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INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — On a day when Austin Ekeler reached his milestone, it was his working that paved the…
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — On a day when Austin Ekeler hit a milestone, it was his run that paved the best way for the Los Angeles Chargers to proceed their push towards the postseason.
Ekeler ran for 122 yards, two touchdowns and have become the fifth working again 100 admissions season because the Chargers cruised to a 31-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in a co-tenant matchup at SoFi Stadium.
The playoff Chargers improved to 10-6 and have received 4 straight video games.
“I feel we’re moving into the correct route,” stated Ekeler, who had the third 100-yard speeding recreation of his six-year profession and second this season.
Ekeler, who has an NFL-leading 18 touchdowns (13 speeding, 5 receiving), additionally had career-best 72-yard TD run Halfway via the second quarter to push the Chargers result in 14-3.
The working recreation had 192 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry, the second-best efficiency of the season in each classes. That stored the offense balanced because the Chargers had 31 runs and 31 passes.
“I feel it is nice for our offense. That is the balanced assault we’re going for,” stated Justin Herbert, who accomplished 21 of 21 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. “We worth our offensive line and protection. To see it at this time, we aren’t in any respect stunned by the success.”
The stability even stunned the Rams. The Chargers began the day with the second-highest passing proportion within the league.
“We got here in and we knew they have been going to move the ball, however they have been in a position to take possession and we simply must do higher,” linebacker Bobby Wagner stated. “Ekeler was just about the again we anticipated. They put him in his fingers, introduced him to the perimeter, and he made performs.”
Ekeler scored on back-to-back possessions within the second quarter to provide the Chargers a 14-3 lead. After a 10-yard run to provide the Bolts a 7-3 lead, Ekeler patiently waited for a seam to kind on the correct aspect of the road earlier than scrambling 72 yards.
“We have been accountable for the federal government. Every thing was pushed out and managed to get out of the nook,” Ekeler stated. “I received caught at first of the yr and that was the one factor I used to be considering. “Okay, velocity, velocity, velocity. Do not get caught’ and managed to get in there.’
Left guard Matt Feiler pulled to assist create a gap, whereas vast receiver Keenan Allen and tight finish Donald Parham additionally laid down key blocks earlier than Ekeler broke clear.
“It was blocked effectively up entrance, however then it’s important to block your receivers within the run recreation to get the separator,” coach Brandon Staley stated. “It was a decisive and downhill run.”
It was the Rams’ eleventh lack of the season, tying the 1999 Denver Broncos for probably the most losses by a defending Tremendous Bowl champion.
The Rams performed effectively within the first half and trailed 17-10 at halftime. However they crossed the sphere simply as soon as on their 5 second-half possessions.
Los Angeles reached the Chargers’ 35-yard line on their first possession of the third quarter, however Baker Mayfield turned it over after a strip sack by Kyle Van Noy.
“It was a really small margin for errors, after which when it ended up being uncontrolled, it was uncontrolled for us,” coach Sean McVay stated.
Cam Akers had his second straight 100-yard recreation with 19 carries for 123 yards. Baker Mayfield was 11 of 19 for 132 yards.
The one landing for the Rams (5-11) was Malcolm Brown’s 23-yard run up the center to place them up 14-10 within the second quarter.
THE RETURN OF THE ECLERS
Ekeler reached 100 receptions together with his first catch, an 8-yard move from Herbert that arrange the Chargers’ opening drive.
Ekeler joins former Chargers nice LaDain Tomlinson, Arizona’s Larry Facilities, Chicago’s Matt Forte and Christian McCaffrey as the one different gamers to perform the feat. McCaffrey is the one working again with two 100 seasons.
This season’s 103 receptions are Eckeler’s third-most in a season by a working again. McCaffee had 116 receptions in 2019 and 107 in ’18.
ENOUGH CATCHING
Mike Williams had seven receptions for 94 yards, together with a one-handed, toe-tapping 18-yarder alongside the left sideline on the finish of the second quarter.
“Simply react to the ball. I used to be simply in a position to get to the ball with my proper hand and I used to be in a position to get down and get two ft in,” Williams stated.
OPENING OF THE THIRD QUARTER
The Chargers discovered the top zone for the primary time in 11 video games within the third quarter when Herbert related with Gerald Everett for an 8-yard landing to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half.
Herbert entered the sport with no TD move in two consecutive video games for the primary time in his three-year professional profession.
MARK OF THE CENTURY
Herbert’s 3-yard TD move to Donald Parham early within the fourth quarter gave Herbert a mixed 100 speeding and passing yards. That ties him with Dan Marino for the primary three profession seasons.
Accidents
Rams. DB Nick Scott suffered a shoulder harm within the third quarter however returned within the fourth quarter.
NEXT
Rams. shut out their season subsequent Sunday at Seattle.
Chargers. Finish the common season in Denver subsequent Sunday.
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