The NFL Preseason continues on with full expectations beginning to build toward the start of the year. Across the Week 2 NFL Preseason slate, the battle of Los Angeles is set to go down as the Chargers and Rams face off. The Rams are technically the home team tonight, but it will be a familiar commute to SoFi Stadium for all parties.
Looking at the odds on DraftKings Sportsbook, the Chargers enter as 6.5-point favorites with -285 odds on the Moneyline. The Rams hold +230 odds of getting the outright win, with the game total set at 39.5
Chargers vs. Rams prediction, pick
Chargers preview
Justin Herbert is set to make the first NFL Preseason start of his career tonight, which feels impossible as he enters his sixth season. Expect Herbert, Trey Lance, and Taylor Heinicke to make up the quarterback snaps, which is far more experience than is typically the case in a preseason game. Clemson, Oregon State, and Florida State product DJ Uiagalelei is also on the roster and saw action in both games.
The Chargers have impressed thus far in the preseason. They defeated the Lions 34-7 in the Hall of Fame Game and beat the Saints 27-13 in Week 1 of preseason action. Trey Lance led the team in passing in both games despite throwing for just 55 yards on 14 pass attempts against New Orleans. Los Angeles has been careful about playing their key players to this point, but it would not be entirely unexpected if more of the starters see a chance with Herbert under center to start.
Rams preview
Matthew Stafford continues to rehab from his back injury, with the regular season outlook more cloudy than the Rams would like. Jimmy Garoppolo is second on the depth chart, but Sean McVay is also careful in his usage of veterans.
Stetson Bennett attempted every pass in Week 1 of the preseason, which resulted in a 31-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Georgia product struggled in a major way last preseason, with just two touchdowns and five interceptions in a pair of games while suiting up for the Chargers. Bennett looked much more confident in his preseason debut in a Rams jersey, completing 16 of his 24 pass attempts for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. The Rams’ defense still has plenty of question marks, and the starters are expected to play a few series. They also greatly struggled against rushing quarterbacks last year, ranking in the bottom 10 in this category, which could be problematic in the snaps that Trey Lance takes.
Rams vs. Chargers pick, best bet
A 6.5-point spread is a significant number in preseason, but the Chargers have earned it. The expectation should be for Justin Herbert to lead the team to an early score, and Trey Lance is playing as confidently as ever since entering the NFL. With a higher baseline of quarterback play than is typically expected in this setting, look for the Chargers’ offense to function as expected against a vulnerable Rams defense.
I am not convinced that Stetson Bennett has fully found his footing, and no team should be more familiar with his turnover issues in the past than the one he showed up against in last year’s preseason. The Chargers’ defense has been respectable thus far with just 20 points allowed across their first two games. Expect Herbert to enter with a chip on his shoulder and earn the “too good for preseason” label with Lance focused on getting his NFL career back on track. Don’t be shocked if this game gets out of hand early, and look for the Chargers to get the better of this Los Angeles battle.
