KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Rams attempted to slow down Sunday’s game to keep the fast-break Chiefs’ offense in check.
Los Angeles’ strategy appeared to work through the first half and the Rams hung tough, keeping the game close at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs then took matters in their own hands and slammed the door shut.
Rookie running back Isiah Pacheco’s 3-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter gave the Chiefs some cushion on the scoreboard. The Chiefs then used that momentum to cruise to a 26-10 win.
Kansas City entered the game as a two-touchdown favorite and eventually won by 16 points, but it wasn’t easy.
Despite amassing a 437-198 edge in total yards of offense, marking their fifth straight game of 400-plus net yards, the Chiefs clung to a 13-3 lead at halftime.
The Chiefs scored on three of their first four possessions of the game behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 39-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce and kicker Harrison Butkder’s two field goals. Butker would add two more field goals in the second half.
Kelce’s touchdown grab gives him a career-high 12 this season, and he’s now scored a touchdown in three straight games. Kelce finished with four catches for a team-high 57 yards against the Rams.
Mahomes had an efficient outing, connecting with 10 different receives in the game. He completed 27 of 42 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown with an interception to post a 85.4 passer rating. Mahomes added 36 yards rushing on four carries.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling paced the Chiefs’ wide receivers group with four catches for 56 yards, while JuJu Smith-Schuster, who returned to action after missing KC’s Week 11 game with a concussion, recorded three catches for 38 yards.
Pacheco recorded a team-high 69 yards rushing and the touchdown on 22 carries, adding a catch for 17 yards. As a team, the Chiefs produced 117 yards rushing on 30 carries.
Defensively, the Chiefs stymied a Rams offense led by backup quarterback Bryce Perkins.
Kansas City recorded three sacks, one each by defensive tackle Chris Jones, rookie defensive end George Karlaftis and rookie safety Bryan Cook. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and linebacker Nick Bolton each recorded an interception.
Bolton, who tallied a team-high 10 tackles, now has an interception in two straight games.
With the win, the Chiefs improved to 9-2 and maintain a one-game lead in the race for the top seed in the playoffs.
Here’s what else stood out Sunday afternoon:
EXPERIMENT OVER?
The Chiefs again turned to rookie wide receiver Skyy Moore to replace Kadarius Toney, who was inactive with a hamstring injury, as their punt returner.
Moore muffed a punt in the first quarter and the Rams recovered. It was the third botched punt from the first-round draft pick this season (the previous two came in Weeks 3 and 7).
Moore entered the regular season with limited experience as a punt returner, but the Chiefs spent a lot of effort during the offseason, including training camp, working him into the role. Toney took over punt-return duties shortly after the Chiefs traded for him during their Week 8 bye.
With this third muffed punt, the Chiefs’ experiment could be over.
Wide receiver Justin Watson assumed punt-return duties on the Rams’ second punt of the game. Watson cleanly fielded the punt and drew cheers from many of the Chiefs fans in attendance.
FIRST CAREER SACKS
A pair of early-round draft picks got their first full sacks of the season.
Karlaftis, the Chiefs’ second of two first-round picks this spring, took down Rams quarterback Bryce Perkins in the first quarter. Karlaftis entered the weekend with a half-sack, which he recorded in Week 5.
Cook, the Chiefs’ second of two second-round picks in 2022, took down Perkins in the third quarter.
JONES’ DEBUT
After being a healthy inactive the previous 10 games, running back Ronald Jones made his regular-season debut in a Chiefs uniform. He contributed in a backup role and finished with 12 yards on four carries, adding one catch for 22 yards.
TRENCH WARFARE
Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald terrorized the Chiefs’ interior offensive line on the opening series, recording two tackles and a quarterback hit.
Then, it got quiet.
Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, left guard Nick Allegretti and right guard Trey Smith rallied to hold Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, mostly in check for the rest of the game.
Donald finished with three tackles with no sacks.
INJURIES
Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed left in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. He spent several minutes in the blue medical tent before heading to the locker room. Sneed cleared the protocols and returned to action to the third quarter.
NOT SUITED UP
Left guard Joe Thuney (ankle), wide receiver Kadarius Toney (hamstring), safety Juan Thornhill (calf), quarterback Shane Buechele, defensive end Malik Herring, tackle Geron Christian and defensive end Joshua Kaindoh were inactive.
UP NEXT
The Chiefs are on the road in Week 13 to take on the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
