2018 Kansas City Chiefs–Los Angeles Rams game

Notably, the Chiefs and Rams formerly shared an instate rivalry in Missouri when the latter played as the St. Louis Rams from 1995 to 2015. Kansas City had won all six regular season games during that era. This game was the first regular season meeting between the teams after the Rams' return to Los Angeles.[7]

Both the Chiefs and Rams came into the game at 9–1. The Chiefs only loss was to the New England Patriots while the Rams only loss was to the New Orleans Saints. Both teams came in the game with the top 2 highest scoring offenses.

The inter-conference matchup was originally slated to be part of the NFL International Series, and was scheduled to be played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which had hosted games the previous two seasons. However, the playing field was found to be in deficient condition after rains earlier in the month and a heavy event schedule, which had included a Shakira concert; a soccer tournament match played by Cruz Azul and one of the multiple events of the left-wing political party, Morena. As League and stadium officials evaluated the scene, pictures of the poor conditions began to circulate on social media. Unable to remedy the situation in time for the game, the NFL announced that the game would be moved to Los Angeles just six days before the game was to be played.[8][9][10] Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt said "[The move is] 100 percent [about] player safety...",[11] as the NFL faced pressure from players who reportedly considered sitting out the game rather than risk potential injury.[12]

League rules required the designated home team (in this case, the Rams) to maintain availability of their home stadium as a contingency. Team officials and personnel worked quickly to secure facilities, logistics and event staff for the game, as the Rams were not scheduled to play at the Coliseum again for another month. The cancellation of the game in Mexico City was a disappointment to the NFL and local officials, and in particular to fans of both teams who had spent thousands of dollars for tickets and travel costs.[13] Tickets purchased through either the Rams or Chiefs were refunded, and several air carriers offered travel credits for fans who had booked flights.

Added to the challenge of putting on the game itself was the fact that the Greater Los Angeles Area had itself been reeling in the wake of the Thousand Oaks shooting on November 7, in which 12 people were gunned down at a restaurant in Thousand Oaks, California, and the Woolsey Fire which broke out a day later. As the fire continued to rage, Rams staff were forced to evacuate the team's administrative offices in Agoura Hills as well as their practice facility at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. The fire continued to burn for nearly two weeks, including the time of the game itself. Many Rams employees were personally affected by the Woolsey Fire, with some being evacuated multiple times from their homes and nearby hotels as the fire threatened local communities. The Rams organization covered all emergency expenses for club personnel during the crisis.

Towels featuring the "LATogether" logo were handed out to fans attending the game.

The Rams players and coaches had already traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado in order to prepare for the high-altitude conditions they expected to encounter in Mexico. With the game being moved to Los Angeles and their homes and practice facility still under threat from the fire, the Rams opted to stay in Colorado and continue with their scheduled activities, which included closed practice sessions held at the Air Force Academy.[14] Additionally, Rams owner Stan Kroenke chartered a plane to bring family members to join the team at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. Rams players were also guests at a Denver Nuggets game during their time in Colorado (the Nuggets are owned by Kroenke's wife Ann and run by his son Josh).[15]

On Monday, November 19, 2018, a capacity crowd was on hand as the Rams and Chiefs prepared to face off for the Coliseum's first Monday Night NFL game since 1985, and the Rams' first Monday Night game there since 1979. The Rams distributed more than 3,000 game tickets to first responders and people affected by the shooting and fires, and towels featuring the "LATogether" logo were handed out to fans attending the game. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Honor Guard presented the colors as members of the Cal Lutheran University choir performed the national anthem before the game. Karen and Jordan Helus, wife and son of Ventura County Sheriff Sgt. Ron Helus, who was slain in the Thousand Oaks shooting, performed the ceremonial lighting of the Coliseum’s Olympic torch just before kickoff, and local mayors of the stricken communities participated in the coin toss.[16]

The starting quarterbacks both had baseball heritage: Patrick Mahomes father Pat Mahomes was a former Major League Baseball pitcher and Jared Goff's father Jerry Goff was a former Major League Baseball catcher.

