PACKERVILLE, U.S.A.: Chiefs at Packers Preview

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AFC West-leading Chiefs visit Green Bay as Packers seek 3rd straight win

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY (8-3) at GREEN BAY (5-6)

DAY / TIME / TV: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC

SERIES RECORD: Chiefs lead 8-5-1

LAST MEETING: Chiefs beat Packers 13-7, in Kansas City on Nov. 7, 2021.

LAST WEEK: Chiefs won 31-17 at Las Vegas; Packers won 29-22 at Detroit

CHIEFS OFFENSE: OVERALL (8), RUSH (17), PASS (7), SCORING (11)

CHIEFS DEFENSE: OVERALL (4), RUSH (19), PASS (4), SCORING (3)

PACKERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (21), PASS (16), SCORING (17)

PACKERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (27), PASS (9), SCORING (10-T)

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Chiefs minus-5; Packers even

After one of their trademark come-from-behind victories last week in Las Vegas, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs hope their rally sparks a surge that can help the defending Super Bowl champions make another postseason run.

The next step comes Sunday night when the AFC West-leading Chiefs (8-3) visit the improving Green Bay Packers (5-6).

Kansas City is coming off a 31-17 triumph over the Raiders in which the Chiefs responded after falling behind 14-0 in the first 18 minutes. Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whose team made plenty of notable comebacks during its two recent Super Bowl championship seasons, liked the way his players didn’t flinch amid adversity.

“They picked everything up and said, ‘We have to play better,’" Reid said. “And I hear things on the sideline, so I get a feel most people don’t hear. The guys, the leaders were really encouraging guys, and I thought all that was positive.”

That comeback ended a string of three straight games in which Kansas City failed to score after halftime, and it provided a glimpse of how the Chiefs must play the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs.

Green Bay had its own issues earlier this season, as the Packers failed to score a single first-half touchdown during one five-game stretch.

But just like the Chiefs turned around their second-half woes, the Packers are doing a better job of moving the ball early on. They scored touchdowns on their first two drives in a 29-22 Thanksgiving Day victory at Detroit.

“I just think we’re doing a better job of finding our rhythm, finding our flow as an offense,” Packers wide receiver Christian Watson said. “It took us a little too long early in the season to find that, to find that rhythm. Now I think we’re connecting a little bit better as an offense and finding it a little quicker.”

This marks the Chiefs’ first regular-season visit to Green Bay since 2015, which means it will be the first time Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes has played at Lambeau Field. The two-time Super Bowl champion was here for a 2019 preseason game in which he didn’t play.

“I’m extremely excited for it,” Mahomes said. “I’ve watched it my whole entire life. I know it’s going to be a hostile environment and loud, a lot like what Arrowhead is like to other teams. If you love football, you love Lambeau Field, and I’m excited to play a game there.”

LOVE vs. CHIEFS AGAIN

Packers quarterback Jordan Love faced the Chiefs in his first career start in 2021, when a positive COVID-19 test sidelined Aaron Rodgers. The Packers lost that game 13-7 as Love struggled to deal with all the pressure the Chiefs were putting on him.

“It was a good learning experience for me, just being able to see those experiences, see where I need to be going with the ball,” Love said. “I watched it back that offseason and was able to learn a lot just from that film.”

CELEBRITY WATCH

TV viewers could end up seeing plenty of shots in the stands Sunday night with the possibility that pop superstar Taylor Swift, who's in a relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles, who's married to Green Bay safety Jonathan Owens, could be on hand for the game.

Swift hasn’t attended the last two Chiefs games due to conflicts with her tour schedule, which is currently on a break. Biles has attended multiple Packers home games and expressed her approval via social media last week when Owens scored his first career touchdown on a 27-yard fumble return.

VALDES-SCANTLING’S RETURN

Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling played his first four seasons in Green Bay, where he provided a deep threat but struggled to catch the ball consistently. He has had the same issues in Kansas City.

Valdes-Scantling has just 15 receptions for 248 yards and dropped a potential go-ahead touchdown pass in the final minutes of a 21-17 loss to the Eagles in their Super Bowl rematch a couple of weeks ago.

SACK ATTACK

The Chiefs are tied for fourth in the NFL with 37 sacks. They have three players with more than five sacks: George Karlaftis (8), Chris Jones (7½) and Mike Danna (5½).

The Packers have their own exceptional pass rusher in Rashan Gary, who had three sacks in the Thanksgiving victory at Detroit.

DANGEROUS IN DECEMBER

The Packers are 15-0 in December games during Matt LaFleur’s coaching tenure. That represents the second-longest December winning streak in NFL history. The Chargers won 18 straight from 2006-09, well before their move to Los Angeles.

CHIEFS PLAYER TO WATCH

WR Rashee Rice caught eight passes for 107 yards — both career highs — and scored a touchdown in the Chiefs’ victory at Las Vegas. The rookie second-round pick from SMU has caught at least four passes in six of his past seven games and he has scored in two of his past three outings.

PACKERS PLAYER TO WATCH

OLB Rashan Gary is coming off a three-sack performance against the Lions. That marked the second game this season in which Gary has had three sacks.

