."

Frazier said the mentality of the Steelers offensive line is to wear opponents down, and they have improved in that area every game. He said he is excited about what the next few weeks will bring as the offensive line gets healthy and begins to find a rhythm.

The most amazing part of the performance by the Steelers offensive line Sunday is that coaches have had to piece it together due to injuries. There is an argument to be made that their best offensive lineman, guard Isaac Seumalo, has not played yet, but he is getting closer to ready. The Steelers have had to shuffle right tackles, and Sunday they had to shuffle guards, as well.

Also, Moore seems to be the player that everyone wants to replace, but the reality is he has made it very difficult for coaches to justify taking him out of the lineup, as he has improved a little bit every week.

The Steelers have made it clear that they are trying to play "tough guy" football and are hoping they can win games the old-fashioned way. It is a meat-and-potatoes approach to football, but it feels like the right thing for them because it fits their roster.

It isn't always fun to watch, but it can be effective. And that's especially true if the offensive line continues to grind its way to complete domination like it did Sunday against the Chargers.

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