The Los Angeles Rams are hitting the road, headed straight into Kansas City, Missouri for their 2026 preseason opener. Kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium is locked in for Saturday, August 15, at 1 p.m. PST. This isn’t just any preseason game, though. It’s the first live-action football for the Rams this year, against a familiar foe in the Chiefs. These two squads have battled twice in the regular season since Sean McVay took over in 2017. Remember that insane 54-51 barn burner the Rams won in 2018? Or the Chiefs’ 26-10 victory in 2022? Kansas City currently holds the all-time series lead at 8-5. But don’t expect a lot of fireworks this weekend.
Coaches Holding Cards Close, What to Expect
Let’s be real, this Saturday’s game is an appetizer, nothing more. The main course, the real showdown, won’t be served until December 3 in Week 13, when the Rams host the Chiefs for a Thursday Night Football battle. Chiefs Head coach Andy Reid didn’t mince words about the preseason approach in an August 10 press conference. He flat out said, “They’re not going to play anybody. And so and we’ll be very vanilla, too.” He added, “That’s kind of how it is…You’re not really game planning for these things. You’re just taking base plays and going and running them.” So, if you’re hoping for some deep strategy or star player heroics, you might want to adjust your expectations. This game is all about fundamentals and getting reps in.
How to Catch All The Action
Even if it’s “vanilla,” you’re still going to want to check out the early action, right? Nationally, you can watch the game live on NFL+ if you’re out of market. For those locally, CBS LA and its affiliates will carry the game. The broadcast team for the local affiliate coverage features JB Long on play-by-play, with Rob Havenstein and Jourdan Rodrigue handling color analysis, and Darren Haynes on the sideline. Preseason TV affiliates extend across multiple states, including New Mexico (KOAT ABC 7), Idaho (KTVB NBC 7), California (BAK CBS 29, KSEE NBC 24, KESQ ABC 3, KCRA NBC 3, KEYT ABC 3, KGTV ABC 10), Hawaii (KHII Channel 9), Utah (KJZZ Channel 14), Nevada (KNSN Nevada Sports Net), and Alaska (NYUR CW 13, NATN CW 2, NJUD CW 8).
If streaming is more your speed, the Rams official mobile app and therams.com have offered live streams in past seasons for local markets, though 2026 preseason availability is unconfirmed. For the whole season, Rams fans can stream via platforms like NFL+, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube, Peacock, and Paramount+, among others. On the radio, ESPN LA 710 AM and 93.1 Jack FM will simulcast local coverage, with Camryn Irwin on play-by-play, Maurice Jones-Drew as color analyst, and D’Marco Farr on the sideline. Their domestic affiliates span California, Nevada, and Hawaii. Internationally, you can listen via the LiSTNR App in Australia and W Radio in Mexico. For Spanish language listeners, Tu Liga Radio 1330 AM will have Troy Santiago on play-by-play and Ricar as color analyst.
So, while we’re not expecting a full-blown classic this Saturday, it’s still the Rams and Chiefs kicking off. Think of it as a warm-up, a taste of what’s to come, especially with that December 3 Thursday Night Football rematch looming.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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