Rams QB Stetson Bennett Leads TD Drive, But Chargers Lead at Halftime
The Los Angeles Rams struggled in all three phases in the first half, as they trail the Los Angeles Chargers 20-7 headed into the locker room of Saturday's preseason opener at SoFi Stadium.
Matthew Stafford didn't suit up in the Rams' preseason opener, and Brett Rypien — who was co-listed with Stetson Bennett as the No. 2 quarterback — earned the start, and he struggled in his three drives. He went 3-for-6 for 11 yards, scrambling for six yards and getting sacked once.
Bennett stepped in and showed escapability, which was vital with a struggling Rams offensive line, and led his first scoring drive at SoFi Stadium since his national championship victory at Georgia against TCU last season. He threw some dangerous passes into traffic, but the Rams were bailed out by an unsportsmanlike penalty on Chargers safety JT Woods, which led to an 11-yard pitch-and-catch to receiver Puka Nacua for the score.
The Rams' defense was attacked in two different ways on back-to-back 13-play Chargers field goal drives.
Despite Rams cornerback Tre Tomlinson breaking up two passes early against TCU teammate Quentin Johnston, Chargers quarterback Easton Stick helped lead them down the field with a stout passing attack on their first scoring drive of the half.
Stick bounced back after an opening drive in which he completed one pass for -2 yards to go 9-for-15 with 74 yards. Running backs Isaiah Spiller and Justin Kelley combined for 33 yards on the ground, as kicker Cameron Dicker drilled a 50-yard field goal to open the scoring late in the first quarter.
On drive No. 2, the gaping hole left by the absence of All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald — who, like most of the Rams' stars, sat to limit injury risk — was exposing by the Chargers' potent running game.
The Chargers' first seven plays of the drive were rushes for 49 yards. Four of the Chargers' last six plays of the drive were pass attempts, and despite a facemask penalty on rookie linebacker Byron Young that extended the drive, the Rams' defense bent but didn't break. The Chargers settled for a 25-yard Dicker field goal.
Chargers receiver Derius Davis returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown, which gave them a 13-0 lead at the time.
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