Herbert throws for 317 yards as Chargers snap skid, beat Rams 27-19

Inglewood, CA - Justin Herbert delivered the passing production the Los Angeles Chargers needed to end a three-game losing streak, throwing for 317 yards in a 27-19 Week 8 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

The Chargers established an advantage and spent much of the game protecting it, using a consistent passing attack to stay in front of a Rams team that narrowed the margin without erasing it. Los Angeles finished with 398 offensive yards, 20 first downs and an 8-for-14 showing on third down.

Herbert completed 33 of 45 passes with one touchdown and a 99.9 passer rating. He also ran for a touchdown, gaining 13 yards on his lone rushing attempt. His longest completion covered 26 yards, which matched the game-long reception recorded by Quentin Johnston.

"We needed to be patient and keep taking what was there," Herbert said. "There were stretches where we had to stay disciplined and not force anything. Finishing this one after the last few results means a lot, but there are still areas where we can be sharper."

Ladd McConkey served as Herbert's most productive target, catching nine passes for a team-high 100 yards. Johnston supplied another five receptions for 70 yards, giving the pair a combined 14 catches and 170 yards. Oronde Gadsden caught five passes for 26 yards and scored the Chargers' receiving touchdown.

The Chargers made three trips into the red zone and scored touchdowns on two of them. Their offense also accumulated 94 more yards than the Rams, who finished with 304. Neither team converted its lone fourth-down attempt.

"Justin kept giving us opportunities, and as receivers we wanted to be dependable for him," McConkey said. "The catches are nice, but the result is what we needed. After losing three in a row, getting back on the right side of it is the part that matters."

The running game was more workmanlike than explosive for the Chargers. Omarion Hampton handled a game-high 20 carries and finished with 59 yards, including a long run of 17. Overall, the Chargers rushed for 81 yards while leaning more heavily on Herbert's 45 passing attempts.

The Rams produced a different offensive balance. Matthew Stafford completed 18 of 29 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown and a 93.0 passer rating. Puka Nacua accounted for more than half of that passing output, finishing with a game-high 110 receiving yards and a touchdown on 10 catches.

Tutu Atwell added three receptions for 57 yards, including a 24-yard catch that stood as Stafford's longest completion. Even with those contributions, the Rams finished with 13 first downs and converted five of 12 third-down opportunities.

Los Angeles found more room on the ground than the Chargers did, rushing for 111 yards. Blake Corum led the Rams with a game-high 63 rushing yards on 15 attempts. Jakob Johnson added a 40-yard touchdown run on his only carry, the longest rushing gain of the game.

The Rams remained competitive as the afternoon unfolded, but the Chargers maintained enough separation to secure the eight-point result. Both defenses generated some pressure without recording an interception: the Chargers finished with two sacks, while the Rams recorded one.

Stafford pointed to the Rams' limited number of first downs as an area that demanded attention.

"Thirteen first downs isn't going to be enough very often," Stafford said. "We had some production from Puka and the running game gave us yards, but we didn't put enough of it together. Now we have to look at where those possessions stalled and clean it up."

The Rams scored a touchdown on their only red-zone trip, but the Chargers reached that area three times. That difference accompanied a broader statistical edge for the winning side: the Chargers held advantages in passing yards, offensive yards, first downs and third-down conversions.

For the Chargers, the most important number was the final one. After entering Week 8 with three consecutive losses, they left Inglewood with a 27-19 victory and their losing streak behind them.

Up Next

The Chargers will return home in Week 9 to host the Houston Texans as they look to build on the win, while the Rams will travel to face the Washington Commanders and try to rebound from the loss.