1) There are about 11 different ways to reinforce tonight as one of the most anticipated regular season games in NFL history. Here are a select few:
- Second time in NFL history that two 9-1 teams collide (1977 – Broncos at Colts)
- First time one-loss teams from different conferences meet in Week 11 or later.
- Latest into a season that two teams averaging at least 33 points per game square off.
- First – and it will go down in history as the only – regular season meeting between the Chiefs and the Rams at the Coliseum. Thank you, Shakira.
2) Perhaps you're familiar with the Spider-Man pointing at Spider-Man meme? That's Chiefs versus Rams. Surely these coaches must have felt as if they were looking in the mirror when formulating their strategies. ESPN Stats & Info offered one example: No other team uses play actions and screens more than the Rams and Chiefs. Therefore, success executing and defending against those designs figures to be paramount tonight. Kansas City has been one of the best defending those plays this season; unfortunately, Los Angeles has been among the worst.
3) Sticking with defense, neither has done well enough against the run to warrant a Super Bowl billing. The Rams have allowed 5.2 yards per rush this season, worst in the NFL, and the Chiefs have allowed 5.1 yards per carry, third-worst. Both teams are allowing over three yards BEFORE first contact, according to ESPN Stats & Info, which is abysmal. Week 11 may come down to which defense can fit the run and tackle best.
4) Perhaps you've noticed: The Rams have developed a nasty habit of falling behind early. The last three weeks, Seattle, New Orleans, and Green Bay have all scored touchdowns to open the game. And all three opponents held touchdown leads over the Rams after the first quarter. There may be more trouble ahead, as Kansas City holds a +56 first quarter differential this season (while Los Angeles sits in a -7 deficit in the opening quarter). The Chiefs have also scored 55 points on opening drives, far and away the most in football in 2018.
5) How about more encouraging trends? The Rams are 3-0 in prime time under Sean McVay (averaging 37.3 points in those nationally televised games). And the second-year head coach is 7-0 against the AFC.
6) No question, Pat Mahomes is an MVP front-runner. But how will he operate with Aaron Donald rampaging through his office? The 23-year-old Chiefs quarterback has the best passer rating in the NFL from a clean pocket (140.5). However, according to PFF, it dips to a mediocre 64.6 when he's under duress. Good thing for the Rams, Donald leads all defenders in QB pressures.
7) With Travis Kelce in town, this nugget from ESPN Stats & Info caught me off-guard: The Rams have allowed opponents to complete just 59% of attempts to tight ends, the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL. My memory must be skewed by seeing Jared Cook and George Kittle (among others) up close this season. As it turns out, the Rams are defending tight ends quite well, which is encouraging as they play host to one of the game's best.
8) How much will Jared Goff miss Cooper Kupp? The second-year receiver was the Rams favorite red zone target, a trusted third down option, and part of the most prolific receiving trio in 2018. Goff's season-lows in almost every metric have one thing in common: the absence of Kupp in that game. Another Ram who could suffer? Brandin Cooks. The four games that Kupp has missed all-or-part of in 2018 just happen to be the four least productive games of Cooks' tenure in Los Angeles. (Note: Cooks was knocked out of Week 5 in Seattle, along with Kupp.)
Ahead of Sunday's Los Angeles Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs Week 12 matchup, take a look back at photos of historical matchups between the two teams.
FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2016 file photo, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley, right, runs the ball while under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, left, during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against in Los Angeles. With Case Keenum and Blaine Gabbert set as starting quarterbacks, Colin Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the anthem getting more public acceptance and the Rams mostly settled into their new home, much of the focus when the teams open the season on Monday night will be on the running backs.(AP Photo/Ryan Kang, File)
Kansas City Chiefs' Jonathan Quinn sets to pass as he is pressured by St. Louis Rams' Chris Claiborne during the first quarter of a preseason game Friday, Sept. 2, 2005, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
St. Louis Rams Orlando Pace sees his first action as he blocks Kansas City Chiefs' defensive end Pellom McDaniels in the third quarter Friday, Aug. 22, 1997 at the TWA Dome in St. Louis. Pace signed only last Friday after missing all of training camp. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
"ST. LOUIS, MO - AUGUST 30: Quinton Culberson #53 of the St. Louis Rams makes a tackle during a preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on August 30, 2007 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 28: Lance Ball #44 of the St. Louis Rams runs for yardage during a preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on August 28, 2008 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
St. Louis tight end Ernie Conwell, center, gets wrapped up by Kansas City's Eric Warfield, left, and Lew Bush, right, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, during the second half of Kansas City's 49-10 victory at Arrowhead, Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Dick Whipple).
"KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 26: Tony Fisher #30 fights off tacklers during preseason action between the St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on August 26, 2006. The Chiefs won 16-12. (Photo By G. Newman Lowrance/WireImage)"
"ST. LOUIS - SEPTEMBER 3: Daniel Fells #46 of the St. Louis Rams celebrates after scoring a touchdown during a preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs game on September 3, 2009 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams won 17-9. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"ST. LOUIS - SEPTEMBER 3: Quincy Butler #36 of the St. Louis Rams runs with a 28-yard interception for a touchdown during a preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 3, 2009 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams won 17-9. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
Running back Curt Warner (c) from the L.A. Rams tries to break through defense of the Kansas City Chiefs during the American Football Game L.A. Rams Vs Kansas City Chiefs in West Berlin?s Olympic Stadium on Saturday, August 11, 1990. (AP Photo/Peter Anfrews)
"ST. LOUIS - SEPTEMBER 3: Derek Stanley #19 of the St. Louis Rams looks back for the ball during a preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 3, 2009 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams won 17-9. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams runs for yardage during a NFL preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on August 26, 2011 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Rams defeated the Chiefs 14-10. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"Josh Hull of the St. Louis Rams makes a tackle on Jackie Battle of the Kansas City Chiefs on August 26, 2011 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Rams defeated the Chiefs 14-10. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"Eugene Sims of the St. Louis Rams gets set for a play during a NFL preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on August 26, 2011 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Rams defeated the Chiefs 14-10. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"ST. LOUIS - SEPTEMBER 3: K.C. Asiodu #56, Quincy Butler #36 and defensive players of the St. Louis Rams combine to make a tackle during a preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 3, 2009 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams won 17-9. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 19: Steven Jackson #39 of the St. Louis Rams runs for yardage against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Edward Jones Dome on December 19, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Chiefs defeated the Rams 27-13. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald during a NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 in Kansas City. The Chiefs won the game, 34-7. (Photo by Jeff Curry/St. Louis Rams)"
"St. Louis Rams Daryl Richardson runs for yardage against the Kansas City Chiefs during the NFL preseason week 2 football game on Saturday, August 18, 2012 in St. Louis. The Rams won the game 31-17. (G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald during a NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 in Kansas City. The Chiefs won the game, 34-7. (Photo by Jeff Curry/St. Louis Rams)"
"St. Louis Rams tackle Jake Long during a NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 in Kansas City. The Chiefs won the game, 34-7. (Photo by Scott Rovak/St. Louis Rams)"
"St. Louis Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner during a NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 in Kansas City. The Chiefs won the game, 34-7. (Photo by Scott Rovak/St. Louis Rams)"
"The St. Louis Rams defense gets set at the line of scrimmage against the Kansas City Chiefs during the NFL preseason week 2 football game on Saturday, August 18, 2012 in St. Louis. The Rams won the game 31-17. (G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"St. Louis Rams center Tim Barnes during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by Scott Rovak/St. Louis Rams)"
"St. Louis Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines during a NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 in Kansas City. The Chiefs won the game, 34-7. (Photo by Scott Rovak/St. Louis Rams)"
"St. Louis Rams during a NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 in Kansas City. The Chiefs won the game, 34-7. (Photo by Scott Rovak/St. Louis Rams)"
Center (61) Tim Barnes of the Los Angeles Rams against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the Rams 21-20 victory over the Chiefs in an NFL preseason game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Saturday, August 20, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Wide receiver (10) Pharoh Cooper of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and scores a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the Rams 21-20 victory over the Chiefs in an NFL preseason game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Saturday, August 20, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Matt Longacre #96 during the NFL preseason week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, August 20, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Ric Tapia/Rams)
"St. Louis Rams running back Isaiah Pead during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by Scott Rovak/St. Louis Rams)"
Cornerback (32) Troy Hill of the Los Angeles Rams against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the Rams 21-20 victory over the Chiefs in an NFL preseason game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Saturday, August 20, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams running back Malcolm Brown #39 during the NFL preseason week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, August 20, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Ric Tapia/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bryce Hager #54 during the NFL preseason week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, August 20, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Ric Tapia/Rams)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of the Rams 21-20 victory over the Chiefs in an NFL preseason game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Saturday, August 20, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of the Rams 21-20 victory over the Chiefs in an NFL preseason game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Saturday, August 20, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
9) Speaking of receivers, ESPN Stats & Info tells us that Goff has completed 71% of his attempts to his wide receivers this season, top three in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Kansas City secondary has allowed the lowest completion percentage to wide receivers in the NFL (57%). Perhaps tight ends Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett will continue to emerge in LA's passing attack.
10) The Chiefs present arguably the most potent edge rush in the league with Justin Houston and Dee Ford at outside linebacker. Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein bracket the Rams offensive line, each with Top 10 PFF grades this season, due in large part to their ability to erase pass rush. It will be strength against strength tonight.
11) After their most penalty-plagued contest of the season, at home against Seattle in Week 10, much of the conversation around the Rams this week has centered around eliminating the self-inflicted mistakes. Even after having 10 flags accepted against them for 102 yards against the Seahawks, the Rams are still among the least-penalized teams in the NFL (4th at 5.5 per game). The Chiefs are the most penalized. On what figures to be an intense and emotional night at the Coliseum, could discipline prevail?
