Report: Chiefs Signing RB Melvin Gordon

The Chiefs are reportedly expected to sign former Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon following a messy end in Denver.

The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly expected to sign former Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon to their practice squad. Gordon was waived by the Broncos on November 21, marking the end of his tumultuous tenure in Denver.

First reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the two-time Pro Bowler will be joining his third AFC West team in his eight-year NFL career which began as a member of the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers before joining the Broncos ahead of the 2020 season.

Gordon’s final year with the Broncos was plagued by ball-security issues, as he recorded five fumbles on 90 carries in 2022. In 2021, Gordon suffered just three fumbles on 203 carries.

After being waived by the Broncos, Gordon posted an O.J. Simpson-inspired goodbye to Denver, writing, “Hahaha boy y’all fans was hell lmfaooo. Thank y’all too broncos country. Let’s at least laugh on the way out.”

Why are the Chiefs signing Melvin Gordon?

The Chiefs’ running back depth was depleted when former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire was placed on injured reserve, opening the door for Ronald Jones to make his Chiefs debut in KC’s Week 12 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. Now led by rookie seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs seem perfectly content to let Pacheco handle the bulk of the running work while veteran Jerick McKinnon is the team’s clear favorite in passing-down scenarios, both for his pass-catching and pass-blocking ability.

When running back injuries are perpetually one play away, having four NFL-caliber backs is a good thing for any roster, and particularly for one relying heavily on a lead back in his first NFL season and a veteran who has spent much of the year with multiple ailments on the injury report.

After a change of scenery and with two games against the Broncos remaining on the Chiefs’ schedule this season, Gordon projects to be a well-rounded depth piece for Kansas City’s practice squad if the group were to suffer injuries to Pacheco, McKinnon or Jones.

However, if Gordon’s goodbye to Denver is any hint, it seems like the veteran running back would bring some extra Juice to KC’s matchups with his old team. 

Chiefs Week 12 Snap Counts: Shaking Things Up

Kansas City divvied up playing time in an interesting way against the Rams in Week 12.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ ninth win of the season was a blowout victory against the visiting Los Angeles Rams, and plenty of players on both sides contributed to the win.

Offensively, Kansas City recorded 29 first downs to Los Angeles’ 13. The Chiefs’ 437 total yards more than doubled the Rams’ 198, serving as a true testament to how lopsided the game was. On defense, Steve Spagnuolo’s unit surrendered an average of just 3.6 yards per play and was dominant against a shorthanded passing attack. The Chiefs didn’t bring their A-game against a struggling opponent, but it was still more than enough to win comfortably at home.  

Now that snap counts have been released, what jumped off the page? Let’s take a look at three notable takeaways from another week of Chiefs football.

1. JuJu Smith-Schuster was on a pitch count

After missing one game due to a concussion suffered in Week 10, JuJu Smith-Schuster returned to practice last week for the Chiefs and cleared concussion protocol in time to play on Sunday. He wasn’t terribly effective against the Rams, however, hauling in three passes for just 38 yards on the afternoon. It became obvious throughout the game that the veteran was on a pitch count of sorts, and his snap share (29 snaps, 38% of available reps) reflects that. Kansas City eased him back into the swing of things, allowing others to have more opportunities to shine in a game that wasn’t all that competitive.

For the second week in a row, Justin Watson led all Chiefs wideouts in total snaps. He was on the field for 84% of Kansas City’s offensive plays, followed by Marquez Valdes-Scantling at 58%. The underlying story of the game, though, was rookie Skyy Moore. The second-round pick was targeted six times and had five catches for the second straight week, also seeing his snap count jump from 27 against the Los Angeles Chargers to a career-high 35 against the Rams. Moore’s special teams shortcomings are very real in the early stages of his Chiefs tenure, but his contributions on offense are becoming more and more legitimate as time passes. 

2. An message on the Joshua Williams-Jaylen Watson dynamic

One of the biggest developments of the Chiefs’ 2022 campaign has been their reliance on young cornerbacks. Outside of third-year man L’Jarius Sneed, Spagnuolo has fielded the likes of rookies Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams for large stretches of time this year. It was Watson who came on strong earlier in the year and even had a game-changing play back in Week 2, but his role has been diminished in recent weeks. Williams, on the other hand, continues to get plenty of chances to showcase his talent.

