Stetson Bennett shook off a costly late interception and engineered a decisive final drive, leading the Los Angeles Rams to a 23-22 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night at SoFi Stadium.
The second-year quarterback, known for his championship pedigree at Georgia, displayed poise under pressure. With his team trailing by five and less than a minute remaining, Bennett connected with Brennan Presley on a 40-yard strike between two defenders to set up the game-winner. Five seconds remained when Bennett found Tru Edwards in the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown that completed the comeback.
Bennett finished with 324 yards and three touchdowns, continuing his strong preseason form. His one miscue came in the fourth quarter when rookie defensive tackle TeRah Edwards intercepted a short pass and rumbled 29 yards the other way, flattening Bennett. The play set off a spirited celebration on the Chargers’ sideline, but the Rams’ defense held, giving Bennett another chance to rally.
Acting head coach Aubrey Pleasant, filling in for Sean McVay, praised Bennett’s resilience. “When you give up an interception in that situation and you come back and respond, that’s what you want to see from a quarterback,” Pleasant said. “He’s calm, he’s steady, and he’s been in big moments before.”
The Chargers, who entered the game as slight 2.5-point favorites, looked in control after Luke Grimm returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown with just over 12 minutes remaining. They also got contributions from quarterback Trey Lance, who threw for 121 yards, and rookie receiver Tre Harris, who led all pass-catchers with six receptions for 85 yards. Raheim Sanders added a one-yard rushing score in the third quarter.
Star quarterback Justin Herbert made his preseason debut, completing two of five passes for 46 yards in a single series. Herbert, who had never appeared in an exhibition game in his first five NFL seasons, requested limited action to get acclimated to new offensive adjustments following the loss of starting left tackle Rashawn Slater. His series ended on a sack two plays before a field goal.
Bennett’s earlier scoring plays included a 38-yard touchdown to Mario Williams at the end of the third quarter and a two-yard strike to rookie Konata Mumpfield in the first half. The Rams, listed as slight underdogs, covered the spread with the one-point win. The game’s 45 points exceeded most sportsbooks’ over/under line of 39.5.
The Chargers dealt with injury concerns. Receiver Quentin Johnston left on a cart in the opening quarter after a hard fall. Defensive back Deane Leonard and guard Karsen Barnhart also exited with injuries.
Off the field, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh declined to address the NCAA’s recent sanctions against the University of Michigan, where he previously coached, saying only, “Not engaging.”
The Rams, now 2-0 in preseason play, will travel east to face the Cleveland Browns on August 23. The Chargers, 2-1, conclude their preseason schedule the same day on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.
