As is the yearly tradition in the NFL, the game after opening night is played outside of the US. This year, it’s being played in Melbourne, Australia. The San Francisco 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, September 10th at 5:35 pm PST (10:35 am local time on Friday). Join us at PayPerHead to see which team is the favorite in this 49ers vs Rams prediction.

The two teams have taken completely different approaches to the extreme travel. The 49ers arrived almost a full week before the game to acclimatize to the 17-hour time difference, while the Rams will arrive approximately one day before the game after a 15-hour flight. We’ll see which approach wins the day.

San Francisco 49ers Recent Scores: Downed By The Hawks

The 49ers finished the 2025 season 12-5, placing third in the NFC division behind the LA Rams and the Seattle Seahawks. Their playoff run was short: they beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round but were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champs in a blowout, 41-6 in the divisional round.

They finished the 2026 preseason 2-1, including a blowout win over the Chargers. Against the Titans, backup QB Adrian Martinez completed 12-of-14 for 101 yards before sustaining a rib injury. Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling made 7 catches for 63 yards.

Against the Raiders, Piñeiro scored the only points, completing 6-for-6 field goals.

Week 1: Tennessee 19 – 13 San Francisco

Week 2: San Francisco 41 – 17 LA Chargers

Week 3: San Francisco 18 – 12 Las Vegas          

Los Angeles Rams Recent Scores: Perfect Preseason

The Rams entered the 2025 playoffs as Wild Card contenders, beating the Carolina Panthers before defeating the No. 2-seeded Chicago Bears 20-17 in overtime in the divisional round. They advanced to their third NFC Championship Game in eight seasons, but lost to the Seattle Seahawks, 31-27.

They had a commanding 2026 preseason, winning all three games, including a 34-0 blowout against New Orleans. None of the starters played, including reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, whose back is better than it was last year.

QB Ty Simpson (No. 13 overall pick) had a great preseason, completing 47-of-60 for 382 yards and 3 TDs in total.

Week 1: LA Rams 20 – 12 Kansas City

Week 2: New Orleans 0 – 34 LA Rams

Week 3: LA Rams 20 – 18 LA Chargers

San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams History: 76 Year Rivalry

This rivalry is one of the oldest in the NFL. The teams have played each other twice every season since 1950. Overall, they’ve been pretty even, with the 49ers leading 79-72-3. In the playoffs, they’ve each won once. Both were NFC Championship games.

These rivals tend toward close games, but their last meeting ended in the Rams winning 42-26 on November 9, 2025.

49ers vs Rams Prediction: Will Jetlag Make a Difference?

The 49ers continue to be the unluckiest team when it comes to injuries. They still carry an injury hangover from the 2025 season, but are healing. Nick Bosa is back but still integrating. The Rams have done an amazing job over the summer improving their roster even more, including bringing in Defense Player of the Year Myles Garrett, which is partly why they are 3.5-point favorites.

These rivals both have Super Bowl aspirations, so expect a hard-fought game.

Our 49ers vs Rams prediction is a close 19-17 win for the 49ers, as the last-minute flight into Australia will take a toll on the Rams, enough to give San Francisco the win. Follow us on social media to stay tuned for this NFL season.

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The 2026 NFL season will begin a day earlier than the traditional Thursday game. On Wednesday, September 9, the two teams that met in Super Bowl LX, the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, will have a rematch. Join us at PayPerHead to see which team is the favorite in this Patriots vs Seahawks prediction.

Seattle hosts the game, which starts at 5:20 pm local time.

New England’s QB, Drake Maye, was last season’s MVP runner-up. The offensive line has been reinforced with new guard Alija Vera-Tucker and first-round rookie Caleb Lomu. The defense added veteran safety Kevin Byard.

Seattle’s WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba was last season’s Offensive Player of the Year. Two new wide receivers, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp and tight end A.J. Barner were added. First-round pick rookie Jadarian Price joins as a running back.

New England Patriots Recent Scores: Comeback Kings

The Patriots went from a 4-13 record in 2024 to 14-3 in 2025, tying the Seahawks and Broncos for the league’s top spots. They made it all the way to the Super Bowl before getting knocked out by Seattle.

Coach Mike Vrabel sat most of the starters for all three games of the preseason.

