Quentin Lake left Sunday with an interception, a win, and apparently very little respect for the passing attack he had just faced.
The Los Angeles Rams safety offered a blunt assessment of Justin Herbert on the "St. Brown Podcast," saying his defense expected opportunities to take the ball away. After a 24-9 victory over the Chargers, Lake had both the result and his own interception to support his confidence.
Asked about picking off Herbert and the Rams' season, Lake opened with a description unlikely to appear in the Chargers' promotional material.
"He was throwing deli meat out there," Lake said in the podcast clip . "He's seeing ghosts."
Lake then explained that the Rams entered the matchup expecting Herbert to give them chances.
"Bro, I don't know what's going on, but, like, we knew we were going to get a couple," he said. "We knew we were going to get at least one."
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The defense finished with two interceptions. Lake returned his first-quarter pick 46 yards to the Chargers' 19-yard line, setting up a Brandon McManus field goal that opened the scoring.
Cornerback Trent McDuffie supplied the other interception in the third quarter, returning it 26 yards. Matthew Stafford subsequently found Puka Nacua for an 18-yard touchdown, extending the Rams' advantage to 24-9.
Together, the takeaways set up possessions that produced 10 points. That made Lake's contribution particularly valuable in a game the Rams trailed until shortly before halftime.
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The Chargers had their opportunities early, including a Stafford interception, but could not turn them into touchdowns. Three Cameron Dicker field goals accounted for all nine of their points.
Lake's podcast appearance gave him a chance to enjoy a performance in which the Rams repeatedly prevented Herbert's offense from finishing drives.
The victory moved the Rams to 4-4 and marked their second consecutive win. Lake sounded encouraged by the team's direction after an uneven opening stretch.
"We're in a good spot right now with the season, coming off two wins, which have been huge," he said. "Guys are playing right. Guys are coming back."
He also expressed excitement about the prospect of having more personnel available.
"We're getting our full arsenal back, so that's going to be fun."
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For the Chargers, the outlook remains considerably less comfortable. They fell to 0-7, and their inability to generate offense has intensified criticism of coordinator Mike McDaniel .
Herbert's updated PFN QB Impact Ranking places him 35th, the worst in the league, with a 61.0 grade through seven appearances. He has thrown for 1,398 yards, five touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
The Rams also received help from their running game on Sunday. Blake Corum rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown, while Kyren Williams added 56 yards and another score. Those contributions helped the Rams score the final 21 points after falling behind 9-3.
Lake's interception was an early warning for the Chargers. McDuffie's later takeaway helped put the game out of reach, and a scoreless fourth quarter finished another difficult afternoon for Herbert.
The quarterback will have opportunities to answer on the field. Lake made sure the Rams' win came with a little extra commentary to remember.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
