LOS ANGELES _ Jared Goff, the young upstart, won a duel with Philip Rivers in the first game of the so-called Fight for L.A.
Goff passed for 354 yards and three touchdowns as the Rams defeated the Chargers, 35-23, before an estimated crowd of 68,000 on Sunday at the Coliseum.
Goff, a third-year pro, completed 29 of 36 passes, with one interception, as the Rams improved to 3-0. Robert Woods caught 10 passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Cooper Kupp also caught a touchdown pass for the Rams.
It wasn't all good news for the Rams.
Cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib both left the game because of injuries. The Rams play the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at the Coliseum.
Rivers, a 15th-year pro, completed 18 of 30 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns, but the Chargers fell to 1-2.
Mike Williams caught four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
The Rams clinched the victory when they recovered a fumble by Chargers running back Austin Ekeler at the 12-yard line with less than five minutes left. They ran out the clock
The Rams extended a 21-13 halftime lead on Goff's 53-yard touchdown pass to Kupp early in the third quarter. Talib had set up the touchdown by stripping receiver Keenan Allen for a fumble.
Rivers brought the Chargers right back, drilling a fourth-and-two pass from the 20-yard line to Williams to pull the Chargers to within 28-20.
But Goff coolly directed the Rams down the field and extended the lead with a short touchdown pass to Woods. Rivers had the Chargers threatening at the 10-yard line, but the Rams forced two incomplete passes and the Chargers had to settle for a field goal.
The Rams lost a fumble, had a pass intercepted in the end zone, gave the Chargers good field position with a botched kickoff, and missed a field-goal attempt _ and they still led, 21-13, at halftime.
The Rams moved downfield on the first possession of the game, but Todd Gurley II lost a fumble after catching a screen pass, and Desmond King recovered the ball for the Chargers.
The Chargers, however, went three and out, setting up the Rams' first scoring drive.
Goff led an 80-yard, 11-play march that included passes to Gurley, Woods and tight end Tyler Higbee, and culminated with Gurley's short touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
Rivers brought the Chargers to within a point with a spectacular 42-yard touchdown pass to receiver Williams.
Goff remained efficient on the Rams next drive, connecting with Wood and Brandin Cooks before finding Woods again for a short touchdown and a 14-6 lead.
The Rams threatened again in the second quarter, but on a third-and-five play from the 10-yard line, Chargers safety Derwin James stepped in front of tight end Gerald Everett and intercepted Goff's pass in the end zone.
James, however, brought the ball out and stepped out of bounds at the one-yard line. The Rams defense stuffed Melvin Gordon twice before Rivers completed a short pass. But on fourth down, Cory Littleton burst through the middle and blocked Drew Kaser's punt. Safety Blake Countess fell on the ball for a touchdown and a 21-6 lead.
The Chargers pulled to within 21-13 late in the first half with a 75-yard drive. Peters was injured during the drive that included Rivers' passes of 28 yards to tight end Antonio Gates and 19 yards to Allen.
Gordon finished the drive with an 11-yard run around left end.
The Rams had a chance to increase the lead, but Sam Ficken missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt as time expired at the end of the second quarter.
