Green Bay Packers @ Kansas City Chiefs: 4 Big Takeaways

After the Green Bay Packers move to 7-1 on the season, here are the four big takeaways from Sunday’s game in Kansas City.

It certainly wasn’t always pretty but when the Green Bay Packers’ defense had to, they came up with some big stops and a crucial turnover, while the offense, led by Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones, helped carry this team to another win.

Now at 7-1 on the season and still 3-0 within the NFC North, the Packers have established themselves as one of the top teams in the NFL and have another winnable game next week against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, before we start looking ahead, let’s take a look back at last night’s game and the four big takeaways from the Green Bay Packers’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

It’s time for a new punt returner

The return game has been an issue in Green Bay for a couple of years now. While it should be thought of as an opportunity to create better field position and maybe even a big play, with the Packers it is more of a liability. At this point, I can’t even remember what a good return looks like.

Prior to this game, Football Outsiders had the Packers ranked as the third-worst punt return team in the league. And although during the preseason I was a huge fan of Darrius Shepherd’s, ever since his fumble in the Detroit game he has been ultra-conservative. While I can understand him being cautious and not wanting to make a similar mistake, he can’t be playing scared either.

The final punt return of the Chiefs’ game is a prime example. Shepherd had the opportunity to catch the ball around the 15-yard line, but instead let it go and Kansas City downed the ball at the two-yard line. Luckily, Green Bay was able to pick up a few first downs and put the game away. However, it is still time for a change.

Feed Aaron Jones

For the second game this season, Aaron Jones put the offense on his back along with Aaron Rodgers and led the Green Bay Packers to victory. Against the Chiefs, Jones would total 67 rushing yards and a whopping 159 yards through the air with two touchdowns. In fact, Jones outgained the combined efforts of the Green Bay receiving core and tight end unit.

In the four games that Davante Adams has been out, Jones has become Rodgers’ number one receiving target. Since the Dallas game, Jones has caught 22 of the 27 passes thrown his way for 280 yards with three touchdowns. On the ground, he has an additional 271 yards at nearly five yards per carry and two more touchdowns.

Even when Adams returns, continue to give Aaron Jones the ball.

Allen Lazard is WR2

A big discussion this offseason was in regards to who would step up as Green Bay’s number two wide receiver behind Davante Adams. Expectations were that it would either be Geronimo Allison or Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but instead it looks like that title belongs to Allen Lazard. Now, raise your hand if that was your prediction over the summer.

Lazard had his breakout performance come in the fourth quarter of the Detroit game where he caught four of five passes for 65 yards with a fantastic touchdown reception. Since then he’s caught eight of nine for 84 yards. Lazard is a big, physical receiver with reliable hands and he clearly as the trust of Aaron Rodgers.

The defense still has work to do

This was a beaten up Kansas City offense that the Packers had to face as they were missing both starters on the left side of the offensive line and of course, Patrick Mahomes. Yet backup quarterback Matt Moore and the explosive playmakers around him carved up this conservative Green Bay defense completing 24/36 passes for 267 yards with two touchdowns and he was sacked just two times. This also isn’t the first time that this defense has been picked apart this season.

On the year, the Green Bay Packers give up 375.5 total yards per game which ranks as the 11th most in football. They also give up 6.0 yards per play (10th most) and allow their opponents to convert on 40 percent of their third-down plays (18th most). However, they’ve been able to force key turnovers just as they did in Kansas City and they hold their opponents to just 20.4 points per game (11th fewest).

While they have certainly improved from where they have been in recent years and they truly embrace that bend but don’t break mentality, there are still improvements that need to be made moving forward.