Green Bay Packers @ Kansas City Chiefs: Predicting the Winner

The Green Bay Packers travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in a prime time matchup. Here are a few predictions for how the game will end up.

Once again the Green Bay Packers will be without star wide receiver Davante Adams but it appears that they will be getting Darnell Savage back and overall this is a relatively healthy football team. However, for the Kansas City Chiefs, they have a number of key plays that won’t be playing including the reigning MVP, Patrick Mahomes.

Even so, this isn’t a game that should be taken lightly by Green Bay as Kansas City still have plenty of offensive weapons and head coach Andy Reid always has a well-prepared team, especially when given extra time.

As we have done for the last few weeks, a few of our writers here at Dairyland Express give their predictions for how they think the game will play out and what the final score will be. So let’s take a look at how they think the Green Bay Packers will fare this week against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mike Wendlandt: Packers 27, Chiefs 17

For years, it seemed like whenever the Green Bay Packers had a big-time opponent in Prime Time, there was a series of injured players who wouldn’t be able to suit up. This year, the walking boot is on the other sideline as it’s the Chiefs who are dealing with a bevy of injuries to some very important pieces, the greatest of which is reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City will be missing three starters on offense (LT Eric Fisher, LG Andrew Wylie, and Mahomes) and three starters on defense (DE Frank Clark, DT Chris Jones, CB Kendall Fuller). That’s the entire left side of the offensive line, the two best pass rushers on the roster, and their top corner all out along with their superstar quarterback. Green Bay has to take advantage of that and I think they do.

Offensively, expect Matt LaFleur to ride the running backs to victory, with a heavy dose of both Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams to open things up for the deep ball to players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The Chiefs secondary has been inconsistent and penalty prone, especially old friend Breshaud Breeland, and this game should be no different. Look for another big offensive explosion from Aaron Rodgers and crew.

Defensively, Mike Pettine has to have his guys more focused on the middle of the field than they were last week. Travis Kelce is arguably the best tight end in the NFL and you know Andy Reid will target him a ton after seeing last week’s tape. If Adrian Amos and Oren Burks can step up and contain Kelce even a little, that lets the corners focus on Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, and Mecole Hardman. And with the left side of the line out, this is the week for the pass rush to explode once again. I can’t expect a route with the home-field advantage that Arrowhead provides as well as the Andy Reid regular season effect, but I do expect the Packers to win fairly comfortably 27-17.

Matt Carroll: Packers 31, Chiefs 17

Patrick Mahomes has been ruled out of Sunday night’s game and that’s pretty much all you have to know about this one. Backup quarterback Matt Moore did enough to keep the Chiefs offense rolling after Mahomes went down to injury last week, and that was against a good Broncos defense. But the Green Bay Packers have a week to prepare for Moore and will throw him looks that he is not expecting and show why he is a career backup.

Davante Adams is doubtful for the game but Aaron Rodgers proved, at least for one week, that he can function just fine without him if needed. Kansas City’s defense is pretty poor and that should allow the Packers to pile up the points. Rodgers and the run game roll, Moore struggles, and the Packers stretch their win streak to four games.

Brian Sampson: Packers 27, Chiefs 21

This was a daunting game when the schedule was first released. However, injuries on the Chiefs’ side have made it a lot easier for the Packers. Overall, Kansas City’s biggest losses might be on the defensive side of the ball and that’s good news for Green Bay. Still, don’t take the Chiefs for granted as the Packers will have to earn this victory.

Paul Bretl: Packers 31, Chiefs 20

The Chiefs have a number of key injuries this week but they still have Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill on offense, Andy Reid as their head coach, and one of the best home-field advantages in football.

Defensively, the Green Bay Packers need to focus on taking Kelce out of the game. So far this season, the big, athletic tight ends have been an issue and even with Matt Moore under center, I still expect Kelce to be a problem. As they’ve done for most of the year, the keys to success will be slowing the run, making Kansas City one-dimensional, which will give them more opportunities to get after Moore and force him to make some mistakes.

On offense, this should be another big day for Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. The Chiefs have one of the worst run defenses in the league and I expect Matt LaFleur to lean on his dynamic duo early on. This will also open up the passing game for Aaron Rodgers to take some shots downfield. Through the first quarter or so it may be close, but the Packers will prove to be too much for the Chiefs to handle and they will pull away.