Los Angeles Rams versus Kansas City Chiefs: Matchups to watch revisited

In what was expected to be the best game of the NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams knocked off the Kansas City Chiefs to improve their record to 10-1.

The game obviously featured a ton of offense with both teams crossing the 50 point threshold, but lets not forget that the game contained three defensive touchdowns too.

Let’s revisit the matchups to watch:

WR Robert Woods vs CB Steven Nelson

Last week’s matchup to watch:

With WR Cooper Kupp out for the year, QB Jared Goff will need another weapon to step up as the third-down receiver and sure-handed chain mover. Luckily for the Rams, they have Woods who has performed as one of the best receivers in the league this year. This week, Woods will likely draw Nelson who is probably the Chiefs’ best cornerback. Woods is going to be a major factor in the offense if they can continue to stay ahead of the chains and manufacture scoring drives.

The Rams had a bevy of weapons (and specifically receivers) who did damage on Monday Night. Woods started the game out hot drawing three penalties on Chiefs cornerbacks and eventually scored the first touchdown on that drive. Woods registered four receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown in the game. Look for Woods to continue to do damage moving forward.

RG Austin Blythe vs DT Chris Jones

Last week’s matchup to watch:

Austin Blythe is one of the best guards in the league. Chris Jones is one of the best defensive lineman in the league. This will be a battle of two terrific players who are both likely to win and lose some reps. Jones currently has 20 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and a interception on the season. Blythe has been a rock in pass pro and a people-mover in the zone scheme the Rams deploy.

Jones was an animal on MNF. He registered six tackles, two sacks, three tackles-for-loss, and a pass deflection. Blythe wasn’t the only one who had to block Jones as he flipped to LG Rodger Saffold’s side too. This game featured a lot of talented defensive lineman, and Jones was one of them.

CB Marcus Peters vs WR Tyreek Hill

Last week’s matchup to watch:

Oh boy. The matchup between these two might be worth the price of admission on it’s own. Peters was obviously traded from the Chiefs to the Rams in the offseason and now he’s got his chance to prove Head Coach Andy Reid wrong. He’ll draw one of the leagues most dangerous weapons in Hill who is absolutely blazing fast. Hill has 891 receiving yards on the season coupled with nine touchdowns. Peters is going to have his hands absolutely full. Will he be up to the challenge? We’ll see.

The Rams actually elected to have CB Sam Shields cover Hill because of his speed. Even though they anticipated on that being the best case scenario, Hill abused the Rams defense to the tune of 10 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns. On the flip side, Peters actually had a really solid game as his only major blunder in coverage was a snap against TE Travis Kelce where he slipped. Peters also registered himself an interception.

DT Aaron Donald vs QB Patrick Mahomes

Last week’s matchup to watch:

Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense has yet to be stopped. I’m not sure anyone is even capable of doing so, but if the Rams’ defense is going to have a shot, it all starts with #99. Donald is playing possessed to the tune of a career high 12.5 sacks. Just like the Chiefs’ offense, Donald is simply unstoppable. He’s proven time and time again that no situation, no scheme, no player, and no man can stop him. If the defense is going to get off on third downs, Donald will need to have another tremendous performance.

Aaron Donald was once again a superhuman, though I’m sure you’re not surprised by that at all. Donald registered two sacks in the game and both turned out to be sack-fumbles. One of them was a scoop-and-score by OLB Samson Ebukam and the other a major field flipper and recovery by OLB John Franklin-Myers. Mahomes obviously had a fantastic day as he nearly had 500 passing yards and six touchdowns. His performance fell apart with five total turnovers.

SS John Johnson III vs TE Travis Kelce

Last week’s matchup to watch:

The Rams have entrusted JJ3 the responsibility of playing tight ends in man coverage all season and that likely wont change on Monday. Even though he’s covered some great TE’s, JJ3 will face a whole new animal against Kelce who is likely the leagues best tight end with Rob Gronkowski hurt. A route running extraordinaire with vice grips as hands, JJ3 will need to be physical and sudden to stick with the tight end that can turn a small gain into a big one quickly.

JJ3 didn’t actually get to draw Kelce in a ton of man-on-man coverage as the Rams delegated those duties to a mix of Marcus Peters, Marqui Christian, and Mark Barron/Cory Littleton. JJ3 was still very active with a major run stop near the goal line on 3rd down. He had 11 tackles in the game as well as a TFL. Kelce clearly had a productive day with 10 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown.

LT Andrew Whitworth vs OLB Dee Ford

Last week’s matchup to watch:

Ol’ reliable will draw himself a tough matchup this week with Dee Ford and his nine sacks in 11 weeks. Now, I fully expect Whitworth to have a field day protecting QB Jared Goff, he’s just that good. That’s not to say that Ford’s speed rush might not beat him once for a sack, but Big Whit will likely win many more reps than he losses.

Whitworth might have had his rustiest performance of the season last night. Off the top of my head I recall one sack allowed by Whit, but there may have been more. Not only that, but Whit had a bad false start penalty in the final drive for the Rams that could have ice’d the game. He wasn’t terrible, but you’re used to seeing a completely clean game from one of the league best left tackles.

The Rams now have an NFL-best record of 10-1 and head into their bye week. Good news come in the form of reinforcements as CB Aqib Talib is likely to return off injured reserve in the week 13 game versus the Detroit Lions.