In every game following Kansas City’s Week 8 bye, Williams has out-snapped Watson. On Sunday, he played all 54 defensive snaps while Watson was on the field for just five of them. Williams’s results have been mixed — his 44.8 Pro Football Focus coverage grade in Week 12 was the worst of his rookie year thus far — but the team is showing with its actions how he’s viewed. Perhaps a less-than-stellar game from Williams could put Watson back into the lineup more often moving forward but right now, there’s a clear preference.

3. Finding time for a new-look running back room

Speaking of clear preferences, seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco once again paced all Chiefs running backs in snaps played with 39. Pacheco not only got work early in the game as the starter, but Kansas City also leaned on him to close things out late. His yards-per-carry average was far from ideal, although his reps on tape showed a runner who brought physicality, short-area burst and a general attitude to the group. Without Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the two running backs behind him also made their marks on the game.

Continuing to serve as the third-down back and a player who logs the second-most snaps at the position every week, Jerick McKinnon was in for 26 snaps (34%) on Sunday. Targeted six times in the passing game, the 30-year-old hauled in three passes for 26 yards. Veteran Ronald Jones saw his first in-game action of the year, getting 11 snaps and touching the ball five times. Jones amassed just 12 rushing yards on his four carries, but a 22-yard reception may have kept the door open for him to continue getting reps until Edwards-Helaire is back. Tasked with fitting Jones in their plans with Pacheco and McKinnon already entrenched against the Rams, Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy did an admirable job.

Read More: Chiefs Reign Supreme in AFC Playoff Picture for Another Week

Chiefs Reign Supreme in AFC Playoff Picture for Another Week

Kansas City’s Week 12 win helped keep them atop the conference playoff standings.

Although the Kansas City Chiefs’ Sunday victory over the Los Angeles Rams was of the out-of-conference variety, it still had an impact on the club’s standing compared to other AFC teams.

By getting their ninth win of the 2022 campaign, the Chiefs maintained their stronghold on the conference’s top playoff seed. No other club has a nine in the win column, allowing Andy Reid’s squad to control its own destiny for the rest of the season. The AFC playoff picture can be shaken up as soon as this coming week when Kansas City and the Cincinnati Bengals square off, though, so let’s take a look at where things stand with the top six teams as of Monday.  

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)

As mentioned, the Chiefs are the current top dogs in the AFC. A Week 6 loss to the Buffalo Bills could loom large should Josh Allen and company catch up in wins and losses, but they also have plenty to worry about within their own division at the moment. Kansas City’s margin for error isn’t incredibly wide and things could start to go south as early as next week, but having that No. 1 seed is never a bad thing. The goal for the Chiefs now — no longer just winning the AFC West — is to keep ahold of that spot heading into the postseason. 

2. Miami Dolphins (8-3)

If there’s one team that deserves a bit more love in the contender conversation as far as the AFC is concerned, it’s the Miami Dolphins. Under first-year head coach Mike McDaniel, they boast one of the NFL’s most dangerous offensive attacks headlined by wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is performing at a high level as well, and Miami’s defense is slowly becoming less and less of a crippling eyesore. Big-time tests against teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers and others remain, so the Dolphins will soon show their true colors for better or worse. 

3. Tennessee Titans (7-4)

Mike Vrabel’s Tennessee Titans are tough to get a read on, as they’re certainly a formidable team with a stout defense and good running game. That formula can win in ugly postseason outings. On the other hand, quarterback Ryan Tannehill remains suspect and the Titans have question marks in the secondary and in their wide receiver room. This squad doesn’t appear to have enough to hang with the AFC’s premier teams, yet Tennessee is third in the AFC standings through 12 weeks. Can one of the NFL’s worst scoring offenses end the year on a high note? Time will tell, but the Chiefs have a tiebreaker over them already due to a head-to-head victory in Week 9.

4. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)

The Baltimore Ravens were a legit threat to the Chiefs in the race for the AFC’s top playoff seed as recently as Sunday morning but following an upset loss at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars, things aren’t looking as peachy for John Harbaugh’s team. Fourth-quarter collapses are becoming commonplace in Baltimore, as are injuries. Former MVP winner Lamar Jackson is always dangerous, and a favorable rest-of-season schedule makes winning out a real possibility, but the Ravens haven’t shown enough consistency to expect that. They remain in the middle for now. 

5. Buffalo Bills (8-3)

Don’t let the Bills’ No. 5 spot in the standings fool you: Buffalo can be as good as any team in the conference. Sean McDermott’s bunch has been going through a rough patch over the past month after getting off to such a hot start to begin the year, but the ceiling with this team still exists and is very real. That, combined with recent success against the Chiefs and a quarterback who is the only player who can remotely make a case as Patrick Mahomes’s equal, makes Buffalo serious. They will likely be back in the thick of things before too long.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)

Another team that is overlooked by many but is showing some signs of potentially rounding into form, the Cincinnati Bengals have their biggest game of the season coming up when they host the Chiefs on Sunday. In a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game, a win would cement the Bengals as contenders once again in the conference and would put Kansas City on notice for the second year in a row. Joe Burrow has engineered a productive offensive attack and is getting Ja’Marr Chase back, and Lou Anarumo’s defense is tough. The football world will learn a lot about Cincy very soon.

Read More: Mahomes Focused on Improvement Following Win Against Rams

Mahomes Focused on Improvement Following Win Against Rams

Mahomes was critical of his play on Sunday while also shifting his focus to next week.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 12 win over the Los Angeles Rams saw the home team put up 26 points and allow just 10, yet it was still viewed as an underwhelming performance by many. As things turn out, quarterback Patrick Mahomes was one of those people as far as the offense was concerned.

On the afternoon, Mahomes completed 27 of his 42 pass attempts for 320 yards and a touchdown while not being sacked even once. On the flip side, he did throw an ugly interception in the fourth quarter and missed a few throws over the course of the game. It didn’t matter a ton in the grand scheme of things but after the game, Mahomes praised his defense while adding that he needs to be better in order for the offense to run smoother. 

“I thought the defense played well,” Mahomes said. “Obviously, some special teams and some offense [things] we’ve got to clean up. The defense kept us in the game, got some turnovers for us and got some big stops after some turnovers that we made. Especially in the red zone, we’ve got to execute at a higher level — I’ve got to execute at a higher level. I need to take out the one dumb play I make every game, it seems like. If I can take that out, I think we’ll be alright.”

Despite now being on a five-game losing streak, the Rams’ defense captained by defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is still a formidable unit. Star talents like Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald remain, as does a solid supporting cast amidst some injuries. The group did a decent job of holding Mahomes and company to 13 points in each half, as well as being just 1-for-6 in the red zone. When asked about why things went south in an area the Chiefs have normally thrived in this year, Mahomes tipped his cap to the opposition. 

“I mean, they did a good job,” Mahomes said. “At the end of the day, they’ve got great players. They still have a great defense over there. They did a great job of kind of passing off crossers down there. They were in the right spots where I wanted to go. They had a good game plan. I have to find ways to execute at a higher level, get it to those guys in space and when we do have chances, we have to make sure we get in the end zone.” 

The Chiefs don’t have a ton of time to get back to the drawing board, and recent history is both on their side and also working against them at the same time. On one hand, Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy’s offense entered Week 12 with one of the best red zone offenses in the NFL and still has two of the best playmakers in the entire sport. They should figure things out. On the other hand, a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals — a team the Chiefs lost to twice last season — looms large. Emotions and stakes are riding high, and the margin for error is slim. 

When asked about Kansas City’s January AFC Championship Game collapse, Mahomes admitted that he “played terribly in the second half” and contributed to costing the team a game that “could’ve sent” them to the Super Bowl. He reiterated that he and his teammates will be ready for the rematch, which seems to be a foregone conclusion at this juncture. Every week presents a series of learning moments, and every win or loss brings a new set of lessons. After a win on Sunday, Mahomes still has the things he learned several months ago fresh in his mind. 

