The Los Angeles Rams opened their 2026 preseason with a road win at Arrowhead Stadium, taking down the Kansas City Chiefs 20-12 behind a sharp debut from rookie quarterback Ty Simpson.
Simpson was the engine of the night for Los Angeles, throwing for 190 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams handled their first exhibition game of the year with a clean, efficient showing. Kansas City never found the end zone, settling instead for four Harrison Butker field goals.
The Rams now turn to the New Orleans Saints next week, while the Chiefs move on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Los Angeles enters the preseason after finishing the 2025 season 12-5, good for the second-best record in the NFC West. The Rams spent last year trying to track down the Seattle Seahawks, who won the division at 14-3 in the regular season. That pursuit carried into the postseason, where the Rams’ Super Bowl title hopes ended with a 31-27 loss to the Seahawks in the NFC championship game.
Kansas City, meanwhile, is coming off a far rougher year. The Chiefs went 6-11 and missed the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Even so, the offseason brought a different feel in Kansas City. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift finally tied the knot. On the football side, the Chiefs added Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III to the offense and traded for quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets while Mahomes recovers from a torn ACL.
The Rams and Chiefs last met in Week 12 of the 2022 season, when Los Angeles fell 26-10.
In Other News...
Saints Fans Are Finally Getting A Better Superdome Gameday Deal
Saints fans heading back to Caesars Superdome in 2026 should find a noticeably different gameday experience, with the team and Legends Global rolling out upgrades to food and beverage offerings. The plans include a $6 value menu, more Louisiana-inspired options and a beverage program built around lower beer prices, plus a bigger selection of local craft beers and new signature cocktails.
The changes matter because gameday costs have long been part of the conversation for anyone packing into the Superdome, and this move suggests the Saints are trying to make the building feel a little more fan-friendly without losing the local flavor that makes it unique. The organizations are also keeping their food recovery work with Second Harvest Food Bank in place, donating unused food from home games as part of the broader push to modernize the experience around the stadium. [Read more 🡒]
Jordyn Tyson Already Has Saints Fans Worried About A Familiar Problem
The Saints first-round pick Jordyn Tyson had already given the fan base plenty to dream on before a joint practice with the Jaguars turned the conversation back toward durability. Tyson has the kind of talent that made him a premium selection, but his injury history has followed him through hamstring, knee, collarbone and ankle problems, and that alone has kept a close eye on every step he takes in camp.
Tyson left the session with what was later reported as a hamstring issue, and the Saints still have not offered a firm diagnosis or any sense of when he might be back. For a team trying to build around a young receiver with real upside, it is the sort of early setback that immediately stirs up familiar worries about whether his availability will match his potential. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Preseason Opener Could Reshape Several Young Roster Battles
The Saints are heading into the preseason with a roster that still has plenty of sorting to do, and the early work against the Jaguars should help clarify where a few young players stand. Spencer Rattler is positioned to handle the quarterback work in August, which gives him a meaningful stretch to show the staff he can keep the offense moving while the starters stay on the sideline. Around him, rookies such as Barion Brown, Oscar Delp, Christen Miller and Jayden Price all have different paths to the roster, but each one enters camp with a real chance to leave a mark.
For Brown, the opportunity goes beyond simply getting on the field, since his skill set gives the Saints another way to evaluate how much value he can bring in a crowded competition. Delp, Miller and Price are in similarly important spots, trying to turn practice reps and preseason snaps into something more lasting. With New Orleans using these weeks to sort out roles and depth, every one of those young players has a reason to treat the opener like a starting point rather than a warmup. [Read more 🡒]