Two teams, one stadium, very different seasons
The Battle for LA kicks off Sunday, November 1, at 1:05 p.m. PT (4:05 p.m. ET) at SoFi Stadium, as the Los Angeles Rams host the winless Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8.
The Chargers arrive at 0-6, the only team in the NFL without a win, and are trying to avoid just the third 0-7 start in franchise history. The Rams are 3-4 after a 35-21 win in Las Vegas last week and can climb back to .500 with a victory.
The Rams are 6.5-point favorites, and prediction markets give them roughly a 73% chance to win. Every ESPN and Sports Illustrated expert surveyed picked the Rams.
Storylines to watch
The Chargers' patched-up offensive line. Jim Harbaugh's team has struggled to protect Justin Herbert, who has thrown an interception in every game. The Chargers have committed 15 turnovers in six games and average just 15 points, last in the league. Based on pregame warmups, they appear set to start three rookies up front, with Joe Alt moving from right to left tackle as he returns from a neck injury that cost him two games.
A bye week to regroup. The Chargers are coming off a week off, giving offensive play-caller Mike McDaniel extra time to tweak schemes and protections. Several analysts see that rest as their best shot at a breakthrough.
The Rams' ground game. Sean McVay's offense ran for 201 yards against the Raiders last week, with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum both topping 90 yards. Matthew Stafford leads a unit that ranks first in the league in total yards per game.
Rams injuries. The Rams have been dealing with a cluster of injuries. Center Coleman Shelton and tight end Colby Parkinson were listed as questionable, while linebacker Nate Landman returned to practice after a concussion. Puka Nacua is also chasing a piece of history this season.
A shared home, not much of a rivalry
The two teams share SoFi Stadium, which makes Sunday something close to a neutral-site game, though the Rams are the designated home team and expect the louder crowd. The series is nearly even, with the Rams leading the all-time matchup 7-6. The Chargers won their New Year's Day meeting in 2023, 31-10.
How to follow: Kickoff is 1:05 p.m. PT, 4:05 p.m. ET (1:05 a.m. Monday Gulf time). Live scores and stats are available on ESPN and NFL.com.
For the Chargers, the question is simple: is this the week the losing stops? For the Rams, it's a chance to get back to .500 before a trip to Washington next Sunday.