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Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Rams: Who has the edge?

By Kole Berrey

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 20: Knile Davis #34 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the ball down field during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 20: Knile Davis #34 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the ball down field during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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Marcus Peters #22 of the Los Angeles Rams (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Marcus Peters #22 of the Los Angeles Rams (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

DEFENSE

Most people would expect the Chiefs to have the clear edge on offense, and likewise for the Rams to hold the edge on defense. If you dive deeper, I think those are both misconceptions.

The Rams made wave this offseason when they added players like Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib, and Marcus Peters to join forces with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. At the trade deadline, the Rams also decided to boost their pass rush even further, trading a third round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for former first round pick Dante Fowler Jr.

Things haven’t gone as planned, however, as Aqib Talib has been on IR for a majority of the season, (he is expected back in a few weeks) and without his running mate by his side, Marcus Peters has struggled mightily in coverage. The Rams are 18th in the pass and 25th against the run this year.

The Chiefs are last in the league in yards through the air and are only one spot better against the run at 24th. The Rams are at 23 points allowed per game this year, with the Chiefs at 24. On the surface, this seems like a clear advantage. That may not be the case.

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