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The Battle for Football Supremacy in LA: The Rams and Chargers

By Redan Lopez

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams is congratulated by head coach Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers after the Rams defeated the Chargers 35-23 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams is congratulated by head coach Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers after the Rams defeated the Chargers 35-23 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Chargers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Jon’s Take: Chargers are better

In addition to their home in LA, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams are very similar football teams—they have a complete and balanced roster that is ready to make a Super Bowl run this season.

Both defenses are filled with star power at all levels, but especially on the line. The Chargers will trot out a dominant duo in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, while the Rams will have, undoubtedly, the most dominant player in football in Aaron Donald.

One flaw that both teams have is a question mark at the running back position. The Chargers and Melvin Gordon are still in a contract dispute, and after seeing what took place with Le’Veon Bell, Gordon may not be seen on the field this year.

Why won’t the Charges pay him? Well, the answer may have to do with the other team in LA. Todd Gurley got paid, but may not live up to his contract due to the health concerns that limited him in the playoffs last year. His health could really determine the success of the Ram’s offense.

So, this begs the question: which team is the ruler of LA?

The answer is the Chargers.

The main reason that the Chargers are the superior team is simply Philip Rivers. Rivers is never talked about as one of the best quarterbacks of this generation, and while he does not have a Super Bowl ring to show for it, his numbers are just as great as other QB’s, such as Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, and even Tom Brady. Rivers is now surrounded by the best team he has probably had in his entire career and is showing no signs of slowing up.

Jared Goff is a nice quarterback, but he is nowhere near the stratosphere that Rivers is in. Yes, Goff made an appearance in a Super Bowl, but did he really lead his team there? Many would say that Goff’s Super Bowl appearance was more as a result of great coaching and a stellar defense, rather than superior quarterback performance.

Goff is not the type of quarterback at this stage of his career to put the team on his back in desperate situations. Goff will not lose the Rams games, but in games where the defense is struggling and Gurley is not a presence, Goff is not able to assert his dominance and will his team to victory.

Rivers, however, can put the team on his back and has shown his ability to do this over multiple decades. On the nights where the Chargers need him to single-handedly take over a game, he has proven that he can do just that. It is inevitable that during the course of a Super Bowl run that one of these historical performances will be needed, and Rivers can deliver.

Goff is a solid quarterback, but put some respect on Philip Rivers name.

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