Rams Beat Chargers 20-18 in Preseason

The Los Angeles Rams beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-18 on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium, finishing the preseason 3-0. The Associated Press, posted by ESPN at 6:51 a.m. Friday, credited rookie quarterback Ty Simpson's go-ahead touchdown and two Harrison Mevis field goals. Chargers starters got two series. Justin Herbert hit Quentin Johnston for a 65-yard touchdown on the second snap of the night, the Chargers recap said. That was the highlight. The rest belonged to the Rams' backups and a late strip sack.

Simpson started and played the first half. Stu Jackson of the Rams' site had him 18-of-23 for 119 yards and an 11-yard touchdown to Brennan Presley. Matthew Caldwell took over in the third quarter and threw an 8-yard score to Dean Connors. Mevis made both of his 27-yard tries and finished the preseason 6-for-6. Darryl Peterson III's strip sack with 49 seconds left sealed a two-point lead. Peterson had two sacks.

What was the Rams vs Chargers final score?

Rams 20, Chargers 18. Scoring, per ESPN and the Chargers' recap: Mevis 27-yard field goal, Herbert to Johnston for 65 yards, Simpson to Presley from 11, Mevis another 27-yarder, Cameron Dicker a 34-yard field goal, Caldwell to Connors from 8, then Greg Desrosiers Jr. a 34-yard run and a two-point pass from DJ Uiagalelei to Evan Svoboda. Nick Andersen recovered a botched Herbert-Omarion Hampton handoff at the Chargers 14, the Rams wrote. Los Angeles settled for three points after gaining five yards.

Chargers starters on offense and defense played the first two drives, then sat. The Rams mostly played third- and fourth-stringers. Stetson Bennett did not play. Stafford's group watched. Connors ran 18 times for 69 yards and caught three balls for 24 yards and the touchdown. Jordan Waters had 15 carries for 53 yards. Those looks got bigger after Los Angeles agreed Thursday to trade Jarquez Hunter to Miami for Tutu Atwell, the Rams reported.

What the Rams-Chargers finale means for cuts

Roster cutdown is Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Every team has to be at 53. Pittsburgh is already sorting a Will Howard head-injury evaluation from its own preseason finale. Los Angeles used Thursday the way most clubs do: film on the bubble, not the stars. Simpson putting 18 completions on first-team Chargers defense is the clip that will get replayed in those meetings. Herbert's 65-yard strike is the clip Chargers fans will keep. It did not change 20-18.

The Rams are 3-0 in the preseason. The Chargers are 1-2. Week 1 is still two weeks out. Fans searching Rams vs Chargers score can stop at a two-point preseason finale and a rookie quarterback who did enough. Cutdown weekend starts now.

Rams vs Chargers preseason FAQ

What was the Rams vs Chargers score? Los Angeles Rams 20, Los Angeles Chargers 18 on Thursday at SoFi Stadium.

Did Justin Herbert play? Yes. He threw a 65-yard touchdown to Quentin Johnston on the Chargers' first two starter drives, then sat.

Who started at quarterback for the Rams? Rookie Ty Simpson, 18-of-23 for 119 yards and a touchdown. Matthew Caldwell played the second half.