“We learned that you’ve just got to continue to push,” Mahomes said. “You can’t be satisfied with where you’re at. We scored a lot of points in that first half and went in thinking we were just kind of going to coast to the Super Bowl, but they’re a team that’s going to fight. They’re going to fight until the very end, and that’s why they were in the Super Bowl. We have to make sure that we go in with two great halves of football and however long it takes.”

Read More: Four Takeaways From the Chiefs’ 26-10 Win Over the Rams

Andy Reid: Nick Bolton Is Having an ‘All-Pro’ Type Season

Kansas City’s head coach spoke highly of his top linebacker following Sunday’s win.

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Rams by their third-widest margin of the 2022 campaign, and their defense played a massive role in that dominant victory. Steve Spagnuolo’s unit surrendered just 10 points to Sean McVay’s struggling offense, with multiple players’ performances contributing to the win.

In addition to cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and defensive end Frank Clark having quality afternoons, it was linebacker Nick Bolton who set the tone for the Chiefs on the less glorious side of the ball. The second-year man amassed 11 tackles against Los Angeles, with one of those being for a loss. Additionally, he had a pass broken up and an interception to boot. After the game, head coach Andy Reid praised Bolton’s outing and used a very important designation in the process: All-Pro.

“His instincts,” Reid said when asked what helped Bolton to such a big game. “Spags (Spagnuolo) has mentioned that, too. His instincts, his ability to tackle in tight areas and then also in the field, I think, is big. He’ll tell you that it helps to have a good defensive line, too, but he’s definitely having an All-Pro-type season. He’s a heck of a football player.”

Sunday’s game against the Rams marked the fourth time in six games that Bolton had at least 10 tackles, and he’s recorded an interception in back-to-back weeks. The 2021 second-round pick is dangerously close to surpassing his tackle and tackle-for-loss totals from his rookie season, and he’s already improved in sacks and quarterback hits. The Rams game was yet another example of him showing off his ability to make plays in the middle of Spagnuolo’s defense.

Entering Week 12, Bolton ranks favorably compared to his peers. Among all 85 linebackers with at least 20% of available run defense snaps this year, he ranks 14th with a 76.9 Pro Football Focus’ run defense grade and is 12th in stop percentage. That isn’t all, though. While Bolton’s tape still doesn’t show a player who thrives in coverage, his PFF data shows otherwise. Using that same 20% threshold for linebackers, the former University of Missouri standout’s 79.0 PFF coverage grade through 10 games is the sixth-best. His 78.6 defense grade? Tied for ninth. It remains to be seen how much those numbers will change but given how good Bolton was against the Rams, the answer may not be much.

Moving forward, Kansas City has a Week 13 outing against the Cincinnati Bengals on the docket. This AFC Championship Game rematch presents an opportunity for the Chiefs to avenge their loss at least a bit, and Bolton said that the January game stung as he went into the offseason. With his eyes now set on next week, Bolton admitted after one of his best games of 2022 that he’s playing so well right now partially because that crushing loss fueled him to do so. 

“I don’t think I played very good, personally,” Bolton said. “I felt like this year, I had to come in and be better for our defense to be where it needs to be. I spent a lot of time on that in the offseason.” 

Read More: Four Takeaways From the Chiefs’ 26-10 Win Over the Rams

Four Takeaways From the Chiefs’ 26-10 Win Over the Rams

Here are four takeaways from the Chiefs’ Week 12 home matchup against the Rams.

The Kansas City Chiefs came into Week 12 favored by more than two touchdowns, setting the scene for a potentially non-competitive afternoon game against the Los Angeles Rams. That’s exactly what happened, as the visitors simply couldn’t get enough done offensively to keep up with a Kansas City team that didn’t do anything crazy but still won by multiple scores. The Chiefs rose to 9-2 on the year with their 26-10 win, and the Rams are now 3-8 and on a five-game losing streak. 

Here are four takeaways from Sunday’s game.

