The Rams will play host to the Chargers Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the first regular-season NFL game between two Los Angeles teams since 1994.
Under the NFL’s scheduling formula, each season all four teams in a division face all four teams from a division in the other conference. The divisions are determined on a rotating basis that began with the 2002 season when the league realigned.
The Rams and the other teams from the NFC West last met the Chargers and other AFC West teams in 2014.
They will next meet in 2022, when the Rams-Chargers game will be played in the stadium under construction in Inglewood that will be the home to both teams.
Playing the other team in Los Angeles, “doesn’t mean anything for us,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said.
To Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, “it’s hard to me to have a true rivalry (with) a team once every four years.”
“I don’t sense that they’re becoming a huge rivalry because you’re not going to see them twice a year,” like AFC West opponents, Rivers said.
The Rams are seeking their first 3-0 start since 2001 when they won their first six games en route to their most recent Super Bowl berth.
The Chargers are seeking their first winning record through three games since 2014 when they started the season 5-1, but lost the next three games during a 9-7 season when they failed to reach the playoffs.
The Rams defense is the stingiest in the league, allowing 6.5 points per game. It has not allowed a point for six consecutive quarters and 90 minutes, 10 seconds.
The Rams have three players on their 53-man roster who were not on the roster for last Sunday’s 34-0 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Guard Jamon Brown was activated after being suspended without pay for the first two games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse rules.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 330-pound Brown started all 16 regular-season games in the playoff loss to the Atlanta Falcons last season.
Sam Ficken was signed Monday to replace injured kicker Greg Zuerlein who will be sidelined “for a few weeks” because of a groin injury suffered warming up before last Sunday’s game, coach Sean McVay said.
Ficken was the Rams kicker the final two games of the 2017 season and the playoff game, making four of five field goal attempts and five of six extra points after Zuerlein was sidelined by a back injury.
KhaDarel Hodge was promoted from the practice squad after fellow receiver Mike Thomas was placed on reserve/injured because of a hip injury.
The Chargers have not made any changes to their roster since last Sunday’s 31-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, a Pro Bowl selection in 2017, will miss his third consecutive game because of an injured left foot. Starting offensive tackle Joe Barksdale will miss his second consecutive game because of a knee injury.
Receiver Travis Benjamin (foot), tight end Antonio Gates (illness) and running back Derek Watt (thumb) are all listed as questionable, meaning it is uncertain whether they will play.
Rams starting linebacker Mark Barron is doubtful because of an ankle injury, meaning he is unlikely to play. Barron has missed the first two games of the season.
The Rams have designated the game as their Vamos Rams game in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Maria Brenes, the executive director of InnerCity Struggle, will receive the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, during a pregame ceremony.
The organization seeks to promote healthy, safe and nonviolent communities in the Eastside communities of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, El Sereno and Lincoln Heights.
The Garfield High School Marching Band and Drill Team will perform Latin-themed music on the field during before the start of the game.
The national anthem will be sung by Raquel Rodriguez, who has been the opening act for J.Cole, Snoop Dogg, Trombone Shorty and Gaopele.
Six-time X Games gold-medal winning skateboarder Paul Rodriguez will stand with the teams on the field during the national anthem before joining the captains at midfield to participate in the coin toss.
The Castores team in Mexico’s Tochito Flag Football League will light the Coliseum Torch prior to kickoff.
The Rancho Bernardo Broncos will scrimmage the Far West Freedom of Kern County in the northwest end zone and the Camarillo Roadrunners will scrimmage the North Oxnard Warriors in the southeast end zone at halftime.
Hall of Fame Running Back Eric Dickerson will be honored during the second quarter as the Rams Alumnus of the Game.
Former U.S. Marine Corps infantryman Federico Godina will be honored during the first quarter. He served three deployments in Iraq.