Chiefs at Packers: OPEN THREAD

Laddie Morse

So, who will show up at the game today? The team that has been 2-and-2 in their last four games… or… the team that didn’t score any second half points in three games in a row… or… the team that is now 8-and-3? This team will have to come up big for me to be a consistent believer in their prowess again. The team that started out this season with “Dynasty” aspirations will need to step up and take this game from the start for that to happen. They need to return to the team that won six (6) games in a row earlier this season.

Charles Robinson has a piece out called: “Why we should embrace these enigmatic Kansas City Chiefs” in which he says:

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“If anyone has a guess as to who the Kansas City Chiefs actually are in 2023, you may want to buy a Powerball ticket. The team thus far has been a roller coaster ride, and it’s time that we enjoy it rather than spell consistent doom and gloom.”

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In a league with such parity, it’s hard to pick a team and stick with them, even if it looks like they will be winning most of their games. The NFL may see parity as an answer, but it can produce problems for their fans and instead of being a godsend, it could be the devil in disguise.

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I like what Rashee Rice had to say here in “Under the Helmet”…

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It’ll take loads of “togetherness” for this team to make that happen. I find Rice’s giddiness a little disturbing some times, as if he’s not serious enough, but better to be a positive person than a downer all the time, right?

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The Weather Factor

Yesterday I mentioned that the snow would start at 1:00 A.M. and go all day. The newest weather report — from weather.com — says the snow will end before 5:00 P.M. and looks like this all evening:

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Since we know Patrick Mahomes is a good snowy weather quarterback, I have no issues with him in this game. However, I heard Special Teams coach Dave Toub talkign about the slippery surface and if it has indeed snowed all day, the Chiefs will need to have longer cleats ready to rock and roll with. Toub was the long time Special Teams coach for the Chicago Bears prior to taking over for K.C. and so he knows well that the surface can be slippery at times in Lambeau Field.

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Injury Reports

It looks like even though MLB Nick Bolton was back at practice this week, he will continue to be out.

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The Packers are reporting a boat load of players who will be Questionable, but I doubt any of them will not play — except RB Aaron Jones — especially since they have their division title on the line and being 3 games behind the Lions.

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The Nick Bolton holdout is troubling. I’m beginning to wonder if the Chiefs are holding him out to get him to possibly take less this off season when his contract comes due. It’s going to be an interesting offseason with so many players needing to be re-signed.

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Getting to Jordan Love

theeagleswire.usatoday.com has piece out by Glenn Erby called, “All 32 NFL quarterbacks (including Jalen Hurts) ranked by Total QBR ahead of Week 13” and he’s ranked all the QBs in the league prior to week 13 and Jordan Love comes in at the 19th best QB. Of course you may have to take those rankings with a grain of salt because they rank Brock Purdy of the 49ers as the #1 QB in the NFL and Patrick Mahomes as the #4 guy. They also rank their own QB, Jalen Hurts, as the #6 QB in the league so maybe they’re onto something.

What that may mean for this game is that Jordan Love has an upside. The Pack just beat the Lions who whipped K.C. in week one, and Mina Kimes — who I revere — had this to say about Jordan Love’s progression:

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Jordan Love says he’s watched the preseason tape from last year when the Packers played the Chiefs and lost, 17-to-10.

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“I’ve watched that tape plenty. So I know the

exact kind of looks that they gave us. I’m

expecting that they’ll have a new

flavor of pressure of this week.”

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The Chiefs have said plenty of times prior to the game with the Eagles, that their game with them was NOT a rematch because the teams are both so different now. That’s what comes to mind when I consider the Chiefs defense then and now. How Jordan Love can compare the preseason game last year to the Chiefs defense this year is mind boggling. It should be bulletin board material.

The most important aspect of Love’s game to remember is… he struggled early in the year but appears to have figured things out now.

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Chiefs Offense vs Packers Defense

While the Packers offense may end up giving the Chiefs defense all they can handle, the game may come down to the Chiefs offense vs the Packers defense. K.C. needs to remain consistent in their scoring drives and not give away a whole half of football without any points.

thefantasyfootballers.com had an article called: “Defense Rankings for Week 13” in which they rank the Packers defense as the 25th (out of 26) best — worst? — defense this weekend (that’s because there are only 13 games this weekend and the other teams have a Bye Week). The Chiefs defense ranks #6. With Patrick Mahomes and Rashee Rice making a positive connection this past game vs the Raiders, it’s a good bet that more is on the horizon.

My Prediction

Chiefs 34, Packers 17

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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