1. Running backs managed without Clyde Edwards-Helaire

With Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the injured reserve list, the dynamic of the Chiefs’ running back room was slated to change at least somewhat on Sunday. Rookie Isiah Pacheco was coming off his first career 100-yard game, and he remained the lead running back with veteran Jerick McKinnon serving as the team’s third-down back of choice. Someone who got a bit more work than expected, though, was Ronald Jones. In his season debut, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers halfback toted the ball four times for 12 yards but also had an impressive 22-yard reception. This appears to be a formidable rotation for the Chiefs moving forward, even without their former first-round pick. 

2. It was once again a group effort for wide receivers

Mecole Hardman remained out due to being on IR, but the addition of JuJu Smith-Schuster back into the lineup helped pave the way for a quietly efficient game from the Chiefs’ wide receiver room. Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the way with four receptions for 56 yards, with Smith-Schuster adding 38 yards of his own and both Skyy Moore and Justin Watson making plays throughout the game. Before the season, quarterback Patrick Mahomes mentioned a different player having his “game” every week and there being more group-intensive efforts in 2022. The latter happened on Sunday, and it was more than enough to secure the win. 

3. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense did its job

Facing a Rams offense without Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp doesn’t exactly pose a serious threat to the opposition, and facing a Rams offense with a makeshift offensive line makes matters even worse. Still, though, Kansas City’s defense deserves credit for putting together a quality afternoon. Spagnuolo’s front four got solid pressure on Bryce Perkins, with the likes of Chris Jones and George Karlaftis recording sacks. Additionally, Nick Bolton and L’Jarius Sneed each had an interception in the second half. The Chiefs will undoubtedly face much more intimidating offenses down the stretch, but all they could do on Sunday was handle their business. They did just that, allowing just 10 points at home.

4. A much bigger test looms next Sunday

The blowout victory on Sunday secured the Chiefs their fifth win in a row, and that ninth win allowed them to maintain their grasp on the AFC’s top seed. With a minimal margin for error, every game is an important one. Week 13’s contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, however, could prove to be one of Kansas City’s biggest games of the year. The Rams deserve respect, but this was more of a lower-stakes outing sandwiched between two big-time matchups against premier conference foes. The Chiefs escaped Week 12 with a favorable outcome, and now they’ll hit the road looking to keep that momentum going against Joe Burrow and company.

L’Jarius Sneed Exits Game vs. Rams With Injury

Sneed visited the medical tent and then went to the locker room in the second quarter.

UPDATE: L’Jarius Sneed re-entered the game following the halftime break. 

The Kansas City Chiefs held a halftime lead against the visiting Los Angeles Rams, but they weren’t able to stay completely healthy in their Week 12 game. After contributing on a play in the second quarter, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed briefly remained on the field before walking off and making a visit to the on-site blue medical tent. 

Sneed went back to the locker room shortly after being in the tent and, according to the team’s official announcement, was being evaluated for a concussion.

The Chiefs’ secondary was already shorthanded against the Rams, as safety Juan Thornhill was limited in practice with a calf injury that ended up holding him out of the game. Steve Spagnuolo’s cornerback group was at full strength, however, as special teams ace Chris Lammons exited concussion protocol in time for the game and Sneed was a full participant throughout the week with a knee injury that’s been lingering for him. 

Entering Week 12, Sneed had been far and away the Chiefs’ most productive cornerback. The third-year man and former fourth-round pick had started 10 games for Kansas City, recording 69 tackles with six passes broken up and a career-high 3.5 sacks. In a room that is relying on rookies such as Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson to perform this year, Sneed’s ability to serve as a versatile and reliable piece has been a major benefit.

With a pivotal Week 13 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on the horizon, the hope for both Sneed and the Chiefs is that the young cornerback can avoid missing serious time stemming from this apparent injury. Kansas City is no stranger to going through the NFL’s concussion protocol, as the aforementioned Lammons just got out of it and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster also made his return this week from a concussion.

Read More: Harrison Butker May Never Be 100% This Season

Chiefs vs. Rams Inactives: Who’s In, Who’s Out?

Kansas City and Los Angeles have finalized who they’ll head into their Week 12 game without.

