How the Rams Can Upset the Chiefs

Rams (+14.5) vs. Chiefs

The biggest underdog of the week is a surprising one. The defending champion Los Angeles Rams come in as +14.5 underdogs vs. the Super Bowl contending Kansas City Chiefs.

Last year, Aaron Donald said “why not run it back” after the Rams won the Super Bowl. Here is one reason that may have convinced the GOAT lineman to just retire; 3-7.

The defending champs have fallen off a cliff this year, and are on pace to become just the tenth team since 1988 to win the Super Bowl and fail to make the playoffs in the next year.

Coming off a four game losing streak, the Rams are due for a win. If they want to get the dub this week against the Chiefs, they are going to have to switch things up, and here’s how:

Matthew Stafford has played a very predictable style of football this season; throw to Cooper Kupp. The All-Pro wideout commanded almost 29% of the team’s targets, and even though Kupp was able to remain productive, the offense became stale. In Kupp’s absence, Stafford was actually on pace to have his best game of the season last week. Against the Saints, Stafford threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns before getting taken out of the game early in the third quarter with a concussion.

Stafford is officially not suiting up against the Chiefs, however, and with QB John Wolford dealing with a neck injury, I believe that it is Sunday’s starter, third string quarterback, Bryce Perkins who will give the Rams their best shot at victory. 

The Virginia product has the ability to switch up the Rams’ style of offense through his running capability. 

The Chiefs have struggled against weaker opposition this season, losing 20-17 to the now 4-6-1 Colts, and beating the 3-7 Raiders by just 1 point at home. Additionally, the Chiefs defense could struggle against the rushing prowess of Bryce Perkins, who ran for 39 yards on just 5 attempts in less than one half against the Saints. 

Last year, the Rams won the Super Bowl. This year, this game might as well be the Rams’ Super Bowl. Sean McVay knows what it takes to win even though he and Aaron Donald should have retired together. If you are going to bet on one team to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the season, it might as well be the defending champs.