The night football history broke: a 105-point shootout in Los Angeles

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2018, the NFL witnessed a game so explosive it defied the traditional logic of defense. Two of the league's most potent offenses collided in a high-scoring marathon that saw both teams cross the 50-point threshold for the first time in history, resulting in a frantic, record-breaking finish.

The Kansas City Chiefs visited the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during 19 November 2018. The game was an anomaly of scale, combining for 105 total points—the third-highest-scoring game in NFL history. It marked the first time in league history that both competing teams surpassed 50 points in a single game. The offensive output was so prolific that the teams combined for 1,001 total yards of offense, including 21 points scored specifically by the defenses.

The matchup was defined by extreme volatility. The teams traded the lead six times, with four of those changes occurring in the final quarter alone. A 54–51 win for the Rams occurred despite the Chiefs achieving a unique feat: they remain the sole NFL franchise to tally 50+ points while suffering a defeat. This 'instant classic' also served as the first regular-season meeting between the two clubs following the Rams' move from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

The game was also a logistical triumph over adversity. Originally scheduled for Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the game was moved to Los Angeles just six days before kickoff due to poor field conditions caused by rain and heavy event scheduling. This move occurred while the Greater Los Angeles area was reeling from a mass shooting and the Woolsey Fire. The Rams organization navigated these crises by evacuating facilities and providing emergency expenses for staff, while also distributing over 3,000 tickets to first responders and those affected by the tragedies.

The game's conclusion was a masterclass in late-game drama. With under a minute remaining, the Rams held a 54–51 lead. A series of late-game penalties and turnovers—including a 68-yard punt by Johnny Hekker and a final interception by Lamarcus Joyner—sealed the win. The Rams eventually went on to reach Super Bowl LIII, while the game remains a benchmark for offensive production in the modern era.

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