How did we get here? Game 11: LA Rams. They don’t want to bother with this game, either

Because I am just a drag on society (retired. Mostly, anyway) and have some time on my hands, I am going to try to re-watch the season. Yes, even the ones we lost. So take a trip back with me, and let’s remind ourselves of how we got to the SB in a “retooling” year.

These aren’t meant to be in-depth or a play by play, position breakdown. Just a quick reminder of the games past. Don’t come at me if I can’t get to all of them.

Game 11: LA Rams @ KC

We again play LA, two weeks in a row. This time, it’s the World Champion Rams, a shell of their former selves and glory. 

Just like last week, we lose the toss and take the ball. Nobody seems overly interested in this game, and the Chiefs go 3 and out quickly.

Stafford is out for the Rams, and Perkins (not Marlin. Extra credit if you get that) is at QB in his first start. QBs getting their first start at Arrowhead have a long history of not winning. Will he continue the tradition? It sure looks like it, as the Rams go 3 and out, themselves.

On the punt, Toub puts Moore, who looked so good in LA last week, back on punts again. He reverts to Indy form, and the punt drops right through his arms. You hoped he didn’t actually touch it, but he did. Rams ball at our 41. The D bails him out with a sack of 11yds on the first play, and the Rams can’t recover from that. 3 and out, punt to WATSON now. He fair catches and catches it at the 11. In a confidence booster, Mahomes finds Moore for a first down. Kelce gets another. Mahomes and McKinnon each add one, and Kelce gets the TD, a 39 yd pass from Mahomes. We finally have a score in this sleepwalk of a game.

The Rams sort of answer, getting to the 29 before kicking an FG to make it 7-3.

The next Chiefs drive features some nice runs by Pacheco, and even a Ronald Jones sighting. He adds a 15 yard catch and run, followed right away by another run for a few yards. Mahomes takes it to the 5, and then finds Noah Gray for a TD. No one gets too excited, because a lineman was way too far down field (standing in the end zone), so they settle for a 27yd FG and Butker converts it.

The Rams keep doing nothing, gather one First Down before punting. No, wait! Those rascals! They faked it, and converted! That allows Jones to sack Perkins on the next play, and eventually punt from about the same spot. Ball goes out at the Chiefs 4.

As we have noted, the Chiefs are scary good from inside their own ten. 20 yards to MVS. MVS again to the 33. Defensive hold takes us to the 43. Fortson to the 22. Gray to the 12. Sadly, they stall and settle for an FG and a 13-3 lead at the half.

The Rams get the kickoff, but clearly don’t want it and punt it back. Good plays by Moore, a couple of carries by Jones, and Pacheco is set up at the 4 for a TD run. It’s now 20-3, and the only reason the game isn’t over is there’s time on the clock.

However, the Rams decide now is a good time to play football, and a nice drive ends with a 6yd TD pass on 4th and 1. The lead is cut to 20-10.

This clearly annoys Mahomes, who was getting ready for his Jazz Bath. Two passes to JuJu, one to MVS, two more to Kelce, and the Chiefs are on the LA 7, where Patrick is feeling generous and throws an INT on 3rd and goal. 

Sneed, however, was feeling less charitable, and stole a Perkins pass, returning it to the Rams 9. The Offense can’t get into the end zone again, and we settle for 3. 23-10.

Next series, Bolton picks off Perkins. We run every play to burn the clock, get as far as the 9, and a last FG makes it 26-10, and everyone gets a cup of coffee to wake them up for the drive home.

Chiefs 26-10

Season Record 9-2

Mahomes 27-42 320 1TD 1INT

Pacheco 22-69yds 1TD

Kelce 4-57 1TD

MVS 4-56

Moore 5-36

Bolton 8 Tackles 1INT

NovaChiefs

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