The Los Angeles Rams got the win they needed against the Chargers in the “Battle for LA”, and not much else.
This is the NFL. You cannot set the bar at a blowout even against the bottom feeders of the league, which the Chargers are at now 0-7. The Rams also did little to inspire confidence moving forward as the schedule grows more difficult.
The offense feels disjointed and untalented. The defense was stifling, although Justin Herbert may as well have worn royal and sol for as often as he gave the
ball to the Rams.
Most importantly, the mission was accomplished. The Rams are now 4-4 and have dug themselves out of the hole they put themselves in amid early season struggles.
Two very winnable games are on the horizon against the Washington Commanders and the Arizona Cardinals.
Keep stacking boxes and LA could soon find themselves at 6-4.
But before we turn the page, let’s revisit the individual contributions that made the difference in the win over the Chargers.
Winners
Blake Corum & the run game
The offense goes as Blake Corum does. For most of the season the Rams have searched for a spark plug on offense, and the answer may have been right in front of our eyes this whole time. When Corum is involved and productive, the offense operates at the highest levels we’ve seen from them so far.
Corum rushed 11 times for 73 yards (6.6 average), including a 23-yard touchdown that flipped the momentum in the third quarter. Kyren Williams added a less efficient 16 carries for 56 yards (3.5 average) with a short touchdown, although his average was hurt by closing out the game late into the fourth quarter.
This is always worth mentioning: anytime two running backs produce, you must give credit to the offensive line. Matthew Stafford was sacked only a single time. While the Rams seemed reluctant to lean into the ground game in the first half, it came alive in the second half to flip the script and then closeout the contest.
Puka Nacua, WR
The offensive game plan feels like it boils down to two options: feed the ball to Puka Nacua or ask Corum to make something happen.
Nacua has battled injury all season long. He doesn’t look like the version of himself we saw a year ago. Even then, the Rams run the offense through him. He had another heavy workload in the game with 11 catches on 12 targets for 80 yards. Nacua also scored a touchdown on a screen.
If we are nitpicking, Nacua’s ability to stretch the field vertically has disappeared. It’s the added element that made him an offensive player of the year candidate in 2025. Can the Rams and Nacua regain his value in this facet?
Defensive secondary
Quentin Lake stepped in front of a pass to intercept Herbert in the first quarter. Trent McDuffie stole another throw in the second half. In addition, rookie Wesley Bailey forced the ball out of Herbert’s hands on a sack but Aaron Donald and the defense were unable to recover the ball. It was effectively the game’s third turnover and all three plays easily could have resulted in defensive touchdowns.
That’s not a bad day at the office.
Ladd McConkey and Oronde Gadsden were efficient targets in the passing game with four catches on six targets for 86 yards and five of five for 52 yards, respectively. Outside of that, the Chargers had very little going offensively. 54 of McConkey’s yards came on a single catch and run.
And the secondary accomplished these results despite Jaylen Watson suffering a shoulder injury and leaving early. Josh Wallace, who continues to step in and rise to the occasion in big moments, relieved Watson and did not miss a beat. McDuffie also suffered a back injury late.
Both injuries are worth monitoring moving into next week.
Nate Landman & Omar Speights, MLB
The defensive line deserves credit for helping bottle up the Chargers’ run game, of course. Nate Landman and Omar Speights were a forceful tandem in bringing down ball carriers. Kimani Vidal was held to 23 yards on eight carries (2.9 average), Omarion Hampton had just nine rushes for 20 yards (2.2 average), and Keaton Mitchell contributed just six yards on four carries.
That’ll get the job done in run defense, especially in light of the recent injuries to Poona Ford and Kobie Turner.
Losers
Penalties & discipline… again
The Rams were flagged eight times for 40 yards. Between turnovers and penalties, self-inflicted issues can help bad teams stick around. That was at least the case through two quarters, and it’s a concerning continuation of a troubling pattern.
Matthew Stafford & the pass game
Stafford completed 17 of 25 passes (68%) for 157 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The numbers are OK in a vacuum and he did not lose the game. They also do nothing to quiet the larger questions about the Rams’ disappearing deep passing attack or whether this offense can generate explosive plays against better defenses. Winning against the Chargers while throwing for under 160 yards is not the same as fixing the problems that have shown up against stiffer competition. I wouldn’t be surprised if Stafford finished with an average depth of target below five yards.
Fortunately for Stafford, Herbert was even worse. The Rams QB deserves credit for taking care of the football outside of an opening drive interception.
Any receiver not named ‘Puka Nacua’
I’ve written about the Rams’ lack of a third receiving option entering the season ad nauseum. Barring an ill-advised trade acquisition, help isn’t walking through the door—and the Rams are without Davante Adams for perhaps the remainder of the season.
Konata Mumpfield and Jordan Whittington are not getting the job done. Tutu Atwell made an important 40-yard catch down the sideline that setup a score, although he basically vanished thereafter.
It’s hard to feel optimistic about the Rams’ passing game on a going forward basis with their evidently inadequate firepower.
