The Los Angeles Rams (10-1) defeated the Kansas City Chiefs (9-2) at the LA Memorial Coliseum 54-51 in a game that was billed a preview for the Super Bowl. The two teams scored a total of 105 combined points, which set a record for highest-scoring game in Monday Night Football history.
The NFL originally scheduled this game for Mexico City. When the field was deemed not safe to play by NFL officials last Tuesday, the league relocated the Monday Night Football game to Los Angeles. The Rams were slated to be the home team in Mexico and had originally sacrificed a home game for the international game. The NFL default to Los Angeles upon cancelling the game in Mexico City.
Shootout for the Ages
This match up, between two 9-1 teams, featured two of the best scoring offenses in the NFL, both averaging 33 points each. The total hovered around 64 points. That number seemed excessive by industry standards, but it way off. If the game lived up to the hype, then the two teams would score at least 70 points, similar to the Rams/Saints game two weeks ago.
The teams scored 14 touchdowns in this game. In comparison, the Buffalo Bills scored 13 touchdowns all season.
With 105 combined points, the triple-digit figure set a record for most points scored on Monday Night Football. The 105 total ended up the third highest total for an NFL game. In 1996, the Washington Redskins beat the NY Giants 72-41 in the league’s highest scoring game.
“Four quarters of craziness,” summed up Rams QB Jared Goff.
With 51 points, the Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to score 50 or more points and lose the game.
“It was a whirlwind,” said Rams head coach Sean McVay. “I feel like I might need a couple beverages to relax tonight. But it was great. This is what you love so much about the game.”
Busting Vegas
The bookies opened this game with the Rams as a 3-point favorite. The total open at 62 and the public quickly jumped on the over. The number and volume of over wagers increased steadily through the week. The total settled at 64 before kickoff, which marked the highest total for a NFL game and the highest total in over three decades.
In 2000, bookies assigned a total of 62 points to a game between the high-octane St. Louis Rams and the San Francisco Niners.
The total of 64 for the Chiefs/Rams was not even close. The two teams combined for 46 points at halftime. With more than 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the over officially hit.
Michael Grodsky from William Hill told ESPN that their 108 sportsbooks in Nevada experienced a “healthy seven-figure loss” in a heavily-wagered game that saw 69 percent of total bettors betting the over.
Two weekends ago, Las Vegas sportsbooks took a pounding after bettors crushed them during a chalk-heavy slate of NFL games in Week 9. Several big favorites won and key games saw the total hit the over, such as the 70-point Rams/Saints game in New Orleans.
Goff vs. Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes put of a dazzling show for the high-flying Chiefs. The second-year QB and MVP candidate threw six touchdowns and a career-high 478 yards. However, Mahomes contributed five turnovers on three interceptions and two fumbles.
Tyreek Hill showed everyone why he’s called the “Cheetah” with 215 passing yards and two touchdowns.
The BEST plays from @PatrickMahomes5' 478-yard, SIX touchdown outing. #KCvsLAR #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/R895fzOJJq
— NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2018
Jared Goff who had the last laugh. The Rams QB tossed four TDs of his own and rushed for another touchdown. Overall, Goff finished with 413 passing yards. Goff also threw the game-winning touchdown to TE Gerald Everett.
“It seemed like whoever had the ball at the end was going to win the game,” Goff said in a post-game press conference. “There was times where we felt like we were going to put the knife in and finish them, and there were times where it was the other way around, where we had to claw back into it.”
ARE YOU SERIOUS?!@lightningstrk12 for the 40-yard TD! #LARams lead 54-51. ?
?: #KCvsLAR on ESPN pic.twitter.com/ghIlGjdRKF
— NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2018
Game Wreckers: Samson and Donald
Marcus Peters, former member of the Chiefs, sealed the win for the Rams with a clutch interception on the Chiefs final drive.
Lineman Aaron Donald caused problems all night for the Chief’s O-line. Donald sacked Mahomes twice and forced fumbles. One of them was picked up by Samson Ebukam and ran in for a score.
.@AaronDonald97's performance in two words?
Game. Wrecker.
Watch these highlights and see why. #KCvsLAR #LARams pic.twitter.com/48ZOMZS9Z2— NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2018
While Donald gets all the attention, Samson Ebukam had a monster game. The linebacker made a name for himself on a national stage. Ebukham is responsible for two defensive touchdowns, one on an interception and the other from a fumble recovery.
? #LARAMS PICK-6! ?@samysosa_3 is having himself a GAME. ?
?: #KCvsLAR on ESPN pic.twitter.com/v7mS8LFlAM
— NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2018
Glimpse of the Future
The Chiefs and Rams game might go down as a major turning point in NFL history. The NFL altered many of its defensive rules to facilitate higher scoring and a more fluid passing game. As a result, scoring is at an all-time high in the NFL.
Purists and defensive-loving luddites have a legitimate gripe that the NFL is turning into a pass-happy college football conference like the Big 12. Old school smashmouth football with a heavy emphasis on a running attack might be a thing of the past. New coaches and coordinator are implementing college schemes into their playbooks more and more these days. The franchises that fail to adapt are being left behind in dramatic fashion.
The escalation in scoring has made for exciting television. With ratings in decline, the uptick in scoring has made games more competitive and more fun to watch. From a fantasy football standpoint, the increase in scoring has made FFL games exponentially more fun. From a bettors’ standpoint, the tonal shift in the league presents many opportunities to exploit soft numbers, like the total in the Monday Night shootout.
This MNF match up was billed as a preview for Super Bowl LIII. The thriller lived up to the hype and then some. Could there be a rematch in Atlanta? These are the two best teams from their conferences, but a handful of other teams will be making a run.
The New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and LA Chargers have gelled into tough-to-beat teams in the AFC. Meanwhile in the NFC, the Chicago Bears are heating up at the right time, but the New Orleans Saints appear to be on a collision course with the LA Rams in the NFC Championship.
