5 winners and 3 losers from Rams' groggy win over the Chargers

It took them until Week 8 to do it, but the Los Angeles Rams have finally won back-to-back games this season, handling the Chargers 24-9 behind a strong defense and an offense that finally found itself near the end of the first half. The victory also has them back at .500, with a 4-4 record, for the first time since Week 4.

Three key questionables on the injury report all played, which was a winning way to start the day. Cornerback Trent McDuffie, center Coleman Shelton, and receiver Jordan Whittington were all active, while tight end Colby Parkinson and long snapper Joe Cardona sat out.

The Rams themselves, on the other hand, did not kick off with victorious vibes. Matthew Stafford threw a bad pick on the first series and it took the offense six possessions to even get a first down.

That two-minute drill touchdown drive got them jumpstarted, however, and while it was hardly an irreproachable performance, the Rams maintained firm control throughout the second half. Here are four standout performers, including a repeat honoree from last week, along with three Rams on the losing end of the spectrum.

Rams' winners and losers from Week 8 win vs. Chargers

Winner - Trent McDuffie

After missing the last two games with a groin injury and being listed as questionable in Week 8, McDuffie retook the field to forceful effect. A weapon in all phases, he led the team with nine tackles and came down with Justin Herbert's second interception of the day, leading to a quick Rams touchdown. Good to have him back.

McDuffie did take a shot to the lower back while making a tackle in the backfield, and spent the portion of the game in a sweat shirt on the sideline. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. In other not-great news, his counterpart Jaylen Watson reinjured his shoulder and left the game in the third quarter.

Both will be names to monitor for updates, although McDuffie is "feeling okay," per head coach Sean McVay from The Athletic's Nate Atkins.

Winner - Blake Corum

Corum featured among last week's winners with a season-best outing in Las Vegas, and he more than earned a repeat in Week 8. Although Williams outcarried him 16 to 11, Corum accounted for the ground game's explosive element with 11 rushes for 73 yards and a score.

His 23-yard touchdown carry was his longest carry this season, and over his last two games he's averaging nearly six yards per tote. After churning his wheels for a multi-week stretch earlier in the year, Corum has his mojo all the way back.

Winner x 2 - Josaiah Stewart and Wesley Bailey

Stewart, Corum's former Michigan teammate, and fellow college pupil of Chargers head coach John Harbaugh his championship run with the Wolverines, also had himself a day: six tackles, 2 TFLs, and a big sack that ultimately doomed the Chargers' final series, putting them behind the sticks en route to a turnover on downs.

Bailey, the undrafted rookie from Louisville, joined Stewart in wreaking havoc up front. One defensive drive ahead of Stewart's sack, Bailey delivered his own strip-sack fumble that was nearly recovered by Aaron Donald before skipping out of bounds. That was far from Bailey's only impact play of the day; his length and speed are a handful for any offensive lineman to handle.

Winner - Tutu Atwell

Breaking news: Atwell drew multiple targets in a game. It's only happened twice all year, and although his stat line wasn't anything jaw-dropping - two catches for 52 yards - the 40-yard bomb he hauled in near the end of the first half was the spark that got the offense going.

Especially with tight end Terrance Ferguson and Davante Adams on injured reserve, LA needs someone to step up as a deep threat. Against the Chargers, Atwell finally flashed his effectiveness as a potential go-to guy in that role.

Loser - Rams' first-half offense

In case Rams fans thought the team put their sluggish starts behind them with Week 7's eruption in Las Vegas, rest assured: they haven't. Not only did they fail to get a first-down on their first five possessions, they mustered just 10 rushing yards, on five carries, in the entire first half. Stafford threw another early pick - on his first very series.

The touchdown drive inside the two-minute warning, set up by Atwell's big catch, finally greased the wheels enough for the Rams to get themselves unstuck from the mud. Impressively, while the passing attack never took flight, Corum and Williams combined for 119 rushing yards in the second half.

Loser - Joshua Karty's dirty ball kick

The Rams did, in fact, activate both Karty and Brandon McManus on game day. McManus handled extra points and field goals (he made his only attempt, from 30 yards), while Karty attempted kickoffs. Key word: attempted.

Karty's signature dirty ball kick, meant to deny an easy return opportunity and give the coverage team time to wall off the ballcarrier, failed to reach the landing zone on consecutive attempts, bringing the ball out to the 40. That's not the advantage the Rams had in mind.

To his credit, though, on his other three kickoffs Karty and the coverage unit kept the Chargers inside their own 30. Last week with McManus, the best option was kicking the ball into the end zone to set up the opponent at the 35. It's not the end of the world, but it's not an altogether inspiring debut, either.

Loser - Aaron Donald's fumble recovery fail

In typical Donald fashion, No. 99 made plenty of plays that didn't show up in the box score. The one play he didn't make, however, a failed scoop n' score attempt on Bailey's strip-sack, had even Myles Garrett cracking up on the sidelines, no doubt a mixture of amusement and sympathetic agony, astride his mechanical bike.

The Rams defense forced a punt, anyway, and Donald trotted sheepishly off the field to immediate razzing from his teammates. The future Hall of Famer came oh-so-close to the first defensive touchdown of his illustrious career, but he couldn't quite corral the galloping oblong in his gloved fingertips before stumbling to the sidelines ahead of the ball.

Just razzing, AD. Donald delivered another strong outing as the leader of the Rams' injury-depleted defensive front.

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