Predictions for KC Chiefs vs. LA Rams in NFL preseason Week 1

The Kansas City Chiefs will have an excellent opportunity to gain momentum in their matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 of the NFL preseason on August 15.

After a disappointing 2025 campaign, the Chiefs are set to enter the new season with several new stars on both sides of the ball, including running back Kenneth Walker III and defensive back Mansoor Delane.

While fans shouldn't expect to see Kansas City's starters for more than a handful of snaps in Week 1 of the preseason, there will be plenty of action for players who have been fighting for second and third-string roles on the Chiefs' depth chart during training camp.

Take a look at our staff predictions for Kansas City's preseason exhibition against the Los Angeles Rams:

The opening preseason game won't feature Patrick Mahomes or many other starters on both teams. The main objective will be a valuable playing experience for rookies and the trio of backup quarterbacks on the roster.

The offense under Justin Fields will be watched closely as the former first-round pick needs a strong preseason to solidify his role as Mahomes' backup. Each wide receiver playing against the Rams will need to make plays and stand out, as the depth chart is constantly facing criticism after the front office decided not to pursue a veteran in free agency.

On defense, the focus will be on the young defensive linemen Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas. The secondary, led by second-year player Nohl Williams, will get an early test against a talented Rams offense that is deep at several positions.

The result doesn't matter, but the Chiefs went winless during last year's preseason, and a victory will be a great way to start 2026.

Final score: Chiefs 20, Rams 14

The Chiefs face the Rams on Thursday Night Football in Week 13. While Saturday’s preseason game won’t provide a serious in-depth preview of the primetime showdown, it gives the Chiefs a chance to test their offensive line depth against the Rams’ pass rush.

After years of investing in the offensive line through the NFL Draft, the Chiefs finally have young, quality depth pieces at several spots. Expect Kansas City to establish the run early and execute long scoring drives as the battle in the trenches swings in their favor later in the game.

Even if Mansoor Delane misses the game, the Chiefs feature enough hungry, talented players in their secondary to fluster Stetson Bennett and rookie first-round pick Ty Simpson. Barring any mistakes by Justin Fields and rookie Garrett Nussmeier, Kansas City should control the time of possession and take the lead late to win.

Final score: Chiefs 24, Rams 17

The contest will be Patrick Mahomes’ first game under center since his season-ending knee injury in December, so fans shouldn’t expect much from the two-time MVP. Kansas City is likely to develop its ground game early against Los Angeles, creating opportunities for big gains with play-action fakes in the air attack.

Defensively, rookie cornerback Monsoor Delane will be the top Chiefs player to watch in Saturday's game. This game will be an opportunity for a side-by-side comparison between Delane and Rams defensive back Trent McDuffie, whom he effectively replaced after a trade between Kansas City and Los Angeles earlier this year.

These teams are relatively well matched, but the Chiefs should have a slight edge with home-field advantage.

Final score: Chiefs 24, Rams 21

I'm hoping for a chaotic preseason bonanza but am ultimately expecting this to be a boring contest between two teams that can't afford to see anyone get injured. Kansas City has several promising receiver prospects who could make some noise — my favorites are Jeff Caldwell, Omari Evans, and Jacob De Jesus — but Andy Reid is notorious for bland play calls in the preseason, save for a few gadget experiments in low-risk situations.

This game will be an important dress rehearsal for Rams first-round pick Ty Simpson, who will play his first (relatively) meaningful snaps under center in the NFL at Arrowhead Stadium as he fights with Stetson Bennett IV to be star quarterback Matthew Stafford's backup.

In the end, I think this competition between Simpson and Bennett will come to define the game, and Kansas City's milquetoast offense and promising-but-still-developing defense will fail to keep up with the Rams, who are set to be led by ultra-motivated and competent backup signal-callers.

Final score: Chiefs 9, Rams 33

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Predictions for KC Chiefs vs. LA Rams in NFL preseason Week 1