Week 1: Indianapolis 13 – 13 New England

Week 2: Philadelphia 24 – 21 New England

Week 3: New England 37 – 13 Cleveland           

What stood out was Week 3, with Cleveland QB Dillon Gabriel completing 12-of-15 for 186 yards and 3 TDs before the half, showing how leaky New England’s defense was.

Seattle Seahawks Recent Scores: Thin Safety Room

The Seahawks won Super Bowl LX over the Patriots, 29-13.

During the preseason, the Seahawks were winless, but they focused on evaluation rather than getting their players ready. QB Sam Darnold didn’t play in any of the games. The stats:

Week 1: Dallas 17 – 7 Seattle

Week 2: Seattle 16 – 19 Tennessee

Week 3: Seattle 9 – 9 Kansas City

Week 2 cost the Hawks three injuries:

• Jake Bobo – WR: Season-ending knee injury during joint practice
• Bud Clark – S: Out for months with a broken ankle
• Mason Richman – OL: Serious leg/knee injury

It looks like the safety room is thin and several vets were released, but the Super Bowl core is still intact.

Patriots vs Seahawks History: Super Bowl Rivals

Being in opposite conferences, these teams aren’t yearly rivals, but they have met in the Super Bowl twice. This past season, the Seahawks won, but on February 1, 2015, the Patriots took the prize in a thrilling finish.

With Seattle leading 24-14 in the third, Tom Brady threw two fourth-quarter TDs for the Patriots to gain the lead, 28-24. Seattle reached the 1-yard line with roughly 26 seconds left, and instead of handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch, Russell Wilson threw an interception, ending the game.

The teams have met 21 times since 1977, with Seattle winning 12 of them. They’ve had the upper hand over New England since 2016, winning the last four regular season games.

Patriots vs Seahawks Prediction: Make it Loud

Drake Maye will be the starting QB for New England, with backup Tommy DeVito. Seattle’s QB is Sam Darnold, with rookie Jadarian Price backing him up.

The defending champion Seahawks are 3.5-point home favorites. Seattle once held the Guinness World Record for the loudest outdoor stadium, but the Patriots went 9-0 on the road last season.

Our Patriots vs Seahawks prediction is a close game, with New England edging out Seattle 23-17. Follow us on social media to stay tuned for this NFL season.

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The 2026 Italian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, September 6, 14:00 BST at Monza, just outside of Milan in Northern Italy. Join us at PayPerHead to see which driver and team are the favorites in this Italian Grand Prix prediction.

We’re in the second half of the Formula 1 season, with 10 more races after this one, including one more in Europe. Spain’s Grand Prix takes place next week on Sept 13, before moving to other parts of the world, ending in Abu Dhabi in December.

Kimi Antonelli leads all drivers with 242 points. Unfortunately, his car has reached the limit on the number of power unit components allowed per season.

The Mercedes team calculated this was the best race to take the penalty for that. Which means he starts at the back of the pack in front of his home crowd.

But Mercedes will fit him with an entirely fresh unit: Engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K and exhaust.

Formula 1 Recent Races: McLaren Making Strides

The 2026 season so far:

Driver standings:

Mercedes have the top two drivers of the season, but with Antonelli’s penalty, Russell or Hamilton have a chance to catch him.

Italian Grand Prix Weather Conditions: Very Hot

The three days of the racing weekend will see very hot, rain-free weather, peaking at 33 degrees on Friday and Sunday. The hottest day is forecast for Saturday’s qualifying day when temperatures can reach 34.

Italian Grand Prix History: Fastest Track

Max Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix in 2025, but Lando Norris came in second. Norris has won the last two Grand Prix (Hungary and Netherlands) and could make this his third in a row.

Italy has been part of Formula 1 since its inception in 1950. The track is 5.793 kilometers long and features 53 laps. It’s the fastest track on the F1 calendar, with cars averaging 260 km/h per lap.

The past five winners:

Italian Grand Prix Prediction: Manage the Heat

With the 20-year-old Antonelli starting from the back, he won’t be able to make the top three even on this fast track, but his team calculated that Monza will give him the best chance of winning. It has long straights and the most overtaking opportunities.

The high temperatures and dry track will make tire management and cooling paramount.

