Rams take on the Chiefs at the Edward Jones Dome in final preseason game tonight!

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The preseason comes to a close Thursday night when the Rams take on the Chiefs at the Edward Jones Dome. Here are a few keys to success for the home team.
1) Earn your spot


The fourth preseason game has a reputation for being a contest filled with younger players on the cusp of making the 53-man roster. Head coach Jeff Fisher has said that many of the slots for Week 1 are already penciled in. And so this contest is one final chance for players to make an impression not only for the Rams, but also for the 31 other teams in the league. If a player puts good work on film, it could present an opportunity to latch on somewhere else. 
That’s why this contest is of particular importance to many players on the current 75-man roster.

2) Rest if you need it


Fisher also said earlier this week that some starters may not play, while others may take a fair amount of snaps. It’s up to the head coach who will and will not see the field tonight, but based on his comments, it seems safe to assume that even if some do play, they will not be out there for long. That’s OK, as the team’s focus will shift from finishing the preseason to coming away victorious over Seattle once the final whistle blows on Thursday night.


3) Take the cup

The Governor’s Cup is awarded to the winner of the Kansas City - St. Louis matchup. The Rams and Chiefs have played in the preseason 14 times in the last 20 years, and St. Louis has won nine of those contests. The Chiefs currently hold the cup after beating the Rams last year in the regular season at Arrowhead Stadium. So St. Louis can capture the cup for at least another year on Thursday night.
The Rams will take on the Chiefs in the fourth preseason matchup, which is a chance for many younger players to earn spots on a roster or practice squad -- either in St. Louis or elsewhere in the NFL. Here are five players to watch in the contest.

1) Sean Mannion - No. 14


Head coach Jeff Fisher said the quarterback should play a significant amount in this final exhibition contest, and it should be a good opportunity for him to show how he’s improved since arriving in St. Louis for rookie orientation. Aside from an interception last week against the Colts, Mannion has done a nice job in the preseason, completing 60.6 percent of his passes for 193 yards and a touchdown. Expect him to play much of Thursday’s game. 


2) Louis Trinca-Pasat - No. 62


The Iowa product has been impressive in the preseason, as he’s second on the team with 15 total tackles. Trinca-Pasat has also tallied three quarterback pressures and a quarterback hit, showing what he can do from the interior of the defensive line. One specific play that showed his skills was a tackle-for-loss last week against Indianapolis, where he helped stop a running play in the backfield before it got started. Look for him to continue to make plays inside against Kansas City. 


3) Malcolm Brown - No. 39


The running back out of Texas has done a nice job both running and receiving the ball in the first three exhibition matchups. Brown has 12 carries for 55 yards -- a 4.6-yard average -- and he’s also caught eight passes for 106 yards. One such pass was a short ball from Mannion that the back took down the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown. Given how he can potentially contribute to special teams as well, Brown is one of the players who can possibly earn a spot on the final roster with a strong performance against Kansas City. 


4) Matt Longacre - No. 63


Longacre is another young defensive lineman who has made in impression in camp. The undrafted rookie out of Northwest Missouri State has registered 13 total tackles, and leads the club with six quarterback pressures. He told STLouisRams.com this week working with such a talented group of players and defensive line coach Mike Waufle has been invaluable for his development. While it could be tough for him to crack the Rams’ 53-man roster, Thursday’s contest should provide an opportunity to show what he can do on the field.


5) Daniel Rodriguez - No. 3
Rodriguez has been a major contributor on special teams in the first three games, and should continue to do so Thursday night. His role on offense, however, may expand with Fisher potentially resting many of the unit’s contributors. The head coach has said all along one of the team’s goals is to get Rodriguez in the end zone in one of these games. Thursday night should provide a good opportunity to do so.
THE GAME
Who:  Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) at St. Louis Rams (0-3)
When:  Thursday, Sept. 3 -- 7 p.m. CT
Where:  Edward Jones Dome / St. Louis, Mo.
TELEVISION
Network:  Rams Broadcasting Network
Station:  KTVI FOX 2 (FOX affiliate in St. Louis)
Talent:  Andrew Siciliano (pbp), Marshall Faulk (analyst), Torry Holt (analyst), Martin Kilcoyne (sidelines), Dani Klupenger (sidelines)
RADIO
Network:  Rams Radio Network
Flagship:  WXOS-101.1 FM (ESPN affiliate in St. Louis)
Talent:  Steve Savard (pbp), D’Marco Farr (analyst), Will Witherspoon (sidelines)
WATCH ON-LINE
NFL.com/GamePass
THE LAST GAME
Score:  Indianapolis Colts 24, St. Louis Rams 14
Date:  Saturday, Aug. 29
Location:  Edward Jones Dome / St. Louis, Mo.
“Five Takeaways” from Myles Simmons
SERIES NOTES
Preseason:  The Rams lead 9-5
Regular Season:  The Chiefs lead 6-0
Last Meeting:  Chiefs 34, Rams 7 / Oct. 26, 2014 in Kansas City
DID YOU KNOW?
St. Louis quarterback Nick Foles and Kansas City Head Coach Andy Reid were together in Philadelphia during the 2012 campaign.
OPPONENT SNAPSHOT
Primary Owner:  Clark Hunt
General Manager:  John Dorsey
Head Coach:  Andy Reid
Moved to Kansas City:  1963
Super Bowl Titles:  1 (1970)
Playoff Appearances:  17
2014 Record:  9-7
2014 Playoffs:  None
FORMER CHIEFS IN ST. LOUIS
Offensive Coordinator Frank Cignetti was an offensive assistant with the Chiefs in 1999.
FORMER RAMS IN KANSAS CITY
Assistant Secondary Coach Al Harris played the final season of his career with the Rams in 2011.
CHIEFS WITH ST. LOUIS AREA TIES
QB Chase Daniel, WR Jeremy Maclin and OL Mitch Morse played at the University of Missouri.  Maclin also attended Kirkwood High School in St. Louis County.
Defensive Backs Coach Emmitt Thomas coached with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1981-85.
RAMS WITH KANSAS CITY AREA TIES
CB E.J. Gaines is from Independence, Mo., and played at Missouri.
C Tim Barnes is from Longwood, Mo., and played at Missouri.
Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams grew up in Excelsior Springs, Mo.  He began his career as a high school coach in the Kansas City area.

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