How the Kansas City Chiefs can stop Todd Gurley and the L.A. Rams

Defensively:

Limit big run plays from Todd Gurley.

There are very few running backs that are more frightening than Kareem Hunt. Todd Gurley is one of those few running backs. I would argue that 90 percent of their offensive success is a direct result of Gurley’s incredible talent. On this play, the Broncos give him space to run and it’s game over. He is too powerful and too shifty for any single player to bring him down.

Watch out for the Rams ability in play action.

This is where so much of the Rams success on offense comes from. Defenses get incredibly nervous about Gurley running for big yards and they begin to creep up and attack the line of scrimmage harder. On this play, you can see the safeties creep up and that hesitation is enough to get Brandin Cooks open. Jared Goff throws a well-placed ball and it goes for a huge play.

This is going to be a huge challenge for the Chiefs who need to have a great game against Gurley up front. While the Chiefs corners have played pretty well over the last couple of weeks, the safeties will have a challenge over the top.

Cornerbacks will need to keep pace with the Rams speedy receivers in man coverage.

Cooper Kupp is likely done for the season; However, the Rams still have Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks to account for. If Kansas City hopes to slow down the Rams high-powered offense, they will have to keep pace with one of the NFL’s speediest combinations. In many cases, Cooks gets the ball thrown to him deep down the field and Woods gets receptions from everywhere else.

Orlando Scandrick, even with his solid performances in previous weeks, will need to have a great game against any receiver that he covers. It seems likely that the Rams will look to target him and the linebackers.