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Sean McVay said it at least twice.
Once last Monday and again on Wednesday to reporters, and who knows how many times he’s repeated it to convince himself and his players since.
“I couldn’t care less about what their record is,” McVay said.
He was talking, of course, about the winless Chargers, the Rams’ opponent on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams are 3-4, the Chargers 0-6.
With games against the Chargers, at Washington and at Arizona before their bye, the Rams could be primed to pull off another turnaround and playoff drive.
Rams players share their thoughts on playing football and the potential for developing CTE as a result of taking too many hits to the head.
But first they must avoid losing to a Jim Harbaugh-coached Chargers team that features quarterback Justin Herbert and is coming off a bye week.
McVay and the Rams have experience losing to winless teams.
In 2020, Sam Darnold led the 0-13 New York Jets to a victory over the Rams at SoFi Stadium.
“I would hope that we’re mature and professional enough to know that we have to be able to have the right focus, concentration, level of urgency,” McVay said. “We’ll get humbled if we’re not ready to go.”
Asked if the Rams considered the game against the Chargers — who have headquarters in El Segundo — a battle of Los Angeles, quarterback Matthew Stafford said no.
“It’s a big town to cross,” he joked. “I don’t run into those guys too often, to be honest with you. I don’t really want to make that drive, nobody does.”
Sam Farmer makes his predictions for Week 8 of the NFL season, with the Lions defeating the unbeaten Vikings and the Steelers beating the Browns.
The approach will be like any other week, Stafford said.
“We don’t really look at the other team’s record and go, ‘They’re good or they’re bad,’” he said. “It’s, ‘Hey, this is NFL football.’ They have Pro Bowl caliber players on that side of the sideline and [they’re] a team capable of doing anything just like we’re capable of going out there and playing at a high level or not playing at a high level.
“You have to go out there and earn it and do it. That’s our mindset this week and will be for the rest of the year.”
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Key injuries
Chargers: S Derwin James (hamstring, out); G Kayode Awosika (fibula, out); DB Deane Leonard (concussion, out); CB Donte Jackson (hamstring, questionable); Rodney Shelley (hamstring, questionable).
Rams: LS Joe Cardona (ankle, doubtful); C Coleman Shelton (hip, questionable); CB Trent McDuffie (groin, questionable); TE Colby Parkinson (rib, questionable); WR Jordan Whittington (back)
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How to watch and listen to Chargers vs. Rams
The Rams and the Chargers will play Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PST at SoFi Stadium. The game will be shown in Southern California on Fox. It will be available nationally via a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV. In Southern California, fans can listen to the game on 640 AM and 103.9 FM (Chargers broadcasts) and 710 AM and 1330 AM (Rams broadcasts).
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Betting lines and odds for Chargers vs. Rams
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Who will win Chargers vs. Rams?
Gary Klein’s pick: If the Rams had played with any consistency to this point, they might look past a winless opponent. But not this week. Rams 27, Chargers 20
Sam Farmer’s pick: The Chargers are rested and healthier than they were before the bye, but they will have a hard time keeping pace on the scoreboard if the Rams start clicking early. Rams are banged up yet still have weapons. Rams 27, Chargers 18
