As it will be for every AFC West matchup this season, the Rams have an edge with their defense.
As you likely know, coordinator Wade Phillips and cornerback Aqib Talib won Super Bowl 50 together with the Broncos, sharing the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Cornerback Marcus Peters and linebacker Ramik Wilson spent the last three years with the Chiefs, going against that same competition.
But this matchup in particular is where the familiarity runs deep. Phillips, for instance, was the Chargers' defensive coordinator when the club drafted quarterback Philip Rivers back in 2004.
"Well, first we had Eli Manning for a couple hours," Phillips recalled with a laugh this week. "Well, what stands out is our staff had the Senior Bowl that year because we had the worst record in football, so we coached the Senior Bowl. We had the No. 1 draft pick. Philip Rivers, we had him in the Senior Bowl. He played four years in college. He started four years, he played in four bowl games, he was an MVP in all four bowl games. Then, when he played in the Senior Bowl with us, he was the MVP of the Senior Bowl that year. So, we knew about him and he was the guy, obviously, we wanted.
"Philip, like I said, he's a winner," Phillips continued. "He has always been that way. He's just improved as he has gone along, improved with age."
Remarkably, Rivers has started 194 consecutive games since taking over as the Chargers' QB-1 in 2006. Phillips was still the defensive coordinator that year, as the Chargers went 14-2. Over the course of his career, Rivers has completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 51,028 yards with 348 touchdowns and 167 interceptions. He's made five playoff appearances, compelling a 4-5 record.
This year, Rivers has already thrown for 680 yards and six touchdowns in just two games.
According to Phillips, Rivers is so good because he understands the weak points in a defense. That's come with his extensive playing experience.
"You can't fool him. He's going to know what you're in," Phillips said. "That's where he excels over most quarterbacks and makes him an elite quarterback is when the ball is snapped, he may take some time and change some things and he'll change protections – all those things, like the great ones do. Any kind of blitz you run, he'll audible to the right protection – all those things."
All that being true, it doesn't mean the Rams can't have success against the seven-time Pro Bowler. Both Peters and Talib have picked off Rivers before — Talib once, and Peters four times. In fact, Peters had two interceptions the last time he faced the Chargers in 2017.
"Well, that's why we have Marcus — is because he's an elite player, too," Phillips said. "Any time you have a great player like that, they're going to make plays against anybody."
What's led to the success?
"I've been playing against Philip since I was a rookie, so I kind of know exactly how he's going to hit us where we not," Peters said.
Safety John Johnson said Talib and Peters have aided in the film study of the Chargers' offense leading up to Sunday.
"They see them twice a year, just like how we play Seattle or Arizona," Johnson said. "So it's a big help, a big jump — they know the receivers as well, not only the quarterback — so it's a big help."
Because of the nature of the Chargers' explosive offense, the Rams figure Rivers will take shots downfield more than the Rams' previous two opponents. That's part of what Talib and Peters like best about facing Rivers — that he will challenge you.
"He's a great competitor, future Hall of Famer," Talib said. "So I'm looking forward to playing against him. It's always fun playing against him."
Ahead of Saturday's preseason Week 2 matchup, take a look through photos of the Rams taking on the Chargers throughout the years.
The Rams' David (Deacon) Jones has little Mike Garrett in his grip and the ball is flying loose on an interrupted left-end sweep by the Chargers at Los Angeles, Sept. 4, 1971. Tackle Merlin Olsen backs up Jones at left. San Diego recovered the fumble and went on to win the exhibition, 20-14. (AP Photo/David F. Smith)
Los Angeles Rams tackle Jackie Slater (78) signals the touchdown made by teammate Jewerl Thomas at his feet in the first quarter agains the San Diego Chargers at Anaheim Stadium, Sept. 4, 1982. In the background, Chargers Donald Dykes (26) watches as Rams Mike Barber (89) also signals the touchdown. At bottom right is Rams Barry Redden. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback T.J. Rubley (12) drops back to pass against the San Diego Chargers during the preseason game in Anaheim, CA, Aug. 14, 1993. The Chargers defeated the Rams 23-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
San Diego Chargers linebacker Gary Plummer (50) is in the middle of a dogpile as a player dives over a group of defenders during an NFL preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams in Anaheim, CA, Aug. 14, 1993. The Chargers defeated the Rams 23-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
San Diego Chargers receiver Trevor Gaylor, left, breaks away from St. Louis Rams defender Jacoby Shepherd after catching a short pass on his way to a 29-yard gain to the Rams' 3-yard-line Saturday night, Aug. 25, 2001, in San Diego. The play set up the winning field goal in the Chargers 13-10 overtime victory. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
St. Louis Rams receiver Torry Holt, right, and San Diego Chargers' safety Rogers Beckett battle for the ball in the end zone in the first quarter Saturday, Aug. 25, 2001, in San Diego. The ball fell incomplete. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers' Drew Brees sets to pass under presure from St. Louis Rams' Leonard Little in the second quarter of a preseason game in St. Louis, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002. (AP Photo/Diane L. Wilson)
St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk leaves San Diego Chargers linebacker Bern Leber in his wake while gaining 11 yards on a swing pass in the first quarter of their preseason game Sunday, Aug. 21, 2005, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, left, throws past St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Jermelle Cudjo during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Rams wide receiver Danario Alexander (84) holds onto a pass to score a touchdown against San Diego Chargers cornerback Antoine Cason, left, during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, right, and San Diego Chargers defensive end Antwan Barnes share a laugh during a timeout in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, right, is sacked by St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Fred Robbins during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 in St. Louis. The Rams won 20-17. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson runs with the ball during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Rams, left, line up against the San Diego Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
The Los Angeles Rams line up against the Los Angeles Chargers during the Rams 6-13 loss to the Chargers in an NFL preseason game, Saturday, August 14, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
The Defense of the Los Angeles Rams make a tackle against the Los Angeles Chargers during the Rams 6-13 loss to the Chargers in an NFL preseason game, Saturday, August 14, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Tight end (87) Jacob Harris of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass out of bounds against the Los Angeles Chargers during the Rams 6-13 loss to the Chargers in an NFL preseason game, Saturday, August 14, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Wide Receiver (17) JJ Koski of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs against the Los Angeles Chargers during the Rams 6-13 loss to the Chargers in an NFL preseason game, Saturday, August 14, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers during Week 17 of the 2022 NFL regular season
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers during Week 17 of the 2022 NFL regular season
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers during Week 17 of the 2022 NFL regular season
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers during Week 17 of the 2022 NFL regular season
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL Preseason.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL Preseason.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL Preseason.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL Preseason.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL Preseason.
"I [expletive] love Philip Rivers, though," Peters said. "I love what he brings to the game, I love that he's a competitor — he loves to compete — and he's going to go out there and make you pull your best out because he's going to come at you. I love playing against him."
Peters knows that sometimes he can come off as if he's joking, especially since 20 percent of his league-leading 20 picks since 2015 have come at Rivers' expense. So he clarified that he definitely wasn't when answering a question about Rivers' penchant for trash talking on the field.
"I love what he does. I'm not trying to be sarcastic because of my play against him, that's just me saying that I love how he approaches the game and I love the competitor he is," Peters said. "Him talking mess is just a competitive part of the game."
We'll see if Peters and the Rams' defense get in the last word on Sunday.
