Rams vs. Chargers: Who Wins L.A.’s Heart

The NFL and Los Angeles have had a complicated relationship. Today the City of Angels is home to both the Rams and Chargers but that followed a 21 year stretch without America’s favorite sport.

Various professional football teams called LA home in the early to mid 20th century including the Rams who moved from Cleveland and the Chargers before they left for San Diego after one year. The Raiders made LA a two team town again with their relocation from Oakland in 1982. Due to a split fan base and stadium concerns, both the Raiders and Rams left following the 1994 season.

During the NFL’s two decade absence the country’s second largest media market was used as a bargaining chip for clubs to convince smaller cities to contribute public funds for new stadiums. The threat of relocation was real though for the St. Louis Rams in 2016 and the San Diego Chargers one year later. By the start of the 2017 season LA was home to two NFL franchises again.

How Have the Teams Done Since the Move to LA?

While the Rams’ move was celebrated in the Southland, the Chargers relocation was criticized. The Chargers have been and continue to be a distant third choice among NFL fans in LA. According the TV ratings the Rams were Angelenos’ second choice with the Raiders the top pick.

The Rams began to make up ground as their play improved on the field. Head coach Jeff Fisher fired after going 4-12 in the team’s first season back in LA. Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay was hired to be the Rams next coach. At just 30 years old, he became the youngest head coach in the NFL’s modern era.

McVay turned quarterback Jared Goff from potential bust to potential franchise QB. The Rams went 11-5 in McVay’s first year to 13-3 and Super Bowl runner ups in year two.

Meanwhile, the Chargers hit the LA ground running in their first regular season. Despite an impressive 21-11 combined record their first two years, the Chargers “home field advantage” has been nonexistent in LA.

Are Fans in LA Supporting the Teams?

The Bolts play home games at Dignity Health Sports Park. The facility is primarily used for pro soccer games and holds just 27,000 fans – the lowest capacity stadium in the NFL by a whopping 38,000 seats.

In week 6 of this season LA sounded and looked more like Pittsburgh as Steeler fans took over Dignity Health Sports Park. What really irked Charger players was Steeler anthem “Renegade” by Styx blaring from their speakers.

Chargers guard Forrest Lamp told the Los Angeles Times, “We’re used to not having any fans here. It does suck, though, when they’re playing their music in the fourth quarter. We’re the ones at home. I don’t know who’s in charge of that but they probably should be fired.”

The Chargers’ play has dipped significantly this year. They lost four games all of last year but have five losses already in 2019. The Rams are following their run to the Super Bowl with a similar spiral.

Just last week, the NFL and Chargers owner Dean Spanos had to shoot down a report in The Athletic claiming the NFL was considering moving the team to London.

Rams running back Todd Gurley saw an end-of-season slide in his All-Pro skills continue into this year. The ex-Georgia Bulldog is just one underperformer for McVay’s team. An offensive line that was one of the NFL’s best has regressed which has had a significant negative impact on Goff. The Rams ended a 3 game losing streak with an impressive 37-10 road win at Atlanta in week 7.

“The Battle for LA” between the Rams and Chargers has been a no-contest for the defending NFC champs. However, Los Angeles has shown that if the winning does not continue, fans have no problem staying away. Just last week the LA Memorial Coliseum looked more like Levi’s Stadium with the 49’ers in town.

The Rams and Chargers will eventually share the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium when it opens in 2020. If LA fans bring their passion to the party remains as complicated as the history of pro football in their town.