Keys to the game: Balance, attention to detail will be crucial for Chiefs vs. Rams

The Chiefs will play their second Monday Night Football game of the season, this one a potential Super Bowl preview against the Los Angeles Rams (9-1) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Chiefs (9-1) will try to extend their win streak to five games and improve to 3-1 in prime time games this season.

Here are the keys to victory for the Chiefs as well as the quick scouting report on the top strategists on the Los Angeles coaching staff.

Keys to victory

1. Keep Rams’ defense off-balance.

The Rams’ defense has given up large chunks of yards on the ground in recent weeks, including 273 rushing yards to Seattle last week. Mixing in the running game will not only take advantage of a Rams weakness, but also counteract a Rams strength. Arizona sacked Patrick Mahomes five times last week, and hit him seven times. The Rams feature the league’s leader in sacks on their defensive line in defensive tackle Aaron Donald (12 1/2 sacks). They also added Dante Fowler Jr., who had eight sacks last season for the Jaguars, in a mid-season trade.

2. Limit Rams’ big plays.

Even with wide receiver Cooper Kupp out because of a knee injury, the Rams offense has a wealth of weapons who can beat defenses for big gains. They’ve recorded the most pass plays of 20 yards or more in the NFL this season (50), and broke off eight running plays of at least 20 yards. Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks each have touchdown receptions of more than 50 yards this season, while Robert Woods and Tyler Higbee each have scores from more than 30 yards out.

3. Win the turnover battle.

The game shapes up as a battle of two explosive offensive teams, which means giveaways and takeaways could be crucial because they translate into empty possessions for one side and extra possessions for another. The Rams’ seven giveaways are tied for the fewest in the NFL this season. They’ve lost just one fumble in 10 games. The Chiefs have committed just eight turnovers with one fumble.

4. Pay attention to detail in kicking game.

While the Rams’ offense garners much of the attention, the special-teams unit was among the better ones in the NFL last season under John Fassel. Of the 11 punts blocked in the league last season, the Rams blocked three and linebacker Cory Littleton was the only player in the league with two blocked punts. The Rams blocked five kicks of any type in 2017.

Scheme

Head coach

Second-year head coach Sean McVay became the youngest head coach in modern NFL history when he took over in January 2017. He’d spent the previous seven seasons as an assistant with the Washington Redskins as an offensive assistant, tight ends coach and then offensive coordinator. In his first season with the Rams, he turned around an offense that had ranked last in scoring in 2016 and made it the top-scoring offense in the 2017. His grandfather, John, worked for the San Francisco 49ers in various roles from 1979 through 1995.

Offense

While the the Rams have separate coordinators for the run game and pass game, McVay handles play-calling duties. The Rams operate predominantly out of one personnel group -- “11” personnel -- with three wide receivers, one tight end and one running back. Last season, they used that grouping more than any other in the NFL (81.4 percent). The Rams use a lot of tight wide receiver splits and the most bunch formations of any team in the league which puts pressure on defenses to communicate on routes designed to pick off defenders.

Defense

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is in his second season with the Rams, his 41st in the NFL as an assistant or head coach following six seasons coaching at the high school and college ranks -- including a season as an assistant at Kansas (1975). His defense works out of a base 3-4 with aggressive man-to-man coverage. He’ll play a lot with one deep safety and the other closer to the line of scrimmage if not in the tackle box. His cornerbacks will “travel” or match-up with a specific receiver all over the field as opposed to playing exclusively on one side of the field.

Lynn Worthy

Lynn Worthy covers the Kansas City Chiefs and NFL for The Star.