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On November 19, 2018, the [[2018 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] hosted the [[2018 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] in a [[National Football League]] (NFL) regular
Televised nationally by [[ESPN]] on ''[[Monday Night Football]],'' the game was won by the Rams, 54–51, The two teams combined for 105 points, including 21 scored by defenses, and the game set numerous other records: the highest-scoring ''Monday Night Football'' game, the highest score by a losing team in NFL history (to date, the Chiefs are the only team in NFL history to score at least 50 points and still lose), and the first NFL game where both teams topped fifty points.<ref name="McMullenChiefs" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams Live Score and Stats - November 19, 2018 Gametracker|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20181119_KC@LAR/|work=[[CBS Sports]]|language=en|date=November 19, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Maske|first=Mark|title=Rams-Chiefs was 'the new NFL' in its most spectacular form yet|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/11/20/rams-chiefs-was-new-nfl-its-most-spectacular-form-yet/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 20, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> The game ==Background==
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Both the Chiefs and Rams came into the game at 9–1. The Chiefs' only loss was to the [[2018 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] while the Rams' only loss was to the [[2018 New Orleans Saints season|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]], [[Mexico]] 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 (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 [[National Football League|NFL]] announced that the game would be moved to [[Los Angeles]] just six days before the game was to be played.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chiefs-Rams game moved from Mexico City to L.A.|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000987994/article/chiefsrams-game-moved-from-mexico-city-to-la|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114015433/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000987994/article/chiefsrams-game-moved-from-mexico-city-to-la|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 14, 2018|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=NFL.com|date=November 13, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=NFL cancels Mexico City trip, moves Chiefs-Rams game to Los Angeles|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25268527|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures, LLC|website=ESPN.com|language=en|date=November 13, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2018/11/13/mexico-city-nfl-game-moved-chiefs-rams/1993162002/|title=NFL moves Chiefs-Rams game from Mexico City to Los Angeles due to poor field conditions|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=2019-04-13}}</ref> Chiefs CEO [[Clark Hunt]] said "[The move is] 100 percent [about] player safety...",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article221668265.html|title=Clark Hunt says reason for Chiefs-Rams relocation was '100 percent player safety'|last=By|website=kansascity|language=en|access-date=2019-04-13}}</ref> as the NFL faced pressure from players who reportedly considered sitting out the game rather than risk potential injury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/11/13/report-players-seriously-considering-not-playing-in-mexico-city/|title=Report: Some players "seriously considering" not playing in Mexico City|last=Alper|first=Josh|date=2018-11-13|website=ProFootballTalk|language=en|access-date=2019-04-13}}</ref>
League rules required the designated home team (in this case, the [[Los Angeles Rams|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/colossal-shame-anger-mexico-city-loss-nfl-game-235715794.html|title='Colossal Shame,' anger in Mexico City over loss of NFL game|website=sports.yahoo.com|date=November 14, 2018 }}</ref> 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|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, California|Agoura Hills]] as well as their practice facility at [[California Lutheran University|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.
[[File:LATogether-towel.jpg|thumb|right|Towels featuring the "LATogether" logo were handed out to fans attending the game.]]
The [[Los Angeles Rams|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 [[United States Air Force Academy|Air Force Academy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gazette.com/sports/rams-to-stay-in-colorado-springs-despite-nfl-s-decision/article_56e6a76a-e78e-11e8-b462-87daf1157a51.html|title=Rams to stay in Colorado Springs despite NFL's decision not to play in Mexico City|first=BRENT BRIGGEMAN|[email protected]|website=Colorado Springs Gazette|date=November 13, 2018 }}</ref> Additionally, Rams owner [[Stan Kroenke]] chartered a plane to bring family members to join the team at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/287821/two-weeks-that-could-have-knocked-the-rams-off-track|title=Two weeks that could have knocked the Rams off track|date=November 21, 2018|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
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 NFL season|1985]], and the Rams' first Monday Night game there since [[1979 Los Angeles Rams season|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 Office|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/sports/2018/11/20/rams-honor-people-affected-borderline-shooting-fires-monday-night/2060073002/|title=Rams honor people affected by Borderline shooting, fires during emotional Monday night|first=Joe|last=Curley|website=Ventura County Star}}</ref>
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[[Category:Monday Night Football]]
[[Category:2018 National Football League season|Kansas City Chiefs-Los Angeles Rams game]]
[[Category:2018 in sports in
[[Category:November 2018 sports events in the United States|Kansas City Chiefs-Los Angeles Rams game]]
[[Category:American football competitions in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Patrick Mahomes]]
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