Our Italian Grand Prix prediction is a third win for Lando Norris and McLaren, with George Russell second and Lewis Hamilton third. The question is, will Antonelli gain any points in this race?  Remember that you can follow us on our social media accounts to stay tuned for this Formula 1 season.

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On September 6, Valencia will host Barcelona at Estadio de Mestalla. The game starts at 10:15 am EST.

With just one point after three matches this season, Valencia has to go up against the top team in La Liga, Barcelona, who have 9 points. But the season is young. Join us at PayPerHead to see which team is the favorite in this Valencia vs Barcelona prediction.

Valencia Recent Scores: Only One Goal

Coach Carlos Corberán will have his hands full trying to lift his team’s spirits and prepare them to take on the league’s best. They’ve had a slow start this season.

August 30: Deportivo 3 – 1 Valencia (La Liga)

August 25: Valencia 0 – 1 Real Betis (La Liga)

August 22: Valencia 0 – 0 Celta de Vigo (La Liga)

Umar Sadiq scored their only goal and is now out for several months with a hamstring tear. Also, Diego López and Sergi Canós are out with long-term ACL injuries.

Barcelona Recent Scores: Top Team

Barcelona has started the year in fine form, scoring five in their first and third games. They have yet to lose or draw.

August 31: Barcelona 5 – 2 Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)

August 27: Barcelona 2 – 0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)

August 23: Elche 0 – 5 Barcelona (La Liga)

Raphinha leads Barcelona with 5 league goals, while Anthony Gordon has 3 assists.

Valencia vs Barcelona History: One Important Win

There is a stark difference between these two teams, as Barcelona has scored 25 goals in the last six encounters, while Valencia has scored only 7. Barcelona has won five of those six games.

The only blemish for Barcelona is that Valencia’s most recent win came in the last meeting in May. It was the closing game of last season at Mestalla. Will they be able to surprise Barcelona again?

Last six head-to-head meetings:

May 23, 2026: Valencia 3 – 1 Barcelona (La Liga Mestalla)

Sep 14, 2025: Barcelona 6 – 0 Valencia (La Liga)

Feb 6, 2025: Valencia 0 – 5 Barcelona (Copa del Rey quarter-final)

Jan 26, 2025: Barcelona 7 – 1 Valencia (La Liga)

Aug 17, 2024: Valencia 1 – 2 Barcelona (La Liga Mestalla)

Apr 29, 2024: Barcelona 4 – 2 Valencia (La Liga)

Valencia vs Barcelona Prediction: Home Team Hope

Barcelona sits atop the La Liga table, having scored 12 goals in three matches, while only giving up two. Valencia have only scored once in that time, while giving up four. They are struggling to score while their defense is unsettled, giving up three in their last game alone.

Barcelona just signed Rodri for big money and hopes to add him to the roster for this game. Their two main injuries are Frenkie de Jong and Gavi. The only positive for Valencia is that they are playing at home.

Our Valencia vs Barcelona prediction is that Valencia gets at least one goal at home but isn’t able to keep Barcelona from scoring. The final score will be Valencia 2-4 Barcelona. Remember that you can follow us on our social media accounts to stay tuned for this La Liga season.

The post Valencia vs Barcelona Prediction – A Tall Order appeared first on PayPerHead®.

Real Madrid travels to La Cartuja to play against Real Betis on Friday, September 4, for La Liga Matchweek 4. The match starts at 20:00 local time. Join us at PayPerHead to see which team is more prepared to take this Betis vs Real Madrid prediction.

Los Blancos will attempt to extend their perfect record with a win over Betis. The teams enter this match from a completely different angle. Real Betis is coming off a 5-2 loss to Levante, while Real Madrid were 4-0 victors over Malaga.

Real Betis Recent Scores: Flawed Defense

Los Verdiblancos had a wonderful last season. They finished 5th and secured the Champions League after more than two decades.

They didn’t improve their depth, as shown in their 3rd-round match against Levante. But they did sign Facundo Bernal, who started all three league matches.

Real Betis won their first two matches of the season but suffered a heavy 5-2 loss to Levante. It was a shock, as their first two were 1-0 wins. Coach Manuel Pellegrini told the media after the game that it was an absolutely negative performance, especially on defense.

