Rams beat Chargers 24-9
Rams beat Chargers 24-9 at SoFi Stadium, winning their second straight behind Matthew Stafford and two rushing touchdowns from Corum and Williams.
Slow start, fast finish
Rams beat Chargers 24-9 at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, improving to 4-4 and winning their second straight game while the Chargers fell to 0-7. The Rams trailed most of the first half and didn't pick up a first down until they were already down 9-3.
Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals for the Chargers, from 34, 46 and 41 yards, to build that 9-3 lead. The Rams answered with 21 straight points. Kyren Williams scored on a 1-yard run with 19 seconds left in the first half, Blake Corum broke off a 23-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, and Puka Nacua caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford later in the third to put the game away.
Stafford and Nacua carry the offense
Stafford finished 17 of 25 for 157 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Nacua caught 11 passes for 80 yards and the score, and Corum added 73 yards on 11 carries. As a team the Rams managed 281 total yards, split 152 passing and 129 rushing, and turned the ball over once against eight penalties for 40 yards.
The Rams dealt with some injury questions going in. Trent McDuffie was questionable with a back issue and Jaylen Watson was questionable with a shoulder, while Joe Cardona was out with an ankle injury. Ty Simpson was out as a coach's decision.
Herbert and the Chargers stay winless
Justin Herbert threw for 257 yards but was picked off twice, and Ladd McConkey led the Chargers with four catches for 86 yards. Kimani Vidal managed just 23 yards on eight carries. The Chargers put up 295 total yards, 231 through the air and 64 on the ground, but didn't score a single touchdown. It's the second game in a row they've failed to find the end zone.
Los Angeles is now 0-7 with a 0-4 division record, its worst start to a season in a quarter century. The defense couldn't hold up after Herbert's two interceptions, and the Chargers were already shorthanded with Rodney Shelley and Donte Jackson both out with hamstring injuries, Theo Wease Jr. out as a coach's decision, and Brenen Thompson out with a quadriceps injury.
Rams take the city series
The win gives the Rams two of the last three meetings between the two teams since both franchises relocated to Los Angeles and became SoFi Stadium roommates a decade ago. For the Rams, back-to-back wins mark their first since January. For the Chargers, the problems are piling up at 0-7 with a defense that has now let a flawed Rams offense put up 24 points behind just 152 passing yards.
Facts per ESPN box score. Opinion is the taproom's.