These five stats show why Monday’s Chiefs-Rams game could be a barn burner

Can this game possibly live up to the hype?

We’ll find out Monday night, but the Chiefs-Rams game in Los Angeles has been one of the most highly anticipated contests in recent memory.

That’s because both teams are 9-1, have stars at numerous offensive positions and have compiled some amazing statistics as they prepare to meet on “Monday Night Football.”

Fans are expecting a high-scoring game (ditto for the national pundits). These five stats show why there could be a lot of points scored Monday night at the LA Coliseum:

1. According to NFL Research, the game will have the two highest-rated passers in prime time since 2000 (minimum three starts): the Rams’ Jared Goff (139.9) and Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes (106.7).

In Goff’s last prime time game, he had 465 passing yards, five touchdowns and a 158.3 passer rating. In Mahomes’ last prime time game, he had 358 passing yards, four touchdowns and a 123.7 passer rating.

2. Nick Shook of NFL.com noted that this game is tied for the fifth-highest combined win percentage between teams in any NFL game played in Week 10 or later since 1970. In this century, only two games have had a game that featured teams with a better combined win percentage: Broncos at Chiefs in 2013, and Cowboys at Packers in 2007.

3. The NFL said this game will be the first time since the 1970 merger that the NFL’s leader in pass yards and pass touchdowns (Mahomes) faces the leader in scrimmage yards and touchdowns (Todd Gurley).

4. According to ESPN, the Chiefs and Rams are on pace to be two of the three best offenses in terms of yards per play since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.

5. NFL Research also noted that just eight players in NFL history have thrown for 3,000 or more yards and has a 110.0 or better passer rating in the first 10 games of a season. The first six won the NFL MVP award. The other two are Mahomes and Goff.