The Chargers fall to 0-7 against a Rams team that opened with five drives and no first down

For most of the first half Sunday, the Los Angeles Chargers were beating a Rams offense that could not pick up a first down. They still lost 24-9, and they are now 0-7 for the first time since 2000.

The Rams gained 24 yards on their first 15 plays and went without a first down on five straight drives to open the game, something that had never happened under Sean McVay, according to the AP recap on ESPN. The Chargers got three Cameron Dicker field goals out of that stretch and led 9-3. That was the whole day for them.

Matthew Stafford hit Tutu Atwell for 40 yards with under two minutes left in the half, and Kyren Williams walked in from the 1 with 19 seconds to go. The Rams scored touchdowns on their next two drives as well, a 23-yard Blake Corum run and an 18-yard Puka Nacua catch two plays after Trent McDuffie intercepted Justin Herbert.

Herbert finished 24 of 32 for 257 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He has thrown a pick in every game this season. His first one Sunday, a short throw Quentin Lake returned 45 yards, set up the Rams' first field goal. The run game gave him nothing: 64 yards on 22 carries, with Omarion Hampton at 20 yards on nine tries.

Mike McDaniel kept play-calling duties through the winless start, and he had to dig deep for points. The Chargers ran back-to-back flea-flickers to get into range for their second field goal. They finished with 295 yards and zero touchdowns, coming out of a bye week.

The defense did not hold up either. Without Derwin James, who went on injured reserve Saturday, the Chargers gave up 21 straight points to an offense missing Davante Adams and finished the game with Stafford at 157 passing yards. That was enough.

The Chargers are the only winless team left in the NFL. They host Houston next Sunday.