August 25: Valencia 0 – 1 Real Betis (La Liga)

August 29: Levante 5 – 2 Real Betis (La Liga)

August 21: Real Betis 1 – 0 Real Sociedad (La Liga)

Real Madrid Recent Scores: New Coach

Los Blancos made changes that strengthened their squad over the last season, including the addition of coach Jose Mourinho. Those moves have proven effective, as seen in their first three matches. The coach was particularly impressed by Jude Bellingham’s performance against Malaga and will give him more freedom while reducing his defensive responsibilities.

However, the teams they’ve faced so far finished 10th or lower in the previous season. Real Betis is a step up from that and will be their first real test.

August 30: Real Madrid 4 – 0 Malaga (La Liga)

August 26: Read Madrid 4 – 1 Real Sociedad (La Liga)

August 22: Espanyol 1 – 2 Real Madrid (La Liga)

Mbappé already has 4 goals after 3 games, so expect more from him, especially if Real Betis doesn’t fix their defense.

Real Betis vs Real Madrid History: Tough Away

Real Madrid has won most of its meetings with Real Betis, but in recent encounters, it has struggled away, winning only one of the last five away games against Real Betis.

Apr 24, 2026: Real Betis (H) 1 – 1 Real Madrid (A)

Jan 4, 2026: Real Madrid (H) 5 – 1 Real Betis (A)

Mar 1, 2025: Real Betis (H) 2 – 1 Real Madrid (A)

Sep 1, 2024: Real Madrid (H) 2 – 0 Real Betis (A)

May 25, 2024: Real Madrid (H) 0 – 0 Real Betis (A)

Dec 9, 2023: Real Betis (H) 1 – 1 Real Madrid (A)

Real Betis vs Real Madrid Prediction: 2 Clean Sheets

In the first two rounds of the season, both teams were 2-0, with Real Betis having 2 clean sheets. However, after three games, Real Betis is 2-1 with a -1 goal differential, while Real Madrid is 3-0 with a +8 GD.

No new injuries are expected for Real Betis, but anyone who missed previous matches due to injury will probably remain sidelined. The same goes for Real Madrid, but both sides have enough first-choice attackers available.

Our Real Betis vs Real Madrid prediction is another win for Real Madrid, 3-2. Remember that you can follow us on our social media accounts to stay tuned for this La Liga season.

The post Real Betis vs Real Madrid Prediction and Game Analysis appeared first on PayPerHead®.

The Titans will host the Chicago Bears this Saturday, August 29th.

This preseason game lineup may be closer to Week 1 of the regular season for the Chicago Bears as their injury troubles continue. Join us at PayPerHead to see which team is the favorite in this Bears vs Titans prediction.

Chicago Bears Recent Updates: Preseason Flip Flop

The Bears finished last in the NFC North in 2024 with a 5-12 record, the only team in the division not to make the playoffs. They turned that around in 2025, winning the division with an 11-6 record and making the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Trailing 21-3 at halftime in the Wild Card Round against the Packers, they made a huge comeback to win the game, 31-27. That marked their first playoff victory since the 2010 season.

They took on the Rams in the Divisional Round, where quarterback Caleb Williams threw a touchdown pass with 18 seconds left to tie the game. But in overtime, Williams threw his third interception of the game, which ended their playoff run.

In Week 1 of the preseason, the Bears were victorious over the Browns 34-10. But in Week 2, the Bengals flipped the playbook and beat the Bears 27-9.

Tennessee Titans Recent Updates: Quarterbacks Questionable

The Titans finished last in the AFC South with a 3-14 record in 2024, and again in 2025.

They beat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 of the preseason, 19-13. In Week 2, they took down the Seattle Seahawks, 19-16, to enter Week 3 with a 2-0 record. Unfortunately, none of their quarterbacks had a particularly good outing. Starter Cam Ward threw just 7-for-16 with one touchdown and two picks. Backups Trubisky and Levis were more accurate, but each threw an interception as well.

Bears vs Titans Prediction History and Last Results: Hot and Humid

The Bears have faced the Titans 14 times since 1973. Both teams have won seven of those matches, with Chicago winning the most recent game, 24-17 on September 8, 2024.

The Bears and Titans met for a joint practice on Thursday on a hot and humid day. Tempers flared when Chicago’s Xavier Woods laid a big hit on wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. Chicago’s Colston Loveland turned some heads with his plays. It seems the big and fast tight end is setting himself up for a breakout season in Year 2. Their defense is still missing key figures due to injury, which was noticeable during practice. But their offense was dominant over the Titans’ defense.

