The Los Angeles Chargers scored the first touchdown late in the second quarter to take a 9-5 lead over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
The Chargers (3-3) scored on 2-yard run by J.K. Dobbins with 1:37 left in the second quarter. Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker, who made a 46-yard field goal at the start of the second quarter, missed the extra point.
The Saints offense didn't score a touchdown in the half despite the return of Taysom Hill, Chris Olave, Cesar Ruiz and Lucas Patrick. New Orleans' first points came on a safety caused by a bad exchange on a punt attempt by Los Angeles. Penalties were an issue for the Saints with five for 52 yards, including two holding calls and a pass interference call on Marshon Lattimore that helped set up the Chargers' touchdown.
Kicker Blake Grupe made a 40-yard field goal with five seconds to play to give the offense its first points.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler, making his third start in place of the injured Derek Carr, was 10 of 17 for 138 yards. Running back Alvin Kamara had six carries for 33 yards. Hill, in his first action since Week 2, had two catches for 21 yards. Olave had two receptions for 35 yards.
The Saints (2-5) will get the ball to start the second half and will need to rally to avoid their sixth consecutive loss.
Check out the pregame arrivals and warm-ups from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers for Week 8 of the 2024 NFL Season on Oct. 27, 2024 at Sofi Stadium.