THE STORY: James Conner stood in front of his teammates Sunday night and gave an impassioned speech about how the Cardinals need to use all their chips heading into Monday night's game against the Chargers.

The running back noted that he was a captain. “That’s the job description.”

However, Conner has always led by example. And the veteran's all-in performance was a key reason the Cardinals left State Farm Stadium with a 17-15 victory on the final play of the game. Chad Ryland kicked the 32-yard field goal for the game-winning score, but it was Conner's 33-yard catch-and-run that brought about the dramatic finish.

“There’s nothing he can’t do,” quarterback Kyler Murray said of his teammate.

Conner had 101 yards rushing. He had 51 yards receiving. He even had a forced fumble and knocked the ball out of the way of Chargers defender Teair Tart after Tart received a deflected interception from Murray on the game's first possession. Wide receiver Michael Wilson jumped on the ball and the Cardinals (3-4) avoided disaster.

Coach Jonathan Gannon pointed this out emphatically when he thought it would go “unnoticed.”

“Conner,” Gannon said, “was out.”

So did the defense, which allowed Justin Herbert to rush for a season-high 349 yards — the former Pro Bowler's passing was mitigated by Jim Harbaugh's intentional run-first offense — but on a day when there was only one , a touchdown goose egg thrown TD could have ensured a bad ending for the Cardinals.

Cornerback Starling Thomas V made the biggest play in this regard, hitting the ball from behind Chargers receiver Jalen Reagor on a 41-yard bomb inside the Arizona 5, with the ball breaking loose and officially through the end zone for a turnover and touchback went.

It was another one of those “unnoticed” pieces Gannon was talking about, although it was definitely noticed.

“It means everything,” linebacker Kyzir White said. “Tonight we played a defense that bends but doesn’t break through.”

For a short time it looked like that wouldn't be enough. The Cardinals fell at the Los Angeles 1 with 10:06 to play, leaving Arizona ahead 14-12. The Chargers (3-3) marched 77 yards on 15 plays and ran the clock down to 1:54 when Cameron Dicker kicked his fifth field goal of the game.

Murray, with Conner at his side, took over.

“I thought Kyler did a good job today,” Gannon said.

Murray's stats were what they were – 14 of 26 for 145 yards, a TD pass to Greg Dortch and the interception – but he initiated the decisive drive. There was also a little help. On second-and-10 at the Arizona 30, Marvin Harrison Jr. dropped a pass down the sideline that would have been a first-down pass. But after losing the ball and being defenseless in the air, Chargers defensive back Cam Hart came in and collided helmet-to-helmet with Harrison, earning him a 15-yard flag.

On the next play, Murray checked the ball to Conner, who weaved back and forth to give the Chargers' 22-yard lead a 33-yard lead, and on the next two plays, running over and through defenders, he added 11 rushing yards added Ryland's attempt is easier.

“I try to show physicality every time I step on the field,” said Conner, who missed 11 tackles. “Sunday evening, Sunday morning, Monday evening, Thursday I will be physically active.”