St. Louis Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Breaking Down Kansas City's Game Plan

The Kansas City Chiefs have a chance to do something they have yet to do in the 2014 season: go above .500. The Chiefs hold a 3-3 record, looking to improve to four wins and cut the deficit in the amount of games they trail in the AFC West.

The team got through the hard part of its schedule after the first seven weeks. Now, Kansas City returns to Arrowhead Stadium with a chance to form a winning streak and begin a run as we inch closer to the second half of the season.

Pressure Austin Davis

With quarterback Sam Bradford out for the season, St. Louis was forced to put in Austin Davis, who never played a regular-season snap until this year. Through six games, Davis has thrown nine touchdowns and committed six turnovers.

Davis recently led the Rams to a stunning win over the Seattle Seahawks. However, he faces a defense he has not seen this season.

Primarily dominated by outside linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, combining for 11 sacks, the Chiefs will look to invade the pocket and give Davis a hard time. He’s been sacked 15 times in 2014, as St. Louis’ offensive line has allowed at least four sacks in three different games.

The front seven is likely to have a good game as left tackle and former No. 1 overall pick Jake Long has already given up four sacks and is on pace to give up eight sacks on the year, which will be the most he’s allowed in a single season.

Come Up with Turnovers

While applying pressure, opposing quarterbacks, especially inexperienced ones, tend to throw ill-advised passes. The Rams have given away the ball nine times, six of them coming from Davis.

Kansas City’s defense has a golden opportunity to swipe some passes. The team has earned just four takeaways, all coming in two different games this season.

Winning the turnover battle will benefit the Chiefs immensely, especially at home.

Protect Alex Smith

Even with the NFC’s reigning sack champion in defensive end Robert Quinn, the Rams have a league-low four sacks this year. Given the woes Kansas City’s offensive line has had, this week is the best time for it to improve and play a nearly perfect game.

Keeping Smith’s jersey clean allows him to do what he needs to do in order to succeed and give the team a chance to win.

Smith has viable weapons in his running backs and tight ends and gets occasional playmakers in his wide receivers. Smith, who has thrown only one interception in the last five games, will make the right passes and keep the offense moving.

Continue Giving the Ball to Jamaal Charles

The Chiefs run the ball well, executing on 39 runs and going run-heavy after throwing 28 times. Chiefs coach Andy Reid knows Jamaal Charles is the team’s best player and one of the most explosive playmakers in the league. Getting the ball in his hands usually leads to good things.

Despite the slow start in missing a little bit of time early on with an injury, Charles has run for 267 yards and a pair of touchdowns since his return through three games.

The Rams have given up the fifth most yardage on the ground, which bodes will for Kansas City as it possesses one of the best running back tandems in the NFL with Knile Davis and De’Anthony Thomas behind Charles.

Follow @Farzin21