THE STORY: James Conner stood in front of his teammates Sunday night and gave an impassioned speech about the Cardinals all needing to put in their chips for Monday night’s game against the Chargers.

He’s a captain, the running back noted. “That’s the job description.”

However, Conner has always been more of a role model. And the veteran’s all-in performance was the main reason why the Cardinals left State Farm Stadium with a 17-15 win on the final play of the game. Chad Ryland kicked the 32-yard field goal for the decisive points, but it was Conner’s 33-yard catch-and-run that provided the dramatic ending.

“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, knocking the ball out of Chargers defensive lineman Teair Tart after Tart had 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.

That was the play coach Jonathan Gannon emphasized when he thought it would go “unnoticed.”

“Conner,” Gannon said, “was out.”

So did the defense, which allowed Justin Herbert to pass for a season-high 349 yards — the former Pro Bowler’s pass has been softened in Jim Harbaugh’s deliberate, run-first offense — but threw a touchdown goose egg on a day where just one TD might have made it a bad ending for the Cardinals.

Cornerback Starling Thomas V made the biggest play in that regard, hitting a 41-yard bomb from behind Chargers receiver Jalen Reagor’s ball at the Arizona 5, releasing the ball and officially going through the end zone for a turnover and touchback .

It was another one of those “unnoticed” plays that Gannon talked about, although it was certainly noticed.

“This means everything,” linebacker Kyzir White said. “We played bend-but-don’t-break defense tonight.”

For a moment it seemed that this would not be enough. The Cardinals beat a punt on the Los Angeles 1 with 10:06 remaining while Arizona held a 14-12 lead. The Chargers (3-3) marched 77 yards in 15 plays, with the clock running all the way down to 1:54 when Cameron Dicker made 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 engineered the winning drive. There was also a little help. On second-and-10 at the Arizona 30, Marvin Harrison Jr. dropping a pass along the sideline. 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 a 15-yard flag.

On the next play, Murray checked the ball to Conner, who weaved back and forth for his 33-yard gain to the Chargers 22 and added 11 rushing yards on the next two plays (running over and through defenders) to ensure Ryland’s attempt is easier.

“I try to bring the physicality every time I step on the field,” said Conner, who forced 11 missed tackles. “Sunday night, Sunday morning, Monday night, Thursday I’m going to be physical.”