Los Angeles’ NFL teams have been headed in the same direction most of the season. It’s not something either team could have predicted, but by Week 8, the teams combined for a 3-10 record.
Coach Sean McVay and the Rams were considered Super Bowl favorites to start the season, but a rough start in Australia set the tone for a rough start to the season.
Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers are still in search of their first win of the season
.Both teams will meet at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 1, with a chance to move their team in a positive direction.
The loser will have more questions to answer and may need to strongly consider making some changes.
Has Sean McVay’s Rams figured it out?
The Rams have won at least nine games in eight of the last nine seasons with McVay at the helm. That's
still possible this season, but it will be an uphill battle for the Rams.
They won't have a bye until Week 11, so McVay and his staff are continuing to figure things out on the go.
Los Angeles had lost two straight games before earning a victory on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders last week.
Injuries have been among the biggest setbacks for the Rams, but they’ve managed to patch things together.
McVay’s squad still awaits the return of Myles Garrett from injured reserve. While there’s a belief Garrett could provide a boost, he did not practice this week, which again leaves the team to continue pushing forward without him.
Cornerback Trent McDuffie has missed multiple games but was a limited participant during practice this week, indicating he is closer to a return.
Receiver Puka Nacua has also dealt with injuries this season, but he’s managed to remain active. He did not practice on Friday.
Aside from injuries, special teams have been an issue as well, ranking near the bottom in the league. The Rams are 4-for-10 in field goal attempts – they have made all 20 extra point attempts this season – and have used three kickers this season due to injuries and missed field goals.
"It's got to get better," McVay said of the special teams unit. "We're gonna be able to figure out how to be able to fix this, but it can't continue like this with regards to our kicking operation ... Ultimately, it's my responsibility."
Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers need more points
Harbaugh acknowledged the Chargers hadn't scored enough points heading into their Week 7 bye. And while he pledged to address several issues during the break, some questions remain unanswered.
Mike McDaniel remains the offensive coordinator and is still expected to handle play-calling.
The Chargers produced just 259 total yards in their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, managing to score a field goal in the first and third quarters to produce their only points in the game.
Quarterback Justin Herbert has not thrown for more than 230 yards in a game this season and the backfield has not produced a 100-yard rusher in a game this season.
Harbaugh this past week that the work was done to help turn things around but remained clear with the goal at hand: "We need to win."
If the wins don’t come soon, the firings might.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sean McVay vs Jim Harbaugh: Will Rams or Chargers figure things out?