The Kansas City Chiefs enter Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on the heels of a four-game winning streak, and their opponents have dropped their last four contests.

This is truly a matchup of teams whose seasons are trending in opposite directions, as Kansas City enters Sunday as the top overall seed in the AFC despite a few injuries in recent weeks. Los Angeles, the reigning Super Bowl champions, has a season-long injury list that would make some grocery store receipts jealous. Sean McVay’s group has witnessed its 2022 campaign spiral down the drain. There’s still a chance that the spoiler role is enough to get the Rams to upset the Chiefs, but those odds remain quite low. 

With that in mind, ahead of their Week 12 game at home, the Chiefs’ list of inactive players has been released:

The Chiefs already knew they’d be without wide receiver Mecole Hardman (abdomen) and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (high-ankle sprain) due to them being on the injured reserve list, as well as wideout Kadarius Toney (hamstring) missing this week. The trio of left guard Joe Thuney, cornerback Chris Lammons and safety Juan Thornhill was questionable heading into Sunday’s game with respective ankle, concussion and calf designations. Lammons is the only member of the group who will play, as both Thuney and Thornhill are officially inactive. 

Another roster-related storyline to watch on Sunday is the season debut of running back Ronald Jones. While it remains to be seen exactly how many in-game opportunities he will receive, head coach Andy Reid was optimistic during the week about the chances of Jones getting his first snaps of the year. With Edwards-Helaire on the shelf for at least the next four games, Jones is set to join the rotation of rookie Isiah Pacheco and veteran Jerick McKinnon and will look to contribute on the ground when his name is called.

The Rams’ inactives have also been released:

In advance of Sunday, the Rams ruled out four players. Center Brian Allen, linebacker Travin Howard, defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson and quarterback Matthew Stafford will all miss Week 12 with various respective injuries. Players like offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe, wide receiver Allen Robinson and tight end Tyler Higbee were all questionable, and only Higbee will give it a go against Kansas City.

Read More: How to Watch Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams

Chiefs vs. Rams: Week 12 Preview and Predictions

The Arrowhead Report crew predicts whether the Chiefs will rise to 9-2 on the season.

The Kansas City Chiefs are riding high following a Week 11 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and they’re keeping their battles within the LA area for Week 12. On Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Rams come into town looking to steal a win on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Rams, 3-7 on the season, have won a Super Bowl and seen their title defense unfold about as poorly as possible all within the same calendar year. A multitude of injuries, as well as some free agent losses and general struggles, have contributed to a very poor 2022 campaign. On the other side of the field, the Chiefs will be looking to secure a win on Sunday and get to 9-2 on the year. Although this is an inter-conference matchup, a Kansas City victory keeps Andy Reid’s squad atop the AFC standings. 

How will today’s game unfold? The Arrowhead Report crew makes their predictions.

Joshua Brisco: The Rams are a lot of things no NFL team wants to be; they’re injured, not very deep, and aging so quickly that you’d assume they drank from the wrong chalice while searching for the Holy Grail. The Chiefs shouldn’t have to play their best game to beat LA convincingly, but if they do, it could get ugly at Arrowhead. Even if the Chiefs struggle at times, it’s hard to see how the Rams hang around for the full 60 minutes.

Prediction: Chiefs 30, Rams 17

Jordan Foote: This is nothing close to the same Rams team that took the field back in February for the Super Bowl, and it shows. Los Angeles has seemingly countless injuries on both sides of the ball and has struggled to put points up all season. That, combined with Bryce Perkins being in line to make his first NFL start, can serve as a perfect storm for a comfortable Chiefs win. I don’t expect Kansas City to score a ton in this one and while the Rams may be able to cover, the final box score will still paint the picture of a pretty lopsided contest that seemed out of reach early on.

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Rams 10

Mark Van Sickle: Before the season, no one would have anticipated there being such a lack of hype leading up to this game. It’s one of the highest point spreads of the season. Unfortunately for the Rams, they are without Matthew Stafford and their backup, John Wolford, is also dealing with an injury. Now, Bryce Perkins will make his NFL debut at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Rams are also without Cooper Kupp, who is on injured reserve. Things could get ugly.

