The Los Angeles Rams beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-12 in both teams’ 2026 preseason opener Saturday, August 15, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes did not play beyond the coin toss, as planned; Justin Fields started and went 4-for-4 for 41 yards in a brief first-quarter appearance before giving way to Garrett Nussmeier and then Chris Oladokun, exactly the rotation head coach Andy Reid had announced beforehand. Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson was the story of the game, throwing two touchdown passes.
Key facts
- Final score: Rams 20, Chiefs 12
- Where: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
- Mahomes: played only the coin toss, as planned
- Chiefs QBs: Justin Fields (4-for-4, 41 yards, Q1 only), Garrett Nussmeier (13-for-19, 98 yards), Chris Oladokun (Q4)
- Rams standout: rookie QB Ty Simpson — 21-for-25, 190 yards, 2 TD (both to Dean Connors)
- Mahomes’ return target: the regular-season opener, September 14, vs. the Denver Broncos
Mahomes is still working his way back from a serious knee injury. He tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee — the two ligaments that help stabilize the joint — with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14, 2025, and had surgery within days. Roughly eight months later, he has been a full participant in training camp, and the Chiefs are aiming for him to return in the regular-season opener on September 14 against the Denver Broncos rather than rush him into a preseason snap. Reid said earlier this month there was “a pretty good chance” he wouldn’t play Mahomes in the opener at all, and this week he made it official.
Not everyone in the Chiefs’ locker room is eager for playing time today. Defensive tackle Chris Jones said ahead of the game that he’d rather not see the field at all in the preseason: “It’s good to get repetition, but I don’t want to play in the preseason,” he said, adding, “I’d rather not play, but if I do have to play, I’m going to buckle up.” Oddsmakers listed the Chiefs as 2.5-point favorites over the Rams, with an over/under of 35.5 combined points, according to a Fox Sports game preview.
Why it’s called the Chiefs Charity Game
Today’s game is the 42nd annual Chiefs Charity Game, and organizers say it’s the final year that Jackson County CASA — Court Appointed Special Advocates, which trains community volunteers to advocate for children in foster care — will serve as the event’s beneficiary. According to the Chiefs, the game has raised more than $16 million over its four-decade history. Jackson County CASA, the beneficiary for the last three of those years, says it received an estimated $1.3 million during that stretch. “These are everyday people – folks from the community – who volunteer to advocate for the best interests of children in foster care in Jackson County,” said Angie Blumel, president and CEO of Jackson County CASA.
How the game played out
The Rams scored first on a field goal in the first quarter. Fields’ four-play, 41-yard opening series ended in a punt, and after his brief appearance Nussmeier took over for most of the game, going 13-for-19 for 98 yards without a turnover — a would-be 94-yard touchdown pass was dropped by Jason Brownlee. The teams traded field goals to make it 6-6 at halftime, and a third-quarter Harrison Butker field goal put Kansas City ahead 9-6. Oladokun took over in the fourth quarter; an early interception call against him was overturned on replay, and he later connected with running back Jaydn Ott on passes of 13 and 27 yards to set up a final Butker field goal, making it 12-6. From there, Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson took over and threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to tight end Dean Connors, finishing 21-for-25 for 190 yards, to put Los Angeles ahead for good at 20-12. Kansas City was flagged 12 times for 83 yards. Running back Emmett Johnson had a touchdown called back on a holding penalty; safety Jaden Hicks had several pass breakups on defense, and Chris Jones — who had said before the game he would rather not play at all in the preseason — played just one snap.
What’s next for the Chiefs this preseason
After today, Kansas City travels to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, August 22 at 6:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. ET), then returns home to play the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, August 28 at 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET). The regular season opens September 14, when the Chiefs host the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, with kickoff at 7:15 p.m. CT (8:15 p.m. ET / 6:15 p.m. MT).
Sources and further reading
- Broncos to visit Kansas City Chiefs on ‘Monday Night Football’ to open 2026 season
- 2026 Regular Season Schedule Finalized; Chiefs to Play Six Primetime Contests
- Chiefs 2026 Schedule
- Official Kansas City Chiefs news index (headlines and transactions)
- Los Angeles Rams at Kansas City Chiefs: How to watch, listen to and live stream 2026 Preseason Week 1
- Important Fan Information for Saturday’s Preseason Game at Arrowhead Stadium
- Annual Chiefs Charity Game to Benefit Jackson County CASA on Saturday
- Rams at Chiefs — final box score (NFL.com)
- Rams 20, Chiefs 12 — game page (ESPN)
- Vet Justin Fields solid in brief Chiefs preseason debut (AP via Yahoo Sports)