KC Chiefs vs. Packers: Patrick Mahomes vs. Jordan Love aside, keep an eye on these guys
So what are the Chiefs missing by not facing superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who’s stuck on the COVID-19 protocol list and thus won’t play for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday?
Rodgers has played against the Chiefs three times, games in which he’s thrown a combined nine touchdown passes and no interceptions for a robust 118.3 passer rating.
Five of those touchdown passes came in a 2015 victory at Green Bay that wasn’t as close as the 38-28 final might lead you to believe (the Packers led 31-7 at one point). He added three touchdown passes in a 2019 victory at Arrowhead, and his favorite target that day was running back Aaron Jones (see below).
But the oddest outcome occurred in 2011, when the Chiefs recorded their lone victory over Rodgers and his team. The Packers entered that game 13-0 and had won 19 straight, including the most recent Super Bowl. In the week leading up to the game, the Chiefs, just 5-8 at the time, fired Todd Haley and installed defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel as their interim head coach.
You might recall that journeyman quarterback Kyle Orton — picked up by the Chiefs a month prior — made his first start for Kansas City that afternoon. Many factors seemed to be in Green Bay’s favor that day, in other words, yet Kansas City won 19-14 at Arrowhead to hand the perfect Packers their only loss in an otherwise unblemished regular season.
This year’s meeting is the Chiefs’ 17th game in an expanded slate — it represents the additional contest on their NFL schedule as all teams went from a 16-game regular season to 17 games this fall. The Chiefs and Packers were scheduled by the NFL because both were division winners in 2020, and the prospect of a first-ever Aaron Rodgers-Patrick Mahomes duel was so enticing.
It didn’t happen in 2019 because of Mahomes’ knee injury, and it won’t happen now because of Rodgers’ positive COVID test. Perhaps it can happen in a future Super Bowl or, if Rodgers ends up leaving Wisconsin and signing with the Denver Broncos, as was rumored this past offseason, the two star signal-callers might one day share a division and play twice a year.
But that’s talk for another time. Here are some other players to keep an eye on Sunday.
Chiefs wide reciever Mecole Hardman
It’s been a good stretch for Hardman, who has 22 receptions in his last four games. His speed on a 24-yard reception Monday against the Giants, on a pitch-pass from Mahomes, set up the Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal for the Chiefs. Hardman didn’t have a punt return in either of the Chiefs’ past two games, but when Washington kicked to him he returned two for a 28-yard average. With six more receptions, Hardman would match his most productive season (he also had 41 catches last year).
Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton
The AFC’s Defensive Rookie of The Month has been piling up tackles, with 26 in the past two games. He’s now the team leader in that department, with 66. “He’s played some really good football for us,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “He’s been impressive in how much volume he’s been able to absorb.” Anthony Hitchens is set to return for Sunday’s game and Spagnoulo said both Hitchens and Bolton could be on the field at the same time against Green Bay.
Packers running back Aaron Jones
When the Packers beat the Chiefs 31-24 at Arrowhead two years ago, Jones had a huge game. He rushed for 52 yards but did most of his damage as a receiver. Jones caught seven passes for 159 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown. He had more than half of Rodgers’ 305 passing yards that day, too. With Rodgers not playing Sunday, and the Chiefs certain to pressure Jordan Love heavily, look for Jones to be the Pack’s leading man on offense.
Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell
Campbell came up big against the Cardinals, with a sack, another tackle for a loss and his second interception of the season. The former Falcons and Cardinals linebacker who signed a one-year, $2 million deal in June leads the Packers in tackles and has played on all but 97% of Green Bay’s defensive snaps this season.