CHARGERS (0-6) at RAMS (3-4)
When: 1:05 p.m. Sunday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11); 640 AM/103.9/98.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Rams by 6.5 points
Notable injury designations
Chargers: OUT: LG Kayode Awosika (fibula), S Derwin James Jr. (hamstring), DB Deane Leonard (concussion), WR Brenen Thompson (quadricep/hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: CB Donte Jackson (hamstring), CB Rodney Shelley (hamstring).
Rams: DOUBTFUL: LS Joe Cardona (ankle); QUESTIONABLE: CB Trent McDuffie (groin), TE Colby Parkinson (rib), OL Coleman Shelton (hip), WR Jordan Whittington (back).
What’s at stake: The Chargers are desperate for a victory. Their season went off the rails in September and it has inspired pundits from near and far to speculate what comes next for a team that appeared to be a playoff contender for the third consecutive season in Jim Harbaugh’s third season as the coach. The NFL’s trade deadline is Nov. 10, so stay tuned on that front. It remains to be seen what, if anything, the Chargers altered during their bye week to inject some life into their lifeless offense, ranked 32nd and last in the NFL with a meager average of 15 points per game. The Chargers failed to master Mike McDaniel’s offense during the first six weeks of his first season as their offensive coordinator.
Who’s better: The teams that call SoFi Stadium home are a combined 3-10, so neither team is exactly lighting up the Southern California sky with brilliant football. The Rams have an edge because they have overcome their special teams bumbles and injuries to manage to win three times. The Chargers are winless and it’s difficult to pick out the game when the losing streak ends. Maybe this week? Maybe never? Who knows for certain?
Matchup to watch: Is this the week quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense finally spring into action after six weeks of unproductive, losing football? The Rams’ defense isn’t going to make anyone forget the Fearsome Foursome of yesteryear, ranking 16th in the NFL in points given up per game (22.7) and 18th in net rushing yards per game (115.7). Herbert hasn’t thrown for 250 yards or more this season. Will this finally be the day?
Chargers win if: The Chargers’ offense really needs to uphold its end of the bargain or they’ll be looking at a seventh consecutive defeat. Herbert must do better than a 59.4% completion percentage. He can’t continue his six-game streak of throwing at least one interception per game – he has eight total. The returns of wide receiver Ladd McConkey from concussion protocol and Pro Bowl tackle Joe Alt from a neck injury should help Herbert in ways great and small.
Fantasy sleeper: Herbert gets the nod because, like a good hitter for average in baseball, he is due. Past due, in fact. Herbert and McDaniel spent a total of four hours during the bye week watching film of the offense’s struggles, so we expect some good to come of their time together.
Prediction: When the NFL revealed the schedule in May, the obvious date for a Chargers or Rams fan to circle was this one, accompanied by thoughts of a Super Bowl preview. After all, the big game is Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium. How great would it be to see the stadium’s co-tenants play for the big trophy on Valentine’s Day? Well, here we are on the first day of November, with fall finally in the air and neither team with a winning record. Rams 34, Chargers 27.