Matchup analysis
Our model projects Rams 22, Chargers 18 at SoFi Stadium in Week 8. That is a lean: Rams win about 64% of the time by our estimate, with a projected margin of 4.6 points and 40 combined points. Tags: upset alert.
The Chargers are 0-3, scoring 14.7 and allowing 25.3 points per game (-10.6 per game). The Rams are 1-2, scoring 20.3 and allowing 21 points per game (-0.7 per game).
Expect Chargers to find it hard going: Rams' strong defense (9th) outranks Chargers' below-average offense (27th of 32, worth about 19.9 points against an average defense). Rams' strong offense (8th of 32, worth about 25.2 points against an average defense) has the clear edge over Chargers' middle-of-the-pack defense (12th); that mismatch is where most of Rams' projected points come from.
The NFL is noisy: even a well-rated projection misses the final margin by about 10 points on average. Based on how real results have scattered around our numbers, the final margin should land somewhere between Chargers by 12 and Rams by 22 about 80% of the time.
The Rams get about 2.6 points for playing at home. Even on a neutral field the ratings would still favour Rams by about 2. The game is on FOX.
More: Chargers schedule · Rams schedule · all Week 8 projections
Projections are statistical estimates for entertainment and analysis only. They are not betting advice and nothing here guarantees any result.
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