Titans QB Cam Ward connected with receiver Carnell Tate multiple times, while running back Tony Pollard’s gritty performance was noticed by all, including his tough catch on a 50-yard pass.

Bears vs Titans Prediction: Titans 3-0

The Titans are the favorites by about 2.5 points, which makes sense since they’re playing at home and are undefeated so far. The Bears’ loss in Week 2 shows an inconsistency with the backups.

The Titans have been one of the worst teams over the past two seasons. But they’ve done a major revamp of the roster over an active offseason with new head coach Robert Saleh, giving hope that the Titans will see a turnaround this season. It looks promising so far.

Our Bears vs Titans prediction is an 18-14 win for the Titans, as the Bears’ defense continues to struggle with injuries. Remember that you can follow us on our social media accounts to stay tuned for this NFL season.

The post Chicago Bears vs Tennessee Titans Prediction – Hot and Hurt appeared first on PayPerHead®.

The Vikings visit the Broncos in mile-high Denver for the final preseason game of 2026, taking place Friday, August 28 at 9:00 pm EST with us at PayPerHead.

Vikings’ backup QBs J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz will likely play most of this game to battle for the backup position behind starter Kyler Murray. McCarthy is listed as questionable, though for an undisclosed reason, an assumed injury.

The Broncos’ offensive line has two centers with injuries and lost their third center for the season. Emergency center Calvin Throckmorton has been a surprise stand-in.

Minnesota Vikings Recent Updates: Good Offense

The Vikings had a stellar 2024, winning 14 games to finish second to the Lions in the NFC North and advancing to a wild-card position in the playoffs. They couldn’t maintain that level in 2025, finishing with a 9-8 record, in third place, out of the playoffs. At least they won their final five games to secure a winning record.

The Vikings beat the New York Giants in Week 1 of the preseason in a low-scoring 13-10 final. Carson Wentz put up 81 yards and a score, completing 9-of-14 passes.

In Week 2, the Ravens kept the Vikings to only 3 points in another low-scoring 13-3 final. Wentz had 92 yards with 9-of-11 passing. Zavier Scott led with 28 rushing yards on seven carries, and rookie wide receiver Tai Felton went 66 yards on three catches.

Denver Broncos Recent Updates: Revenge on Buffalo

The Broncos finished with a 10-7 record in 2024, making it to the playoffs as a wild card, where they lost to the Buffalo Bills 31-7. In 2025, they were the AFC West champions with a 14-3 record. This time, they beat the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round, 33-30, but lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, 7-10.

They fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi soon after that low-scoring loss.

The Broncos beat the Falcons 27-7 in Week 1 of the preseason. In Week 2, the Packers won against the Broncos 33-13 in an equally lopsided game. Bo Nix took snaps and went 6-of-9 for 76 yards and a score.

Vikings vs Broncos History and Last Results: Close Encounters

These teams have met 16 times in their rivalry since 1972, with each team winning 8. In the last five meetings, the Broncos have won four, the last time in November of 2023, when Denver won 21-20. Each of their last six games finished within a close 4-point spread.

Vikings vs Broncos Prediction: More Offense

Denver will look to provide a more complete performance in Week 3, on both sides of the ball to even out the first two games.

Both teams have a 1-1 record so far, with the Vikings averaging only 8 points per game and the Broncos averaging 20. Minnesota’s offense is clearly struggling in the preseason, unable to find their rhythm, which the Broncos’ defense will prey upon.

If Denver’s defense does its job and the offense continues what they’ve been doing in the first two weeks, they should have no problem beating the Vikings in this one.

Our Vikings vs Broncos prediction is a 22-12 win for the Broncos. Remember that you can follow us on our social media accounts to stay tuned for this NFL season.

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The San Francisco 49ers head to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders in the final game of the preseason. Kickoff is at 8:00 pm ET with us at PayPerHead.

Brock Purdy saw reps in the second preseason game and will likely sit out this game with most of the other starters. The depth and reserves get their final auditions in the last preseason game.

The Raiders have run the ball well in this preseason series so far and will probably continue to do so on Thursday, testing San Francisco’s defense.

