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4 Bold Predictions as the Rams Square Off With the Winless Chargers, Starting With Byron Young
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- 4 Bold Predictions as the Rams Square Off With the Winless Chargers, Starting With Byron Young
Byron Young has been the one constant in a Los Angeles Rams pass rush that has lost Myles Garrett, Kobie Turner and Poona Ford to injuries. He has 32 pressures, seventh among edge defenders, according to PFF . On Sunday at SoFi Stadium, he gets a Chargers offense that can't keep Justin Herbert upright.
Los Angeles (3-4) won 35-21 in Las Vegas last week, and Matthew Stafford passed Roman Gabriel for the franchise record in touchdown passes. The Rams still sit third in the NFC West . The Chargers are 0-6 and coming off a bye, but Rams head coach Sean McVay isn't buying the record. "I really couldn't care less what the record says," McVay said Wednesday, per the team's website .
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The Rams are a 6.5-point favorite in the battle for Inglewood. Here are four bold predictions.
Byron Young sacks Justin Herbert twice
Oct 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) and Los defensive end Kobie Turner (91) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Rams have only 10 sacks, tied for 27th, per NFL.com , and we wrote before Week 7 about how they pressure plenty but don't finish . Young has five sacks by PFF's count. CBS Sports credits him with 4.5.
Herbert has been sacked 21 times, tied for the fifth-most in the league, and 21.2% of his pressures have turned into sacks, according to PFF . Guard Kayode Awosika missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with a fibula injury, per the Chargers' injury report . Bold prediction: Young sacks Herbert twice.
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Blake Corum scores two touchdowns
Oct 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum (24) rushes as Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22) defends during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Blake Corum ran 17 times for 93 yards and a touchdown in Las Vegas, and he had two more scores, from 2 and 43 yards, wiped out by penalties, per the Rams . Kyren Williams' third-quarter fumble opened the door for Corum , and Williams has lost two fumbles this season.
Stafford likes what he has. "I haven't had a tandem like this where they both can do everything," he said on The Pat McAfee Show, per the Rams . Corum has 316 yards on 4.9 yards per carry. Bold prediction: Corum finds the end zone twice, and these ones count.
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Quentin Lake intercepts Herbert
Oct 18, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight (20) runs the ball against Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake (37) in the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Quentin Lake wears the green dot now, and he's earned it. He has two interceptions, and his eight pass breakups lead all safeties, according to PFF . His 79.1 coverage grade ranks seventh at the position. "Having the dot, it's a privilege. It shows that the coaching staff they trust in you," Lake said, per the team's website .
Herbert has thrown eight interceptions with 14 turnover-worthy plays, and his 44.5 PFF grade ranks last among 35 quarterbacks. Bold prediction: Lake picks off Herbert for his third interception.
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Puka Nacua tops 100 yards
Oct 18, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) avoids the tackle of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (16) in the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Davante Adams is out after cleanout surgery, with a 6-to-10-week timeline that McVay said is projected to land "on the shorter end," per the Rams . That leaves more for Puka Nacua, who has 45 catches for 485 yards. His 90.0 grade ranks sixth among receivers, and he hasn't dropped a pass, according to PFF .
The Chargers' secondary is banged up. Safety Derwin James missed both practices with a hamstring injury, and Jim Harbaugh said he could go on injured reserve, per the Chargers . Cornerback Donte Jackson was limited both days. We've asked whether Nacua's body can hold up under this kind of workload, but Sunday sets up well for him. Bold prediction: Nacua goes over 100 yards for the first time since Adams went down.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
