Admiration is mutual for Reid, Mcvay
Coaches of 9-1 teams pit offensive strategies in ‘MNF’ showdown
LOS ANGELES — Sean Mcvay has looked up to Andy Reid for years.
The Los Angeles Rams’ young coach constantly studies video of his Kansas City counterpart’s offensive sets during the season, marveling at their intricacies and ingenuity.
“Every single week they do something where you say, ‘That’s pretty good,’ ” Mcvay said with an understated smile. “I’d be lying if I said we haven’t stolen some of their stuff this year.”
Mcvay gets a close-up look Monday night in one of the biggest games of the regular season and a possible Super Bowl preview.
The Chiefs (9-1) are visiting the Rams (9-1) in a “Monday Night Football” showdown originally scheduled for Mexico City before poor field conditions at Azteca Stadium prompted the NFL to move the game to California on six days’ notice.
Instead, the Coliseum will host a meeting of two prolific offenses
masterminded by coaches separated by 28 years of age, but shoulder-to-shoulder on the cutting edge of football.
“He’s done a phenomenal job,” said Reid, a Los Angeles native who lives in Orange County in the offseason. “He came up through a good system. He’s put his own flair to it. He’s a smart kid. I am proud of him
About the Rams: RB Todd Gurley leads NFL in scoring (108 points), yards rushing (988), carries (198), yards from scrimmage (1,390) and touchdowns
(17). He has scored touchdown in 13 consecutive games, extending own franchise record. … CB Marcus Peters spent first three NFL seasons with Chiefs before moving to L.A. last offseason. … LB Ramik Wilson also spent last three seasons with KC. … DT Aaron Donald leads NFL with 12½ sacks, already career best.
Notes: Marquee showdown was moved from Mexico City to L.A. Coliseum six days before game due to poor quality of field at Azteca Stadium. … First meeting in NFL history this late in season between two teams averaging 33 points per game. … Chiefs have scored 353 points, tops in NFL. Rams have 335, second in league. … Kansas City has won six straight vs. Rams. … Chiefs’ Mahomes leads NFL in yards passing (3,150). Rams QB Jared Goff is second (3,134). for the job he’s done.”
Two offenses averaging 33 points per game have never met this late in a regular season, and the game is only the fifth meeting since 1970 between two one-loss or unbeaten teams in Week 11 or later.
Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes leads the NFL in yards passing with Jared Goff in second. The backfields contain Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt, last season’s NFL rushing champion, and Todd Gurley, the current runaway leader in the category.
Offensive fireworks seem inevitable in a matchup tailor-made for prime time, even if the late venue switch caused logistical hurdles for ESPN. Both teams expressed disappointment about the game being moved out of Mexico City, even though Mcvay said it was “clearly the right thing to do” given the field conditions.
“We’re certainly not going to complain about getting the chance to play at the Coliseum in front of a great atmosphere,” Mcvay said.
Reid, meanwhile, said he was not concerned about the emotional status of his gifted quarterback who spent part of the week mourning the death of his longtime girlfriend’s stepfather. The man had a medical emergency during their game against Arizona last Sunday, and Mahomes learned after leading Kansas City to a 26-14 victory that he had died.
The Chiefs were off Tuesday and Wednesday, giving Mahomes time to spend with family, but he did not miss any practice time.
“They’ve got some things organized and settled down from that side of it,” Reid said, “so he can do what he’s got to do.”