San Francisco 49ers Recent Updates: Chargers Destroyers

The 49ers had a dismal 2024, posting a 6-11 record and floundering at the bottom of the NFC West. They improved in their 2025 season, going 12-5, but only edged up to third place in their division.

That got them to the wild card round, though, where they upset the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. In the Divisional Round, the Seattle Seahawks blew them out 41-6, ending their 2025 season.

After losing Game 1 of the preseason to the Titans 13-19, the 49ers demolished the Chargers 41-17 in Game 2. All three quarterbacks took reps.

Las Vegas Raiders Recent Updates: Raiders Rally

Klint Kubiak is the Raiders’ new head coach this season, becoming the fourth head coach in four seasons. They finished last in the NFL, which gave them the first overall draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They secured quarterback Fernando Mendoza to help them climb out of the basement, and hopefully more, in 2026.

Mendoza looked good in Game 1 but threw an early interception in Game 2, putting the team in a 14-0 hole. They rallied back to win 22-20 with the help of a 1-yard plunge touchdown by QB Aidan O’Connell in the last 14 seconds.

49ers vs Raiders History and Last Results

These teams play about every four years. Their last game was on New Year’s Day, 2023, when the 49ers won a close one, 37-34.

After this final preseason game, the two teams will meet again on November 8 in California.

49ers vs Raiders Prediction: Australia on My Mind

Las Vegas isn’t as far along in their decision-making. Kirk Cousins will probably get the starting job, so both Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell will probably play Thursday to see who will take the backup QB position.

Running back Kaelon Black of the 49ers took advantage of the injuries piling up and got more playing time in. Jordan James will likely see time in Game 3 as he’ll be competing with Black for the backup role behind Christian McCaffrey.

The 49ers continue to deal with injuries, with several missing practices, such as Mike Evans. There is positive news, as several players are close to recovery, including George Kittle (Achilles), Christian McCaffrey, and Nick Bosa (knee tendinitis post-ACL).

Since the 49ers will play their regular season opener in Australia, it will limit their practice and recovery time. So expect the coaching staff to focus on evaluating depth for this game and to let the starters rest.

The Raiders are the slight home favorites even though the 49ers’ backups did so well against the Chargers in Week 2.

Our 49ers vs Raiders prediction is a close game, with the Raiders prevailing 20-17. Remember that you can follow us on our social media accounts to stay tuned for this NFL season.

The post San Francisco 49ers vs Las Vegas Raiders Prediction – Final Evaluation appeared first on PayPerHead®.

The Rams and Chargers meet this coming Thursday, August 27, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with us at PayPerHead.

Both teams will continue to rest most of their starters and evaluate the reserves.

This is their final preseason game and their last chance to finalize their roster. The Rams are looking well-balanced, but the Chargers still have work to do.

Los Angeles Rams Recent Updates: Beat by Champions

The Rams improved on their 2024 season (won the NFC West with a 10-7 record) by finishing 12-5 in 2025, but were bumped to second in the division below the Seahawks.

In the playoffs, they defeated the Carolina Panthers (NFC South champions) 34-31 in the Wild Card round. In the divisional round, they defeated the Chicago Bears (NFC North champions) 20-17 in overtime. They appeared in their third NFC Championship Game in eight seasons, facing their rivals, the NFC West champions, Seattle Seahawks. The Rams were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl LX champions, 31-27.

In the preseason, they are 2-0, having played well against the Kansas City Chiefs and then a 34-0 shutout against the New Orleans Saints. Their defense has not allowed a touchdown through two games.

Los Angeles Chargers Recent Updates: Can’t Pass Wild Card

The Chargers ended the 2025 season with an 11-6 record, matching their 2024 mark. Both years, they finished second in the AFC West and advanced to the playoffs as a wild card. In 2024, the Chiefs won the division; in 2025, the Broncos did. 

They faced the New England Patriots in the Wild Card round and lost 16-3. That’s the second consecutive loss in the wild-card round.

Preseason saw the Chargers win 27-7 at Houston, then lose 41-17 to San Francisco.

Rams vs Chargers History and Last Results

Despite being so closely located to each other, these teams have only met once every four years in their last six meetings, with their last meeting on New Year’s Day, 2023. Meaning they’ve only played against each other twice since the Chargers moved from San Diego. They will meet this regular season again.

