The Los Angeles Rams beat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-9 at SoFi Stadium on Sunday because they finished drives and the Chargers did not. Cameron Dicker's 3 field goals were the Chargers' only points, and their lone red-zone trip produced no touchdown.
The Chargers actually outgained the Rams and held the ball nearly 5 minutes longer. That makes the result an indictment of their finishing, not their ability to move the ball.
How It Happened
Brandon McManus opened the scoring with a 30-yard field goal midway through the first quarter. Dicker answered with a 34-yarder with 4 seconds left in the period to tie it.
Dicker added kicks of 46 and 41 yards in the second quarter, and the Chargers led by 6 with under 2 minutes left in the half. The Rams flipped it before the break, as Kyren Williams scored from 1 yard out with 19 seconds remaining to take a 10-9 lead into halftime.
The third quarter belonged to the Rams. Blake Corum broke a 23-yard touchdown run, and Matthew Stafford later hit Puka Nacua for an 18-yard score. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, and the Chargers never threatened to get back in it.
Key Performers
Cameron Dicker, LAC: 3 field goals – 34, 46 and 41 YDS
Kyren Williams, LAR: 1-yard rushing TD
Blake Corum, LAR: 23-yard rushing TD
Puka Nacua, LAR: 18-yard receiving TD
Matthew Stafford, LAR: 18-yard TD pass to Nacua
Rams rushing: 27 ATT, 129 YDS, 4.8 per carry
Chargers rushing: 25 ATT, 64 YDS, 2.6 per carry
Chargers passing: 24-32, 231 YDS, 2 INT
The ground game is where this one tilted. The Rams ran for twice as many yards as the Chargers and piled up 7 rushing first downs, with two of their three touchdowns coming on the ground.
The Chargers managed just 1 rushing first down and averaged under 3 yards a carry. Without a run game, every drive leaned on the pass, and 2 interceptions plus 2 sacks killed whatever rhythm they found.
What It Means
The Rams move to 4-4, and the formula was efficient rather than explosive. They converted only 3 of 11 third downs but scored touchdowns on 2 of 3 red-zone trips and went 1-for-1 on fourth down. Committing 8 penalties did not cost them, because the Chargers could not punish it.
The Chargers fall to 0-7. In this one they ran more plays, won time of possession and moved the ball through the air, then failed to reach the end zone.
Field goals from 41 and 46 yards out are not a plan. Until the Chargers find a running game that can finish drives, a respectable stat sheet will keep producing results like this one.