The Los Angeles Chargers are off to a solid 2-0 start this preseason, and as they play their penultimate game against the Los Angeles Rams they’ll have an unexpected man under center.
With Justin Herbert set to start for the visitors, my Chargers vs. Rams predictions will explain why the visitors here should continue humming offensively in what could be a lopsided win.
Read below for my free NFL picks for Saturday, August 16.
Chargers vs Rams prediction
Chargers vs Rams Best bet: Chargers -6.5 (-110)
It seems somewhat impossible, but Saturday will mark Justin Herbert’s first-ever preseason game. After being told to rest during these ramp-up weeks in years past, the signal caller approached Jim Harbaugh about playing and received the green light.
That means that the Los Angeles Chargers will be set to run out Herbert, Trey Lance, and Taylor Heinicke throughout this game, a trio that arguably shows more promise than the Los Angeles Rams’ current quarterback room — even when healthy.
The Rams won’t have Matthew Stafford here, of course, who is busy rehabbing a back injury. Considering Jimmy Garoppolo is a veteran, and Sean McVay refuses to play most of his starters or important players in the preseason, it’ll be up to Stetson Bennett to operate under center for the majority of this one.
Now, Bennett had a brutal first preseason in 2024 with five interceptions to just two touchdowns in two contests, and against the Chargers a year ago, he was just 17-of-31 for 213 yards. He managed to play well against the Dallas Cowboys in the Rams’ preseason opener, going 16-of-24 for 188 yards, but he once again threw an interception to take away from an otherwise strong two-touchdown game.
Dallas’ defense is in disarray at the moment, and the Chargers’ unit should look far better. Coming off a solid season, their safety group looks very strong with veteran Tony Jefferson adding some stability, and their linebacking group should once again be hard to run on. That should put the onus on Bennett to win this game with his arm — something he wasn’t asked to do last week — and the task at hand may be too much for him.
On the flip side, the Rams’ defense is already in a tough spot entering 2025, and now they’ll be hoping their reserves can slow down a menacing-looking offense, which will be using its starters for at least a couple of series. Lance has looked pretty solid during the preseason, throwing two touchdowns to no interceptions through two wins, and he added 48 yards and a touchdown on the ground last week as well.
The Rams were down near the bottom third of the league when it came to containing quarterbacks on the ground last year, and their second and third units lack reliable veterans who you’d like to see if you were going to be backing the home team here.
It’s a lot to lay 6.5 in a preseason game, but the Chargers have done everything to earn our respect here with two commanding wins and two stellar showings offensively. Now, with Herbert getting involved, there should be a ton between these two teams.
Chargers vs Rams odds
- Spread: Chargers -2.5 | Rams +2.5
- Moneyline: Chargers -135 | Rams +115
- Over/Under: Over 33.5 | Under 33.5
How to watch Chargers vs Rams
| Location: | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Saturday, 8-16, 2025 |
| Kickoff: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | KABC-7 |
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