There are some things in sports that just don't add up.
The 1960 Pirates beating the Yankees in the World Series despite being outscored, 55-27, over the course of the seven games, for example.
There are various other outliers such as that available all of the time -- though typically to a lesser extent. And you can add the 2018 Chargers to that list.
How so?
Entering Sunday night's game at Heinz Field against the Steelers (7-3-1), the Chargers (8-3) are averaging 7.07 yards per play on first down, second only to the Los Angeles Rams, who are averaging a ridiculous 7.28 yards per play.
Perhaps it has something to do with inflation in California.
Or perhaps it's having a veteran quarterback in Phillip Rivers who is playing at a high level. At least that's what the Steelers believe.
"When you are averaging seven yards a play on first down it’s because you have no negative plays," Mike Tomlin said. "They get (Rivers) enough latitude, he’s getting out of negative plays or potentially negative situations. You do not see him getting dropped behind the chains very often and it just speaks to their schematics ... but also the latitude, the autonomy, the intelligence that Philip Rivers has and the way they are able to utilize in terms of attacking people."
Yet despite that tremendous success on first down, the Chargers rank 22nd in the NFL in third down conversion rate at just 37.8 percent.
Given their success on first downs, that just doesn't make a lot of sense.
"They’re one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to third downs," said Steelers nickel cornerback Mike Hilton. "I guess second down is their third down in their opinion. They get a lot of plays on first downs where they can put themselves into better position for second-and-short. It’s something we’ve got to take control of."
The key will be not allowing big plays in the passing game on first down and stopping the Chargers' running game. One thing the Chargers do to keep out of third-down situations, as Hilton alluded, is to convert on second down instead. They have faced third down just 119 times this season. Only Kansas City (116) has had fewer third down plays.
That means shutting down what has been a lethal running game. The Chargers average 5.0 yards per rushing attempt as a team. Star running back Melvin Gordon averages 5.2 yards per carry but won't play in this game because of an MCL sprain suffered in a 45-10 win at Arizona last week.
But the Steelers can't relax against backup Austin Ekeler. He's averaged 5.8 yards per rushing attempt on 70 carries and also has caught 32 passes for 353 yards and three touchdowns.
"He is fast. They use him in a lot of different ways," Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler said of Eckler. "He's a good football player.
"They get (their running backs) out from the box a little bit. They lost (Gordon), a guy who has filled a big role for them. So they're going to have to fill that up a little bit. It's going to be interesting to see how they distribute the ball."
The Chargers have thrown to their running backs 101 times in 11 games, with Gordon catching 44 passes and Ekeler 32. Those totals rank second and third on the team and the duo has combined for seven touchdown catches.
That could mean the Steelers need a big game out of linebacker L.J. Fort and safety Morgan Burnett, who replace starting inside linebackers Vince Williams and Jon Bostic when the team goes to its quarters package on longer passing situations.
Making that situation difficult is the fact Burnett is nursing a back issue suffered in last week's loss at Denver.
"I would think so," Fort told me when I asked if he expected to see a lot of playing time this week. "They're more of a pass-oriented team, especially compared to the past few weeks when we've played some teams that run the ball more. You'd think they'd be more aerial. We'll see."
The Steelers have done a good job overall against running backs catching the ball this season, allowing only 42 receptions for 308 yards and four touchdowns. But they did give up five catches for 62 yards and two scores to Christian McCaffrey in a win over Carolina last month.
Ekeler is similar to McCaffrey in the way he catches the ball.
"They use him all types of ways," Hilton said of the 5-foot-10, 205-pound Eckler. "From what I’ve seen on film, he’s even better as a wideout than he is out of the backfield. They find ways to get it to him, jet sweeps, pitches, any way they can find to get him into open space."
The Steelers have been pretty good overall in winning on first downs, allowing 5.4 yards per play, which ranks ninth in the league. They're also fifth in the league in opponents' third-down conversion rate at 35.7 percent.
So if they can get the Chargers into third downs, it would improve their chances of winning. At least that's the plan.
"Getting them into third downs, third-and-medium, third-and-long and make it tough for them," Hilton told me. "That's what we need to do."