Rams to Host Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Week 8 Preview
The Los Angeles Rams will host the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. PT on FOX, the Rams’ First Look series said in a preview published Oct. 27, 2026. The preview frames the matchup around a Chargers offense that has struggled and a Rams defense that has shown resilience despite injuries.
The Chargers hired Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator on Jan. 26, but the collaboration has not produced the expected results through six games. The Chargers rank last in scoring offense and have minus 0.26 expected points added per play, according to Next Gen Stats. The preview also noted that the Chargers selected former Florida offensive lineman Jake Slaughter in the second round of this year’s draft; Slaughter has started every game at center after Tyler Biadasz sustained a season-ending knee injury during a joint practice with the 49ers on Aug. 18.
The preview summarized the Chargers’ Week 6 leaders from their 22-6 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Quarterback Justin Herbert completed 22 of 37 passes for 204 yards with one interception and led the team in rushing with five carries for 26 yards. Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith caught a team-high five passes for 32 yards, while cornerback Tarheeb Still had eight total tackles and cornerback Cam Hart added an interception; kicker Cameron Dicker made both field-goal attempts and punter JK Scott averaged 47.4 yards on five punts.
The preview highlighted matchup dynamics that favor the Rams in the trenches. Despite missing Kobie Turner and Poona Ford, the Rams’ defensive front held the Raiders to 48 rushing yards in their most recent game. The Chargers arrive with an offensive line decimated by injuries and with four rookies among the projected starting five, creating opportunities for the Rams to exploit those matchups. The preview also said the Chargers are considering simplifying their playbook after early struggles, an adjustment that could alter how the Rams approach pressure and coverage assignments.
NFL Sports Blog Take
This matchup sets up as a trench battle with clear implications for both teams. The Rams have shown they can limit opposing running games even while missing key defensive linemen, and the Chargers’ injury-depleted offensive line increases the chance for Los Angeles to create pressure and disrupt runs. With the Chargers ranking near the bottom in scoring and expected points added per play, the preview emphasized that consistent pressure and disciplined gap control could tilt the game in the Rams’ favor. The Rams must remain vigilant against the Chargers’ receiving talent and a quarterback who can make plays outside the pocket.