The Chiefs are dealing with a few injuries of their own, but JuJu Smith-Schuster will be back in the mix. The team is likely also hoping to see more positive contributions from Skyy Moore this week after an excellent Week 11 against the Chargers. Patrick Mahomes continues to play at an MVP level, and the defensive front is getting after opposing quarterbacks. The Chiefs should win and win big.

Prediction: Chiefs 38, Rams 20

Conner Christopherson: Everything is going right for the Chiefs and everything is going wrong for the Rams. With Matthew Stafford potentially out for the year and Cooper Kupp also out, the Rams’ already bad season has devolved into a nightmare. The thing to watch in this game is how the Chiefs handle a bad team and whether they can easily coast to a win. Games against bad teams this year have had mixed results, with a comfortable win over the Jaguars and a loss to the Colts. One player to watch is Isiah Pacheco. He might get a lot of carries if the Chiefs go up big early.

Prediction: Chiefs 30, Rams 17

Zack Eisen: Coming into the season, this game projected as one of the best of the season, with the defending Super Bowl champions traveling to play the Chiefs. However, the Rams are not the team they were last year. Between losing key players in the offseason and injuries, the Rams come into this game with one of the worst records in the league and a backup quarterback making his first career start. They still have defensive stars in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, so they can’t be taken lightly. The most important thing for the Chiefs is to win the game and come out clean on the injury side of things.

Prediction: Chiefs 35, Rams 17

Marlow Ferguson Jr.: With each passing week, it feels like the Chiefs enter Sunday’s game with some sort of incredible streak. This week, they are sporting a 13-game regular-season winning streak against NFC teams. They’ve officially reached Undertaker at WrestleMania status, and with a chance to add to a narrow lead in the AFC standings, this should be no different. The battles within the games, such as Aaron Donald vs. Joe Thuney should be more intriguing than the actual result. The Rams could keep this close for a short time, though this feels like one of those games for the defense to flex their muscles and get their DVOA and statistical rankings up, as they prep for a revenge tour next week.

Prediction: Chiefs 38, Rams 16

Read More: How to Watch Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams

How to Watch Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams

Here’s how you can follow along as the Chiefs look for their ninth win of the 2022 campaign.

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a Week 11 win that marked their fourth victory in a row, and they’ll be looking to keep the momentum going back on their home field in Week 12.

Coming into town are the 3-7 Los Angeles Rams, a team that won last season’s Super Bowl but has taken a historic fall from grace ever since. Sean McVay’s squad has been decimated by injuries this year and is currently on a four-game losing streak. This week’s matchup is shaping up to be a very far cry from the 54-51 thriller these two clubs put on display back in 2018, as Kansas City is heavily favored and Los Angeles may struggle to score points due to having a skeleton crew on offense.

With a win, the Chiefs would keep sole possession of the AFC’s top seed with six games left to play. It would also secure a sixth win in seven games for Andy Reid’s team, as only a 24-20 Week 6 loss to the Buffalo Bills has been a recent blemish on Kansas City’s record. A loss outside the conference wouldn’t be the end of the world but considering how badly Sunday’s opponent has struggled as of late, dropping a game to the Rams would be an unnecessary roadblock on the Chiefs’ path to getting home-field advantage come playoff time. 

Here’s how you can follow along with the Chiefs as they play today.

Time: 3:25 p.m. CST

TV Channel: FOX (WDAF-TV in local markets)

Live Stream: fuboTV (start your free trial)

Listen: WDAF (106.5 FM) Chiefs Radio Network

Line: Chiefs -15.5 per SI Sportsbook

The Sunday afternoon broadcast will feature the duo of Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play) and Greg Olsen (color analyst) in the booth with Erin Andrews working the sidelines. Adrian Hill and crew will officiate the matchup.

For updates throughout the game and after the action has concluded, including plenty of postgame content, keep it locked in right here at Arrowhead Report and follow us on Twitter @ArrowheadReport for additional coverage, commentary and more.

Read More: Chiefs Injury Updates Ahead of Game vs. Rams