The defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams head to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday to face one of the frontrunners to take their title in 2022, the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Rams season is on the bubble, losing four in a row, while the Chiefs put some distance between themselves and their AFC West challengers, moving three games ahead of their competitors in first place thanks to a 30-27 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Match preview
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At the moment, the Chiefs look virtually unstoppable offensively as they threw for over 300 yards in a contest for a fifth straight time last Sunday.
So far in 2022, KC have 429.3 yards per game offensively and 314 yards passing, the most in the NFL in both categories.
We knew this would be a team to fear, but the 2022 edition of the Chiefs may be the most versatile that we have ever seen since Andy Reid became the head coach.
Seven players caught at least one pass in their victory against the Chargers, while they converted half of their first downs (5/10), which in this league is usually enough to earn a win.
Their running game, which started the season slowly, has picked up steam with over 150 yards rushing in back-to-back contests, moving them up to 20th in the NFL.
Not only are they moving the ball incredibly well, but no one finishes drives as impressively as the Chiefs, who lead the league in points scored, becoming the first club this season to reach 300.
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A Super Bowl repeat for the Rams looks less likely as each week passes, as Los Angeles were second-best once again last Sunday.
Sean McVay's team have plummeted to the bottom of the NFC West with a 3-7 record, making the playoffs seem like a mountainous task at this stage, as they trail the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers by three games.
LA had another forgettable performance regarding pass coverage last weekend against the Saints, allowing Andy Dalton to throw three touchdown passes for a 149.6 rating, while on the season, they have allowed nearly 70% of the passes thrown against them to be completed.
They are not that much better at defending tight ends than they are at containing receivers, with a rating of 108.4 in 2022, which has to be concerning for McVay, seeing as they are facing one of the best tight ends in the NFL on Sunday.
If there is one thing the Rams have done well on the defensive side this year, it would be stopping opposing running backs, tied for third in the NFL, with just 3.9 yards per carry allowed and only six rushing touchdowns, which is the seventh-fewest in the league.
It took 30 carries and six different ball carriers, but the Rams running attack looked respectable last week for perhaps the first time all season, rushing for a total of 148 yards.
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Team News
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We are running out of accolades for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who leads the league in passing yards per game (326.5) and touchdown throws (28), tossing three to all-star tight end Travis Kelce on Sunday night, while Isiah Pacheco had 15 carries for 107 yards.
Nick Bolton made 10 tackles and intercepted Justin Herbert once, Willie Gay had seven tackles and a sack, while L'Jarius Sneed and Chris Jones each had five tackles.
JuJu Smith-Schuster missed their game on Sunday due to concussion protocol, Lucas Niang took part in their full practice on Wednesday despite previously sustaining a knee injury.
Juan Thornhill has a calf strain, and Joe Thuney did not practice this week as he continues to deal with an ankle sprain.
Before being taken out for concussion protocol, Ram's pivot Matthew Stafford looked pretty good against the Saints, going 11/18 for 159 yards, throwing touchdown passes to Allen Robinson and Tutu Atwell, while Cam Akers had a respectable 4.4-yard rushing average.
Jalen Ramsey led them with five tackles, Aaron Donald had two, while Greg Gaines and Leonard Floyd each produced a pair of sacks on New Orleans quarterback Andy Dalton.
Cooper Kupp remains out with a high ankle sprain, Matt Skura saw limited practice time because of a sore knee, Travin Howard has an issue with his hip and Tyler Higbee has a knee injury.
Head To Head
It has been over four years since these two teams have squared off as the Chiefs hold a narrow lead in the overall series, 7-5.
LA won the last outing in 2018 when Jared Goff threw five TD passes, including the game-winner to Gerald Everett late in the fourth quarter for an entertaining 54-51 triumph.
Before that outing the previous game between these two went Kansas City's way as Jamaal Charles ran for a pair of scores in a comfortable 34-7 victory.
LA last won at Arrowhead in 1994 when Chris Chandler threw a TD pass to Willie Anderson, while Tony Zendejas kicked three field goals, helping them shutout the Chiefs 16-0.
We say: Kansas City Chiefs 30-13 Los Angeles Rams
There are too many mismatches for the Rams to contend with in this one, and we have to believe Mahomes will recognize them when they come and take full advantage.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