Both teams have had at least one joint practice this preseason, but not with each other. There are no plans for a joint practice prior to the preseason game.

Rams vs Chargers Prediction: Why are Chargers Favorites?

The Rams’ defense has played well so far in the first two games, while the Chargers are struggling with some depth issues. Center Tyler Biadasz has a season-ending knee/ACL injury, so rookie Jake Slaughter will step in for him.

Rams head coach Sean McVay will have first-round rookie quarterback Ty Simpson in the game to evaluate for the backup spot behind Matthew Stafford (reigning MVP), who hasn’t played yet. Stetson Bennett is the current backup unless Simpson can convince the coach otherwise.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh will continue to evaluate backups like Trey Lance and undrafted rookie DJ Uiagalelei to see who will sit behind starting QB Justine Herbert.

The Chargers are the favorites for this game, but our Rams vs Chargers prediction is a win for the Rams as their defense continues to frustrate their opponents. The Rams will win by a fairly good spread, 20-12. Remember that you can follow us on our social media accounts to stay tuned to this NFL season.

The post Los Angeles Rams vs Los Angeles Chargers Prediction – Battle of LA appeared first on PayPerHead®.

San Francisco meets Los Angeles for their Week 2 preseason clash with us at PayPerHead.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed after Tuesday’s joint practice that Justin Herbert and the starters will play one series, then step off so backups such as Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei can compete for positions.

Most of the starters for the 49ers sat for Week 1, but a number of them will see some action in this game, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Brock Purdy has a good chance of playing.

San Francisco 49ers Recent Updates: Forget Week 1

In preseason Week 1, San Francisco lost 13-19 to the Tennessee Titans. Rookie WR De-Zhaun Stribling got to show off his skills with a game-high seven receptions and 63 receiving yards. Canadian QB Kurtis Rourke got extra time in Week 1, but suffered a rib injury. However, Tennessee scoring 19 points against the 49ers is a bit troubling.

Their 12-5 record last season only got them to third place in the NFC West, but it was good enough for a Wild Card position. They defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in their Wild Card matchup but were destroyed by the eventual Super Bowl champs, the Seahawks, 41-6, in the Divisional game.

San Francisco’s 2025 season was an impressive improvement from 2024 when they languished in 4th place with a 6-11 record. However, 2023 saw them with the same 12-5 record in first place. They’ve had four winning seasons in the last five years.

Los Angeles Chargers Recent Updates: Competing QBs

The Chargers clashed with the Texans in Week 1 of the preseason, beating them 27-7. Trey Lance was the backup quarterback getting most of the playing time, but DJ Uiagalelei has shown promise in the offseason and hopes to overtake Lance as the backup.

Los Angeles finished 2025 with an 11-6 record, earning them second place in the AFC West and a wild-card position in the playoffs. It was their second consecutive year with that record, earning second place and advancing to the wild-card stage. Unfortunately, it was also their second consecutive time getting knocked out in the wild-card stage. This time, they lost 16-3 to the New England Patriots.

herbo 🤝 ladd pic.twitter.com/avGN1o6Ibj

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 19, 2026

San Francisco vs Los Angeles History: Injuries at Practice

These teams don’t meet very often. Their most recent encounter was in November of 2022 when the 49ers won 22-16. Prior to that, it was four years earlier, in 2018, when the Chargers won 29-27. Prior to that, they were the San Diego Chargers.

During joint practice on Tuesday, QB Justin Herbert looked poised for a big season as he and his fellow Chargers shredded the 49ers. It wasn’t all glory, though, as center Tyler Biadasz suffered a knee injury.

49ers vs Chargers Prediction: Home Court Advantage

If Rourke is not able to play for the 49ers due to his injury, Mac Jones could step in for him. There’s a lot of depth in their receiving corps that could have a field day against the Chargers’ lack of cornerbacks. San Francisco’s RB Christian McCaffrey sat out the joint practice because of tightness. Shanahan insists he would have played if it were a regular game.

Expectations are for a close, defensive game, with the Chargers having the edge due to home advantage. Our 49ers vs Chargers prediction is a win for the Chargers, who will be confident after their joint practice. Final score: 22-17 for the Chargers.

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