SAN DIEGO -- Similar to their close win over the Oakland Raiders last week, Sunday’s matchup between the San Diego Chargers and the St. Louis Rams should be a low-scoring game dominated by both teams' defenses. With the Chargers playing better defensively against a St. Louis offense that is not very explosive, the Rams will have trouble scoring on the road.

San Diego also could struggle moving the football facing an attacking St. Louis defense that’s pretty good at stopping the run.

However, I’m going with the better quarterback in Philip Rivers at home. The Chargers have won seven of their last eight home games. In those eight games, Rivers has completed 69 percent of his passes for 2,026 yards, with 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions for a 110.0 passer rating. San Diego is 9-4 at Qualcomm Stadium since 2013.

Also working in San Diego’s favor is the fact that teams directed by Rams head coach Jeff Fisher are 0-7 against the Chargers in his head coaching career. Although they have only played in San Diego four times, the Rams have not won here since 1975. St. Louis also has lost six of its last eight road games against AFC West foes.

The Rams are the start of a tough stretch of games the Chargers face to finish out the season.

“It’s a playoff mindset from here on out,” Rivers said. “Not that it hasn’t been (in the past), but it’s natural as you get to this point of the season. You can’t be blind and not realize that’s what we have ahead of us.”

My prediction: Chargers 17, Rams 14