Will Chiefs-Rams be a Super Bowl preview? Details about the game, plus a prediction
The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams were headed to Mexico City to play this Monday night game but were rerouted to LA earlier this week when the playing surface at Azteca Stadium was deemed unplayable. The showcase game features the teams with the NFL’s best records at 9-1 and they’re on the short list of favorites to reach the Super Bowl.
Kickoff: 7:20 p.m. at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
TV/Radio: ESPN, KMBC (Ch. 9), KCFX (101.1 FM)
Line: Rams by 3 1/2
Blair Kerkhoff’s prediction: Rams 36-33
This first NFL matchup this late in the season to pit teams that average at least 33 points. But the star power is on both sides of the ball. The Rams’ Todd Gurley is the NFL’s top rusher, the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes leads the league in yards and touchdowns. Defensively, the pressure comes from different spots. Chiefs outside linebacker Dee Ford and Justin Houston look to pressure Jared Goff from the edge. Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh give the Rams strength of the middle. This seems like a game in which the last team with the ball wins. The Chiefs’ lone loss, at New England, finished that way. The move from neutral to home field provides a slight nod to the Rams.
Blair Kerkhoff
Blair Kerkhoff covers the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals and college sports for The Star.
This story was originally published November 19, 2018 at 5:30 AM.