The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 20-18 on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium, using a decisive second-quarter surge to remain unbeaten in the 2026 NFL preseason.
In a shared-stadium matchup that stayed tight through the final whistle, the Rams overcame an early deficit, built their advantage before halftime and then held off a Chargers fourth-quarter push. Los Angeles Rams finished the preseason at 3-0, while the Chargers fell to 1-2.
The Chargers struck first in the opening quarter, taking a 7-3 lead after the Rams opened the game with a field goal. But the Rams controlled the pivotal middle portion of the contest. They outscored the Chargers 10-0 in the second quarter, turning that early four-point deficit into a 13-7 halftime lead.
That stretch proved to be the difference. The Chargers trimmed the margin with a third-quarter field goal, making it 13-10 heading into the final period. The Rams answered with a fourth-quarter touchdown to extend their lead to 20-10, creating valuable breathing room against a Chargers offense that had shown it could generate explosive plays.
The Chargers did not go quietly. They scored eight points in the fourth quarter and made the finish a one-score game, but the Rams preserved the 20-18 result without overtime. In preseason football, closing out a narrow game can be as valuable as the result itself, particularly for young players and roster hopefuls asked to execute in late-game situations.
The Rams’ 3-0 record gives them an encouraging finish to their exhibition slate. Their ability to recover after falling behind early and protect a late lead offered a useful test before the regular season begins. For the Chargers, the comeback effort showed competitive resilience, even if the second-quarter lull left too much ground to make up.
Key Performers
Greg Desrosiers Jr., Chargers: Desrosiers Jr. delivered the night’s biggest rushing production, posting 9 CAR, 118 YDS, 1 TD. His 118 yards came on only nine attempts, an average of more than 13 yards per carry, and his touchdown highlighted the Chargers’ ability to find chunk plays on the ground.
DJ Uiagalelei, Chargers: Uiagalelei went 11/18, 141 YDS, leading all passers in the supplied game data. He completed several useful throws in the flow of the offense and helped keep the Chargers within range as they tried to erase the Rams’ second-half advantage. The available data did not list a Rams quarterback stat line, so no passing totals have been added for Los Angeles’ winning side.
Quentin Johnston, Chargers: Johnston made his one reception count: 1 REC, 65 YDS, 1 TD. The 65-yard scoring play represented a major explosive-play spark for the Chargers and accounted for nearly half of Uiagalelei’s passing yardage.
NerdSports Stat: The Rams won despite being outgained by the Chargers’ listed individual leaders, who combined for 324 yards from scrimmage and passing production: 118 rushing yards from Greg Desrosiers Jr., 141 passing yards from DJ Uiagalelei and 65 receiving yards from Quentin Johnston.
There were no overtime possessions needed in Inglewood, but the final eight-point Chargers quarter ensured the Rams had to execute under pressure to complete the unbeaten preseason. The Rams now turn toward a Sept. 10 regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, while the Chargers will prepare to host the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles Rams defeated Los Angeles Chargers 20-18 on August 27, 2026.
The supplied game data did not list a Rams passing leader. Chargers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was the overall passing leader with 141 yards and no touchdown total listed.
No. The Rams held on for a 20-18 regulation victory.
Los Angeles Rams is now 3-0; Los Angeles Chargers is 1-2.
The Los Angeles Rams play the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 5:35 PM PDT.
