It wasn’t a bad weekend for Los Angeles sports fans. Of course, it could have been better as the Sparks lost to the Mystics and Angel City FC had to settle for another draw. However, LA natives were treated to a major battle between both of their football teams warming up for the season opener. And it was a big weekend for the Dodgers. Let’s briefly recap both events.
- RAMS AND CHARGERS PUT ON A SHOW
It may not quite be time for football, but HOLY MOLE HOLES! The Chargers and Rams both played like they had something to prove. Chargers fans got their first look at star Justin Herbert, although briefly, who threw two completed passes for 46 yards. Trey Lance sure did make a great case to be Herbert’s backup. Lance passed for 121 yards and rushed himself for 25 yards.
The victory though went to the Rams. Stetson Bennett, who was the only quarterback to play for the Rams on Saturday, bounced back from a critical interception in the fourth quarter. Of course, we still didn’t see quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is still making his way back from back soreness. While concerning, the Rams don’t believe he’ll miss the start of the season.
The game showed that the Chargers playmaking calls could use a little work in critical situations. Meanwhile, the Rams proved they were scrappy and were never going down in a game without a fight. Important lessons were learned for both teams as they continue their warmup before Week 1 of the regular season. The Rams are looking to advance a little more into the playoffs this year while holding off the rest of the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Chargers take aim at the vulnerable Kansas City Chiefs and their monopoly over the AFC West Division.
- DODGERS SWEEP PADRES TO RECLAIM NL WEST LEAD
The Dodgers were washed up, down on their luck, and in a rut. The “experts” were already predicting doom and replacing them with other teams as the “team to beat.” They also said the San Diego Padres were finally going to win the division and prove the hype about them was valid. Where have we heard all this before? LITERALLY LAST YEAR!
Just like in last year’s NLDS in 2024, the Padres went into LA thinking they were going to down the Dodgers. What happened instead…was yet another drumming by the reigning champions. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman’s bats roared to life again during the series, with both men having a home run on Sunday’s finale. The Dodgers reclaimed the lead in the NL West going into a four-game series with the lowly Colorado Rockies. Also, something people haven’t talked about as much, Clayton Kershaw continued to have one of the best seasons he’s had in a while. Kershaw threw for 6 innings on Friday allowing one run on two hits while striking out three.
What the “experts” don’t seem to get is that EVERY baseball team is going to go through a slump. Yes, the Dodgers have to actually keep playing like this to alleviate some worries among the fanbase. However, this weekend proved the “experts” keep making the same mistake over and over again: never underestimate the Los Angeles Dodgers. So, in the words of the retiring Lee Corso, I say this to the so-called “experts” that wrote off the Dodgers’ chances prematurely: NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND!
