Gametime: Sunday, October 27, 2019, at 7:20 p.m.
Location: Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO
Network: NBC
Radio (Kansas City residence): Chiefs Fox Football Radio Network KCFX (101.1)
In just the third meeting this decade, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (6-1) will square off with the Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) and their head-hunting defense on Sunday Night Football.
Both teams are coming off impressive victories from the previous week, starting with the Chiefs, who hope to build off an impressive defensive performance, sacking Denver quarterback nine times to beat the Broncos on Thursday Night Football 30-6 on October 17.
Meanwhile, Quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 81 percent of his throws for 429 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Packers to a blowout victory over the Raiders 42-24. Rodgers has thrived since Matt LaFleur took over as head coach this season and he’s off to an MVP-type season, completing 64.8 percent of his throws for 2,019 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
Rodgers going against a revamped Kansas City’s defense will be the main plot for tonight’s game but the ultimate factor that will decide who gets the ‘W’ will once again come from within the trenches.
Green Bay’s offensive line ranks amongst the best in the league as tackles David Bakhtiari and Brain Bulaga have both done a great job protecting the edges for Aaron Rodgers. The Packers have also done a great job setting up running lanes for runners Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams to run through. The Packers have run the ball 179 times thus far this season and have averaged approximately 3.9 yards a carry.
If Kansas City can’t match the level of intensity along the line of scrimmage, expect results much like their previous two home games against the Colts and Texans.
But Green Bay comes into tonight’s game a little banged up and they’ll be without their top receiver Devante Adams for a fourth straight game with a turf toe. However, the Packers have three young receivers who have stepped up in his absence. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who has 21 catches for 416 yards and two touchdowns, Geronimo Allison, who has 17 receptions for 177 yards and a pair of scores and Allen Lazard has also stepped up with seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Kansas City also enters tonight’s game banged up with six starters who won’t play due to injury, one of which includes quarterback Patrick Mahomes after suffering a dislocated kneecap ten days ago against the Broncos.
Backup quarterback Matt Moore will get the start under center for Kansas City, who was solid against the Broncos, throwing 10 of 19 for 117 yards and a score. The Chiefs will also be getting a major piece of the offense back with the return of Sammy Watkins, who’s been absent the past few games due to injury and will give Moore another weapon to throw to.
The Packers will have their hands full with all the offensive weapons in Kansas City arsenal and none are more dangerous than Tyreek Hill, who has picked up where he left off after returning from injury two weeks ago.
According to Chiefs insider B.J. Kissel, Hill has 17 career touchdowns of at least 50 yards in just 50 career games; in other words, Hill tends to score a touchdown from at least 50 yards every one in three games. Ten of Hill’s 50-yard scores were in primetime games like the one the Chiefs will play tonight.
The Chiefs will also need a steady dose of the run game to help them win the battle at the line of scrimmage while also taking the pressure off of Moore and keeping the Packer defense honest.
Running back LeSean McCoy was dominant against the Broncos, averaging over five yards a carry for 64 yards.
As mentioned before, the Chiefs defense enters tonight’s game a little dinged up and will be without defensive end Frank Clark (neck), defensive tackle Chris Jones (groin), and cornerback Kendall Fuller (thumb). But despite that, Kansas City will still look to get after Aaron Rodgers, who holds onto the football for an average of 2.79 seconds before attempting to throw, ranking third-longest amongst NFL passers this year. If the Chiefs are able to get past Green Bay’s big o-line, they might be able to disrupt Rodgers from making his reads and force him into making mistakes, something he doesn’t do very often.
The Chiefs will also look to linebacker Reggie Ragland to help plug up Green Bay’s run game and keep them from setting the tone and keeping Kansas City’s offense on the sideline. If the Chiefs are able to keep Green Bay from getting into a rhythm, it could lead to a good night for Kansas City.
PREDICTION
Tonight will be the first time the Chiefs will be without Patrick Mahomes but I don’t believe that’s a reason to panic. While many are expecting the Packers blow the Chiefs out of the gate, I don’t believe that’ll happen. Head Coach Andy Reid will keep Matt Moore in the best position to be successful and I think he keeps this game close. Also, when you consider that Moore has the most talent he’s ever had in his entire career, there’s a reason to be optimistic. The area to watch will be between the offensive and defensive lines for both teams. Penetrating and forcing Green Bay’s offense into mistakes is a tall order but if the Chiefs are able to win the battle at the line of scrimmage, they just might take the game with them.
CHIEFS: 24
PACKERS: 23
