The Los Angeles Rams defeated the winless Los Angeles Chargers 24-9 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, marking their second consecutive victory. The game featured a dominant defensive effort by the Rams, who intercepted two passes and held the Chargers scoreless for nearly three quarters.
Kyren Williams and Blake Corum each scored rushing touchdowns for Los Angeles, while Matthew Stafford added a passing touchdown. The Rams improved to 4-4, while the Chargers fell to 0-8, the worst start in franchise history since the 2000 season.
The game began poorly for both teams, with the Rams managing just 24 yards on 15 plays in their first five possessions. However, Los Angeles found offensive rhythm in the second half, outscoring the Chargers 21-0 after a 9-3 deficit at halftime.
Rams safety Quentin Lake and cornerback Trent McDuffie intercepted passes, stifling a Chargers offense led by Justin Herbert. Herbert finished 24-of-32 for 257 yards and two interceptions, while the Chargers' rushing attack managed just 64 yards on 25 carries.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh acknowledged the team's struggles after the game. "We didn’t play well enough to win," Harbaugh said. "We’ve got to find a way to get better."
Rams coach Sean McVay dismissed concerns about a potential letdown against a winless opponent. "I couldn’t care less about what their record is," McVay said. "I would hope that we’re mature and professional enough to know that we have to be able to have the right focus, concentration, level of urgency."
The Rams' victory came despite ongoing issues with their kicking game, as both Joshua Karty and Brandon McManus were active for the contest. The team has yet to resolve longstanding kicking problems.
The Chargers' 0-8 start is the first time the franchise has lost eight straight games since relocating to Los Angeles in 2017. The team's offensive struggles have been particularly pronounced, with Los Angeles going 27 straight drives without scoring a touchdown—the longest such streak in the NFL this season.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert defended offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, stating the issues lie with execution rather than play-calling. "It's not his fault," Herbert said. "It's our fault as an offense. We have to do our job."
Attendance for the game was 73,621, with the crowd witnessing a defensive battle that saw both teams struggle early before the Rams pulled away in the second half.