KEY MATCHUP

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes vs. Packers pass defense: Mahomes was the AFC offensive player of the week after going 27 of 34 for 298 yards with two touchdown passes against the Raiders. The Packers have withstood multiple injuries to their secondary and have played solid pass defense this season. Gary has provided the pass rush, while rookie seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine has emerged as a quality cornerback.

KEY INJURIES

Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon (groin) didn't play against the Raiders and is questionable for Sunday's game… Chiefs LB Nick Bolton (wrist) will miss a fifth straight game… Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (thumb) went on injured reserve last week… Packers RB Aaron Jones (knee) will miss a second straight game… Packers CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder) has missed three straight games and is questionable for Sunday's game… Packers CB Eric Stokes (hamstring) and S Darnell Savage (calf) have missed five straight games. Savage is questionable and Stokes doubtful for Sunday. Also questionable for the Packers are LB De'Vondre Campbell (neck), TE Josiah Deguara (hip), S Rudy Ford (biceps/groin), WR Jayden Reed (chest), CB Robert Rochell (calf) and WR Dontayvion Wicks (knee).

INJURY REPORT

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS at GREEN BAY PACKERS — KANSAS CITY: OUT: LB Nick Bolton (wrist). QUESTIONABLE: RB Jerrick McKinnon (groin). FULL: FS Bryan Cook (bicep), WR Kadarius Toney (ankle/hip), WR Rashee Rice (foot), OT Donovan Smith (neck), CB L’Jarius Sneed (knee), WR Skyy Moore (knee). GREEN BAY: OUT: RB Aaron Jones (knee). DOUBTFUL: CB Eric Stokes (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder), OLB De’Vondre Campbell (neck), TE Josiah Deguara (hip), FS Rudy Ford (biceps/groin), WR Jayden Reed (chest), CB Robert Rochell (calf), S Darnell Savage (calf), WR Dontayvion Wicks (knee). LIMITED: NT Kenny Clark (shoulder), RB A.J. Dillon (groin), LB Rashan Gary (shoulder). FULL: DB Keisean Nixon (wrist), DT Devonte Wyatt (heel).

SERIES NOTES

The previous matchup between these two teams was Packers QB Jordan Love’s first career start. Love started the Packers' 13-7 loss at Kansas City in 2021 because a positive COVID-19 test had sidelined Aaron Rodgers… This represents the Chiefs’ first regular-season game at Lambeau Field since 2015, when they lost 38-28. That was the Packers’ first regular-season home victory over the Chiefs, who have a 3-1-1 record at Lambeau Field… Packers coach Matt LaFleur has a 1-1 record against Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

STATS AND STUFF

The Chiefs haven't allowed more than 24 points in a game all season… Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce have connected on 51 touchdowns. That puts them in a tie for third place among all NFL quarterback/tight end combinations with former New Orleans teammates Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham… Chiefs K Harrison Butker is 20 of 20 on field goals and 28 of 28 on extra-point attempts this season. He has made 21 straight field-goal attempts overall, going back to last season… The Packers have a 15-0 December record during LaFleur’s coaching tenure. That’s the second-longest December winning streak in NFL history, behind the San Diego Chargers’ 18 straight December victories from 2006-09… The Chiefs outscored the Raiders 17-3 in the second half to end a string of three straight games in which they failed to score after halftime… Packers rookies have played a combined 136 games this season to lead all NFL teams… Packers CB/KR Keisean Nixon has an NFL-leading 26.8 yards per kickoff return… Packers QB Jordan Love has an NFL-leading 19 completions of 30-plus yards this season. Love has thrown for 590 yards with five touchdown passes and no interceptions during the Packers’ two-game win streak… Packers S Jonathan Owens had 12 tackles and scored his first career touchdown on a 27-yard fumble return against the Lions… Packers K Anders Carlson has missed an extra-point attempt in three straight games, including one kick that got blocked… Packers WR Romeo Doubs has seven touchdown catches, putting him in a tie for fifth place in the NFL… The Chiefs have an all-time record of 8-5-1 against the Packers, including Green Bay's win in Super Bowl I. Their most recent meeting was a 13-7 Chiefs win in Week 9, 2021 in Kansas City… The Chiefs beat the Raiders, 31-17, in Las Vegas last week despite trailing, 14-0, at one point. It was the fourth time in Chiefs history they have won by double-digits after trailing by at least 14 points -- three of those have come in road games against the Raiders (11-point wins in 1981 and 1993). They also had an 11-point win at Tennessee in 2004… Last week, Rashee Rice became just the second rookie in Chiefs history with eight receptions, 100 receiving yards (107) and a receiving touchdown. He joined Dwayne Bowe, who had eight catches for 164 yards and a TD in Week 4, 2007 against the Chargers… The Packers beat the Lions, 29-22, in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, their third win in their last four games following a four-game losing streak. The 29 points scored were their most since opening the season with a 38-20 win in Chicago… Jordan Love had three touchdown passes and zero interceptions last week, his third such game this season (also Weeks 1 & 2). The only Packers quarterbacks with more such games in a season are Brett Favre (three times) and Aaron Rodgers (eight times)… This will be the 32nd different stadium in which Patrick Mahomes has played an NFL game. The only active NFL stadiums Mahomes has not played in are Lambeau Field (GB), AT&T Stadium (Dal), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atl) and Bank of America Stadium (Car).