The Los Angeles Rams closed out the preseason in winning fashion, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 20-18 on Thursday night behind a strong performance from their reserves and a go-ahead touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Ty Simpson.
The Rams finished the preseason 3-0 and enter the regular season with plenty of momentum. Head coach Sean McVay once again elected to keep his starters on the sideline, continuing his approach of protecting key players in games that do not count toward the standings.
Even backup quarterback Stetson Bennett did not play, giving the Rams’ younger players an opportunity to make their final impressions before roster decisions are finalized.
Simpson made the most of his opportunity. The third-string quarterback threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to fourth-string receiver Brennan Presley in the second quarter, putting Los Angeles ahead 10-7. Simpson completed 18 of 23 passes for 119 yards and helped the Rams maintain control for much of the night.
Harrison Mevis provided the kicking production, connecting on two 27-yard field goals. His first came early in the opening quarter after Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert lost a fumble.
Herbert, who played only two series, immediately responded with a big play. On the second play of a 14-second drive, Herbert connected with Quentin Johnston for a 65-yard touchdown, giving the Chargers a 7-3 advantage. It was the second-longest reception of Johnston’s career.
The Chargers also showed some defensive intensity during the first half. New defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary celebrated with safety Tony Jefferson after Los Angeles forced the Rams to turn the ball over on downs inside the 1-yard line, ending a drive that consumed 9:41.
Trey Lance replaced Herbert in the second quarter, but his first series ended when punter JK Scott shanked a 20-yard punt. The Rams capitalized quickly, with Simpson’s touchdown pass to Presley giving them the lead for good.
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker missed a 49-yard field-goal attempt just before halftime, leaving Los Angeles trailing 13-7. Dicker, widely regarded as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, also missed two extra-point attempts during the preseason.
Dicker bounced back in the third quarter, converting from 34 yards to bring the Chargers within 13-10. The Rams responded in the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 20-10 when Matthew Caldwell threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Dean Connors.
The Chargers refused to go quietly. Gregory Desrosiers broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 20-16. Third-string quarterback DJ Uiagalelei then found Evan Svoboda on the ensuing two-point conversion, making it 20-18.
That would be as close as the Chargers would get. For the Rams, the victory completed an unbeaten preseason while giving McVay another opportunity to evaluate the depth of his roster without risking his starters.
Now the focus turns toward the regular season. The Rams will head to Australia in two weeks to open their campaign, carrying the distinction of being the early favorites to win the Super Bowl. The championship game is scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14, giving the Rams an additional incentive to dream big about how the season could end.
Thursday night’s victory may not count in the standings, but for the Rams, a perfect preseason provided another positive step toward what they hope will be a championship season.
