If the primary half served as a wake-up name for the Los Angeles Rams, they answered it within the second.
The Rams seemingly flipped a change of their 24-9 win over the Los Angeles Chargers – regardless of showing as if they could fall into the entice of enjoying a winless Bolts crew, struggling to get right into a rhythm and failing to maneuver the ball offensively for a lot of the primary two quarters. However the protection did their half, holding the Chargers to 3 factors every time they marched down the sphere and maintaining the door open for Matthew Stafford and Co. to take the lead proper earlier than halftime.
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And as soon as the Rams got here again out of the tunnel for the second half, they shut that door.
The run recreation acquired going behind an 11-play, 79-yard drive to open the third quarter, 54 of which had been courtesy of Blake Corum, who capped off the possession with a 23-yard home name. The protection clamped down even additional, choosing off Justin Herbert twice because the Rams got here away with their second consecutive win, the primary time they’ve finished so all season.
LA appears to be choosing up steam after a sluggish begin marked by key accidents on either side of the ball. They’ve a possibility to maintain the momentum rolling with video games towards the Washington Commanders (1-4) and a shot at revenge towards the Arizona Cardinals (3-5) over the following two weeks.
Listed here are the winners and losers from Sunday’s Week 8 matchup between the Rams and Chargers:
Winners
Rams run recreation
The Rams had been held with out a first down via their first 4 drives on Sunday earlier than lastly breaking via on a landing drive capped by Kyren Williams within the remaining two minutes of the primary half to take a 10-9 lead into the locker room. By the point they took the sphere once more within the second half, the offense was rejuvenated, marching down the sphere on an 11-play, 79-yard drive powered by Blake Corum. On his fifth carry of the collection, Corum took it to the home for a 23-yard landing, doubling their lead earlier than the Chargers even had an opportunity to the touch the ball once more.
Corum and Williams completed the day with a mixed 129 yards and two touchdowns on 27 touches.
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Trent McDuffie
McDuffie introduced his return in an enormous manner on Sunday, main the Rams with 9 complete tackles, a sort out for loss, a go defended and a pivotal interception late within the third quarter that he returned for 26 yards to set the offense up simply exterior the purple zone.
The Rams shortly capitalized on the chance as Stafford linked with Puka Nacua for an 18-yard landing go on the second play of the drive to make it a two-score recreation, all however placing it out of attain for a Chargers offense that would not end drives all afternoon.
Rams D-Line
The Rams’ most vaunted unit shortly grew to become their most shorthanded over the primary half of the season, however they’ve nonetheless discovered methods to supply with out Myles Garrett, Poona Ford or Kobie Turner for the second straight week. They did not do an awesome job of attending to the elusive Herbert with simply two sacks, however the entrance seven neutralized the Chargers’ speeding assault and held them to only 64 complete yards between Kimani Vidal, Omarion Hampton, Herbert and Keaton Mitchell.
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Losers
Justin Herbert
“If Man” strikes once more. The Chargers offense was arrange for fulfillment by a protection that excelled within the first half and so they had been in a position to transfer the ball effectively between the 20-yard-lines, however stalled out as soon as they acquired into area aim vary and left the door open for the Rams to rally on the finish of the half and take management of the sport early within the third.
Herbert’s struggles this season have been effectively documented, and the sixth-year veteran out of Oregon did not do himself any favors with two careless errors that resulted in picks on Sunday. His 10 interceptions this season lead the NFL.
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The Chargers haven’t scored an offensive landing in 9 consecutive quarters. Loads of blame will go round between Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel, but it surely’s a chilling – and telling – signal for this offense that their franchise quarterback appears to be like simply as uncomfortable on the market as he did in Week 1.
Matthew Stafford
Herbert’s counterpart was having an equally tough day via the primary two quarters. Stafford threw a choose on the Rams’ first drive of the day and the offense could not transfer the ball from there as they had been held with out a first down till their two-minute drill proper earlier than halftime.
Stafford acquired right into a rhythm on that drive and did sufficient to guide the Rams to the win within the second half; he completed the day 17-of-25 for 157 passing yards and a landing, with an interception.
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Jim Harbaugh
Watching the Chargers this season has been like witnessing a automotive accident; every part appears to maneuver in sluggish movement as you watch the inevitable catastrophe unfold. This is not the Harbaugh LA anticipated after they signed him recent off a nationwide championship at Michigan, but it surely most likely ought to’ve been. Do not forget how shortly he wore out his welcome in San Francisco only a yr after main the 49ers to 3 consecutive NFC Championship video games in his first three seasons.
He hasn’t achieved almost that a lot success with the Chargers, however the fallout already feels all too acquainted.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Rams run over Chargers to say L.A. bragging rights: Winners and losers
