NFL: The record game in L.A.: The Rams have arrived

The Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs delivered an epic exchange of blows in the Monday Night Game at the end of Week 11. The Rams ultimately emerged as the winners, but were not alone. Moreover, the encounter was instructive not only for the losers.

It was a magical night in the venerable Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and not just because of the 105 points – the third most of all times in the NFL – or because of the over 1000 yards on both sides, or the fact that for the first time ever two teams played over 50 points in the same game.

It was a magical night for L.A., which has been so badly battered lately off football.

Thanks to pop siren Shakira, who tore up the grass of the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City with her band, this memorable Monday Night Game – the first in the City of Angels for over 30 years – took place in Los Angeles. And although there was only a very short lead, the hut was full! And the mood was electric.

It reminded a little of this special Monday Night Game 2005, when the New Orleans Saints returned to the Superdome for the first time since Katrina. Even before the game it was clear that there was more at stake here than just football and the duel between two of the three 9-1 teams in the league. The fire brigade was honoured during the hymn, which was particularly emotional this time. Then the widow and son of a policeman killed in the assassination attempt in Thousand Oaks lit the (Olympic) flame.

The matching fireworks were then on the square with an incredible number of points and an electrified audience. A mood that hasn’t existed in this stadium for a long time.

It was a game that this town, tormented by the forest fires, needed so much. By now at the latest, the rams have arrived on the west coast.

At this point we like to talk about a statement victory. A statement from the rams who have shown that they can compete against the best of the best. And they have shown that their large investments are fruitful on the largest stage – in prime time.

Defense was the trump card in the key situations. And the most expensive defender ever, Aaron Donald, played an essential role, as did star commitment Marcus Peters in the duel with his ex-colleagues. But also the still rather unknown Samson Ebukam, who is only in his second season and still comes along very favourably as a four-lap pick, was in the field of vision.

A further statement was, of course, that this offensive explosion came about largely without Todd Gurley’s involvement. Gurley had 15 touches with 94 yards. So it is not enough for the opponents to eliminate Gurley as far as possible. Jared Goff is now too consistently good for that.

“He was outstanding, especially on this last drive,” enthused coach Sean McVay. “I think that was six plays, they played some 2-man coverages, and he just found the right completions. The boys have run free, the line has blocked well, but he has to get the ball there too.”

But the game was also a statement to the AFC: these Chiefs may not have reached the top yet. Rather, they are the first team since the 1966 Giants to have managed the feat of losing several games in a season in which they scored at least 40 points (40-43 against the Patriots).

In addition, Patrick Mahomes’ MVP campaign has suffered a severe setback. With five turnovers he finally cost his team this victory, which could be expensive again. And as a team the Chiefs committed 13 Penalties (for 135 Yards) and showed themselves again from their rather disciplinless side. Especially in tight games and against another top open it doesn’t help much to give your opponent first downs and extra yards.

“The turnovers have shaped the game. I gave them 21 points, more or less, through the turnovers. It was a bit like playing against the Patriots,” Mahomes criticized himself. “You can’t afford turnovers against good teams. That was the turning point in this game.”

Pass-Rusher Justin Houston, however, found it particularly important to stand in front of his quarterback: “Everybody makes mistakes, nobody plays 100 percent flawlessly. We will certainly not attribute this defeat to a player. Eleven players are on the field, we will not take one player into account. It’s a team sport! How many games did Patrick win for us?”

“I think our offense can be the best offense in the league, we’ve shown that for a while this season. But there are several great offenses this year. The Saints, the Rams, the Chargers – many teams are currently playing well,” Kansas City’s quarterback continued, but added: “Right now it’s shit, I’m being honest. We wanted to go to Bye Week with a win over a strong team, a playoff team. But at the same time we still have our destiny in our own hands.”

That’s true, but the Chiefs are now only one and a half games ahead of the Patriots in the fight for Home Field Advantage in the playoffs, instead of the previous two. And if the Chiefs are to be packed, then apparently away.

What this Monday Night Game has to be is a lesson for Rams coach Sean McVay: Surely his team has won. But one or the other decision on his part almost backfired. For example, the somewhat unmotivated draw with Gurley at 3rd-and-Long in his own half in the first half. He was far too risk-averse for his circumstances, which seemed strange in view of his powerful opponent.

In the same way he decided not to play a 4th-and-short before the last Chiefs touchdown and instead decided to punch. On the opposite side, the Chiefs played the fourth attempt in a similar situation and were rewarded.

McVay was too aggressive again in his last offensive series: Instead of running down the clock after the Peters-Pick – with probably the best running back and run game of the NFL – there were three passes, one of which was also incomplete. The Chiefs had three timeouts before the drive and one after that. That was suboptimal.

All in all, however, this could have been a foretaste of the Super Bowl. Both teams still have the best results in their conference and were only stopped in special games. The Rams in an epic shootout through the Saints, the Chiefs in New England and Los Angeles.

New Orleans in particular will have an important say here, but should it come to a reunion this season, one thing would be inevitable: another magical night.