The Rams went on to win three of their remaining five games to finish 13–3, winning the NFC West and clinching the NFC's number 2 playoff seed. The Rams defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional Round by a score of 30–22 and the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game by a score of 26–23 in overtime, to reach Super Bowl LIII. However, the Rams lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots by a score of 13–3.

The Chiefs also won three of their remaining five games to finish 12–4, winning the AFC West and clinching the AFC's top playoff seed. After defeating the Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional Round, 31–13 the Chiefs lost the AFC Championship game to the Patriots 37–31 in overtime, preventing a possible Super Bowl re-match with the Rams. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named the 2018 NFL Most Valuable Player.

With 105 points, the game was the highest-scoring game in the history of Monday Night Football, bettering a 48–47 Green Bay Packers victory over the Washington Redskins in 1983. It was also the third-highest total score in NFL history. The only higher scores were a 1966 game in which the Washington Redskins defeated the New York Giants 72–41 (113 points), and a 2004 game in which the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Cleveland Browns 58–48 (106 points).

ESPN's broadcast garnered an overnight rating of 11.3, the best showing for a Monday Night Football game since 2014, with an estimated live TV audience of seven million viewers.[22]

Rams quarterback Jared Goff completed 31 of 49 passes for 413 yards. It was also his third fourth quarter comeback victory in four weeks, fourth of the season and fifth of his career. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks had eight receptions for 107 yards to lead the Rams in both categories. Fellow wide receiver Josh Reynolds (80 yards, 1 TD) and tight end Tyler Higbee (63 yards) both had six receptions each, while wide receiver Robert Woods added four receptions for 72 yards and a TD. Tight end Gerald Everett had 49 yards on three receptions, two of which went for touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including what would ultimately be the game-winning score. Rams running back Todd Gurley had 12 carries for 55 yards to add to his NFL rushing yardage lead and to put him over 1,000 yards rushing for the third time in his four-year career. However, Gurley (who also added three receptions for 39 yards) was held without a touchdown for the first time in the season, ending his team-record 13-game touchdown scoring streak, which was tied with John Riggins, George Rogers, and Jerry Rice for the third-longest in NFL history. On defense, linebacker Samson Ebukam was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after scoring touchdowns on an interception and a fumble recovery return with three tackles and a sack. Aaron Donald had two sacks and two forced fumbles, and John Johnson led the Rams with 11 tackles.

For the Chiefs, Mahomes threw for a career-high 478 yards on 33-for-46 passing, the second-highest single-game total in Chiefs team history. Mahomes also threw for six touchdowns for the second time in 2018 (matching the team record he already shared with Hall of Famer Len Dawson), but was intercepted three times and fumbled twice. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill had the second best single-game performance of his career with 10 catches for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Travis Kelce also had 10 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Chris Conley added seven receptions for 72 yards with two TDs. Running back Kareem Hunt had 14 carries for 70 yards on the ground and three receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, cornerback Ron Parker had a team-high eight tackles, while linebacker Anthony Hitchens, cornerback Steven Nelson, and defensive tackle Chris Jones had six tackles each, with Jones leading the Chiefs with two sacks.

At the 2019 ESPY Awards, the Chiefs–Rams battle was named "Best Game," with Mahomes and Goff accepting the award on behalf of their respective teams.[23] The game was also named the top L.A. sports moment of 2018 by the Los Angeles Sports Council.[24]

For NFL Network's "100 Greatest Games," the 2018 Rams–Chiefs game was ranked No. 33 on the list. It was the second-highest ranked regular season game, behind only the 1985 Chicago Bears-Miami Dolphins showdown (also on Monday Night Football), which was ranked No. 29.[25]

To date, it is the only regular season game that has been profiled in the ongoing NFL Films series "NFL's Greatest Games."

• Referee: Clete Blakeman (34)
• Line Judge: Rusty Baynes (59)
• Down Judge: Dana McKenzie (8)
• Side Judge: Brad Freeman (88)
• Umpire: Ramon George (128)
• Field Judge: Dale Shaw (104)
• Back Judge: Tony Steratore (112)
• Replay Official: Jim Lapetina (0)

• List of highest scoring NFL games
• No Punt Game

• Game highlights (via the NFL's official YouTube channel)
• Full game (via the NFL's official YouTube channel)