The Los Angeles Rams came away with a (13-9) victory against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday with Aubrey Pleasant as the acting head coach. Here is how his first game went.
First Quarter
Pleasant’s first drive as acting head coach started strong. Bennett found Jordan Whittington on a designed rollout for a gain of 13-yards and later found Davis Allen for a 9-yard pass to convert a 3rd-and-8. Running back Zach Evans could not get much going in the run game and LA’s first drive stalled out at the Chargers 30-yard line. Joshua Karty’s 48-yard field goal was good for the first points of the game.
The Rams were able to get the Chargers to a quick third down but were unable to get off the field after a first down conversion by Kimani Vidal. Vidal continued to find success on the ground against the Rams defensive front line with gains of 13 and 8. The Chargers drive ended similar to LA’s at the 37 yard line, it is worth noting that Russ Yeast nearly had an interception go through his hands and Jaylen McCollough had an impressive tackle to force out the ball on what would have been a reception near the first down mark.
Boston Scott’s first run of the game was a 9-yard gain up the middle but fell short of the first down on his second attempt leading to three-and-out. Ethan Evans’ punt was returned for 25 yards by Jaelen Gill.
Two Penalties by the Chargers looked to doom their second drive but were bailed out by Trey Tomlinson’s illegal contact that converted a 3rd-and-19 to a first down (worth noting it probably stopped a touchdown on a deep pass). The Chargers continued to find success on the ground on a 7-yard scramble by Easton Stick which was followed by a 12-yard designed QB run.
Score: Rams 3 , Chargers 3
Second Quarter
On 3rd-and-4 Yeast was beat in coverage by Ladd McConkey for a gain of five and a first down. A 13-yard reception by Isaiah Spiller pushed the Chargers to the goal line and within striking distance. The Rams defense had other plans, however. Stick fumbled the football on the snap at the 1-yard line which Jayson Taylor was able to recover and give the Rams the ball deep in their own territory.
Bennett found some breathing room on a 2-yard pass to Xavier Smith and Evans made it comfortable with a hard fought five yards up the middle. The backup quarterback then found Whittington on a short pass that turned into a 24-yard gain.
Tyler Johnson was the next receiver to get his name called on a deep 19-yard pass. On a 3rd-and-10 Smith was able to move the sticks with some extra effort on the sideline. A false start penalty made a 4th-and-1 turn into a 4th-and-6 which the Rams were unable to convert.
Nick Hampton got credit for a sack on the Chargers first play of the drive but Stick was able to find Simi Fehoko for a 22-yard game after McCollough was unable to down him while on the ground. The rookie made up for his mistake on the next play when a tipped ball went his way as he secured the Rams first interception of the preseason.
The Chargers would get the ball quickly after a Ram three-and-out and would get the drive started quickly with a 30-yard pass play to Fehoko. They could not get much else going and settled for a 37-yard field foal.
Score: Rams 3, Chargers 6
Third Quarter
Luis Perez took over for Stick and his first pass went to Quentin Johnson for a 19-yard gain. The drive stalled quickly thereafter and the Smith downed the ball at the 7-yard line on the punt.
Zach Evans got the drive started with rushed of 5 and 6 yards and forced a horse collar tackle that added another 15 yards to the drive. Bennett found tight end Nikola Kalinic who had to make an impressive catch off the turf to secure the ball for a gain of 22 yards. An incomplete pass intended for Smith turned into a 4th-and-4. Karty’s 43-yard attempt was true to tie the game up.
Carlos Watkins of the Rams was able to jar the ball loose from the hands of Perez and recover the football on a 3rd-and-4 and give Bennett another chance on offense with good field advantage. Bennett’s second pass of the drive went for 22-yards by T. Johnson to set the Rams up at the LAC 5-yard line.
The drive would end with Bennett’s fifth interception of the preseason.
Nothing would come out of the interception with a quick three-and-out from Chargers followed by another three-and-out by the Rams. Karty’s 52-yard field goal attempt was wide-right marking his first miss of the preseason.
Score: Rams 6, Chargers 6
Fourth Quarter
Momentum would go in the Chargers favor with a 16-yard pass to Jaylen Johnson and Vidal found some running room on a 9-yard gain. A face mask called on Keir Thomas during an incomplete pass put Perez and his offense on the LAR 11. Cameron Dicker’s third field goal gave his team the lead.
The Rams were bailed out on a 3rd-and-4 pass play thanks to a pass interference call on Zamari Dalton. The next play Bennett launched a deep pass to JJ Laap who found room behind the defense for a 47-yard touchdown.
Perez and the Chargers could not get anything going following the touchdown and were forced to punt. Smith was able to find some breathing room and show off his speed for a 34-yard punt return. A fumble by Bennett would give the Chargers the ball right back.
A pair of holding calls on the next drive would give the Chargers new life but also take away 10 yards to set up a 1st-and-20 on their own 47-yard line. Most of those yards would be accounted for on a 15-yard pass to Jaret Patterson and a 7-yard run by Vidal moved the sticks. The Rams defense would hold up on a 4th-and-4 and force the turnover-on-downs with 3:26 left in the game.
The Rams run game was able to wind down the clock with the duo of Evans and Scott on the ground to secure their second straight preseason win.
Final Score: Rams 13, Chargers 9
