It hasn’t been a smooth move so far for the Los Angeles Chargers, who have done little to impress their new fan base. Working on a streak of seven consecutive quarters without an offensive touchdown, it’ll be up to Philip Rivers to change that when the battle for L.A. takes place in the Coliseum against the Los Angeles Rams. For more than two decades the area was without an NFL team. On Saturday in Week 3 of the preseason, the two clubs that now call the area home will battle for bragging rights.
This matchup in Week 3 of the preseason will go down Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Watch the game live on CBS.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Los Angeles Chargers +2.5
Los Angeles Rams -2.5
Over/Under 42
Odds Analysis
For the first time this preseason the Rams will play as a favorite with the opening line coming in at -2.5. They were able to win the first two outright as underdogs knocking off Dallas and Oakland, displaying an offense we haven’t seen from this team in several years while playing the over with the Raiders. Look for the Chargers to be more focused on football now that they play a road game for the first time.
Quarterback Rotation
After sitting last week’s game in which the offense failed to score, we will see Philip Rivers play the first half and possibly into the second. We should get a better idea of what the Chargers can do with Rivers playing since backups Kellen Clemens and Cardale Jones have failed to generate points of any kind over the last 17 drives.
Rivers was nearly perfect in his only action completing 5 of 6 throws for 56 yards and ending the opening drive in the first preseason game with a scoring pass to Antonio Gates. Clemens remains the No. 2 with Jones fighting for the spot. The two each played a half against the Saints and were less than spectacular. Clemens hit 10 of 16 passes for 99 yards while Jones connected on 7 of 14 for 62 yards with an interception.
Jared Goff is the Rams starter and it appears as though he’s benefitted from the hiring of Sean McVay, who masterminded some potent groups while raising the game of Kirk Cousins during his time as Washington’s offensive coordinator. Goff was 16 of 20 for 160 yards with a touchdown pass. He directed the offense to a pair of touchdowns and a field goal in his four series.
Sean Mannion has the backup job secured after another strong showing Saturday against the Raiders. Mannion drove the Rams 80 yards for the game-winning touchdown drive to beat the Raiders, hooking up with Josh Reynolds on a 20-yard strike with about a minute remaining. The two will split time in Saturday’s contest.
Coaching History
The best way to attract new fans is to win games. Unfortunately, Anthony Lynn and the Chargers have failed to do that in their first two preseason tries. The Chargers were less than inspiring in losing twice at the quaint StubHub center so maybe a contest in a real NFL stadium will get the juices flowing. Lynn is still looking for his first victory as a head coach after dropping last year’s regular season finale with as interim coach of the Buffalo Bills.
The Rams are off to a good start in the preseason and its clear McVay wants to instill a winning attitude in a team that hasn’t had a winning regular season since 2003. The Rams won their first two exhibition games while playing as underdogs and have won two straight for just the second time since the end of the 2011 preseason.
Free ATS Pick
With Rivers playing just one series and that coming at the beginning of their preseason opener, the Chargers’ offense has struggled. We will see Rivers play a lot more and that should mean points against a Rams defense that is still without holdout Aaron Donald and could be without several other injured starters.
For a team that was the worst in the league in scoring last season and couldn’t move the football, the Rams have found an offense this preseason. McVay was brought in to develop Goff and make the group more of a factor.
They will integrate Sammy Watkins into the mix after he joined the club last week, giving Goff another threat in the passing game. Now that the honeymoon is over for the Chargers and they have a game in a real stadium, though some might question that about the Coliseum, look for more of an effort with Rivers running the show.
NFL Odds: Chargers 23, Rams 20
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