The Chargers were picked by several pro football pundits to win the AFC West and even go to the Super Bowl. They must be pretty good because they actually gave the Rams a run for their money.
The elder Los Angeles professional football club put on another offensive clinic in a 35-23 win at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.
After fumbling on their first possession Rams running back Todd Gurley scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Rams a 7-0 lead. But Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers loves him a shootout. Rivers lofted a perfectly thrown 42-yard TD pass to wide receiver Mike Williams on their next drive but (and stop me if you’ve heard this before) the Bolts special teams were a disaster again. Caleb Sturgis missed the extra point to keep the Rams in front 7-6.
Rams quarterback Jared Goff went right back to work, engineering another TD drive that ended with a 3-yard TD pass to wideout Robert Woods for a 14-6 lead. The Rams committed their second turnover of the day when Goff was picked off by rookie safety Derwin James in the end zone. James stepped out of bounds at the 1-yard-line and that turned out to be a bad spot.
After three unsuccessful plays Drew Kaser came in to punt with his heels standing on the back of the end zone. San Diego native Cory Littleton, a Rams linebacker, came unblocked up the middle to block the kick and Blake Countess recovered for a Rams touchdown and a 21-6 lead. Kaser sustained a leg injury on the play so, when Melvin Gordon scored on an 11-yard run on their next possession, Rivers had to act as the holder on the extra point attempt (which was good). The Rams led 21-13 at the half.
The Chargers never got any closer.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen fumbled at midfield and three plays later Goff threw a perfect pass to wideout Cooper Kupp, who shook off a tackle attempt by defensive back Trevor Williams and ran 53 yards for a touchdown. Rivers connected with Mike Williams for a 20-yard TD strike but less than five minutes later the Rams scored again when Goff found Woods again, this time for a 6-yard TD. A Sturgis field goal (which was held by Kaser instead of Rivers this time) made it 35-23 and the Chargers had one last chance to climb back in it.
They went for it on 4th and 7 from the Rams 19 with 4:41 to play. Rivers found Austin Ekeler near the first down marker but he lost the football and Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh jumped on it.
The Rams stay undefeated at 3-0 while the Chargers fall to 1-2.
