Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 8/21

Game Recap: Rams Rally in the Fourth Quarter as Chiefs Fall, 21-20 from Chiefs.com

The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 21-20, on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.

The Chiefs began the game with the ball and faced three third downs on their opening drive, but key third-down receptions by Travis Kelce, Jeremy Maclin and Chris Conley allowed the offense to continue working each time. In total, quarterback Alex Smith and the offense went 75 yards over 13 plays in just over 7 minutes, and the Chiefs capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown rushing by running back Spencer Ware.

Chiefs vs. Rams: 10 Observations from Chiefs.com

2. Smith and second-year receiver Chris Conley find connection

Just last week, second-year receiver Chris Conley talked about the chemistry and trust he's been building with Smith, and Smith also spoke about the development he's seen this year in Conley.

That all manifested itself on the field on Saturday night, when Conley caught 3 passes for 66 yards, all of which came in the first half.

The best connection between the two came on third-and-2 with Smith and the offense driving into Rams territory early in the second quarter.

There's good and bad for the Chiefs in their 21-20 loss to Rams from The Kansas City Star

Maclin's fire, however, was also an indication that the Chiefs' starters were competing hard Saturday night. That's good, because while preseason games may not count in the standings, they do give coaches a small sense of their team's own strengths and weaknesses before the games start counting.

And if the Chiefs' first-half starters vs. starters performance against the Rams was any indication, there certainly are some crucial areas — both good (the passing offense) and bad (run defense) — worth monitoring going forward.

First, the good. The first-string offense, led by Smith, was impressive for the second straight week. The Chiefs took a 20-14 lead into the break, thanks largely to an offensive unit that moved the ball against the Rams' defense.

Chiefs reserves fall short again in 21-20 loss to Rams from Chiefs Digest

For the second straight week the Kansas City Chiefs starters left the field with the lead, and for the second straight week the game slipped away with reserves on the field, as the Chiefs fell to the Los Angeles Rams 21-20 in a preseason game Saturday night in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

It was deja vu for head coach Andy Reid.

"There were some good things I saw today from the first and second group," Reid said to reporters after the game. "We got into the third group and struggled a little bit, and we kind of shot ourselves in the foot again."

Alex Smith again sharp for Chiefs in loss to Rams from ESPN

Quarterback Alex Smith guided the starting offense to two touchdowns and a field goal in four possessions. The Chiefs scored a touchdown on the game's opening drive for the second straight week, but this possession was more impressive. Smith completed passes to convert three times on third down on the drive. Four different receivers also caught a pass on the drive.

Smith departed in the second quarter with the Chiefs ahead 17-14. He was 9-of-12 for 137 yards and a touchdown.

Chiefs quarterback Nick Foles finds accuracy against his former team from The Kansas City Star

"It's always emotional when you go back and face the team you played with," Foles said. "I have a lot of friends I've kept in touch with. There is an emotion to that. But it was fun to go out there with my new teammates and continue the bonding,"

Foles' comfort level with the Chiefs and the offense has grown with his two-plus weeks with the club, and it showed in the 21-20 loss on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Against his former teammates, Foles completed 18 of 22 passes for 133 yards and engineered two lengthy drives.

Foles shines against former team as Chiefs lose 21-20 to Rams from The Associated Press via FS Kansas City

ROOKIE WATCH

Chiefs: D.J. White started at cornerback, working opposite last season's Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters. The sixth-round pick from Georgia Tech was effective when blitzing, but had mixed results in coverage. White finished with one tackle.

Fullback Trey Millard sprains knee in Chiefs' loss to Rams; back spasms sideline defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches from The Kansas City Star

Fullback Trey Millard suffered a knee sprain in the third quarter, coach Andy Reid said. Millard was taken off the field in a cart.

Millard tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his senior year at Oklahoma.

LA Rams fans feel like partying as they celebrate team's return from The Kansas City Star

For many fans, the second week of the preseason was a Rams reunion 22 years in the making. And while there were plenty of folks who were lucky enough to attend last weekend's opener as well, there didn't appear to be much of a hangover as the party was still rocking on Saturday.

From Jack Youngblood, Deacon Jones and Eric Dickerson throwbacks to today's Todd Gurley and Jared Goff jerseys, the Rams and their fans certainly made a statement that they are the hot ticket in Los Angeles.

"I started choking up when I walked in the gate last week," 45-year old season-ticket holder Mark Quinn admitted. "That's how unreal it has been."

Rams slip past Chiefs 21-20 from ESPN

Gurley, who was held out of exhibition games last season as a rookie while recovering from a torn ACL, rushed for 20 yards on four carries and had a 3-yard touchdown run.

With the Chiefs (0-2) holding out four defensive starters, the starting offensive line played four series and allowed Rams running backs Gurley, Benny Cunningham and Malcolm Brown to rush for 85 yards on 15 carries.

"It's going to start there," Fisher said.

Sports Betting Spotlight: Kansas City Chiefs season preview from The Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Review-Journal's Matt Youmans, Las Vegas handicapper Kelly Stewart and Golden Nugget sports book director Tony Miller preview the Chiefs' season in the ninth of a series of 32 NFL team videos:

Pete Iorizzo: UAlbany grad takes unlikely path to NFL from The Albany Times Union

Brian, a UAlbany graduate, was with the Kansas City Chiefs in London for their game against the Detroit Lions. When word came that Brian was going to be active for the first time, the Parkers were grateful their hotel bar put the game on television.

"We had the TVs cranking, and Elva and I are screaming and yelling in this empty bar," Brian's father, Scott, says with a laugh. "It was 9 in the morning."

There was nothing conventional about Parker's road to the NFL, either. He was a 6-foot-4, 245-pound wide receiver in high school who got only one scholarship offer.

Now that Parker is back in training camp with the Chiefs, trying to secure a roster spot, he serves as a reminder to the current Great Danes that the NFL is full of guys who never were blue-chip recruits.

AFC preview: West, East and North from The Houston Chronicle

The Kansas City Chiefs look ready to challenge the Broncos' supremacy in the AFC West. Returning quarterback Alex Smith and running back Jamaal Charles along with tight end Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have a sharp, efficient offense.