Chiefs apply pressure, overwhelm Love, Packers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs probably scrapped whatever defensive game plan they were pondering the moment they learned Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had tested positive for COVID-19 this week.
There’s no way they would have blitzed the crafty MVP the way they did his understudy Sunday.
The new pressure-filled plan worked against Jordan Love, though.
The Chiefs brought the heat on just about every down, and the Packers were unable to counter it until the fourth quarter. Kansas City hung on for a 13-7 victory that snapped Green Bay’s seven-game win streak.
“I thought our defense did a nice job. We didn’t hold back,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Guys played hard and aggressive. You have to bear down every week the best way you can.”
After struggling uncharacteristically to start the season, the Chiefs (5-4) will face the Raiders next week at Allegiant Stadium looking for a third straight win.
Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, forcing the three-time All-pro to miss his first game since 2017. Love responded by going 19 of 34 for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception, both coming in the fourth quarter as the Packers tried to rally from a 13-0 deficit against the defending AFC champs.
Love’s touchdown pass to Allen Lazard with 4:49 left gave them a chance. But Patrick Mahomes hit Tyreek Hill on third-and-10 near midfield with less than two minutes left for a first down that allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock.
Mahomes was just 20 of 37 for 166 yards — his fewest in a full game in his career — along with a touchdown pass to Travis Kelce. The Chiefs managed just 237 yards of total offense.
“I feel like we’re close,” Mahomes said. “You can see drives here and there where we’re the team everybody knows and loves, but you have to consistently do that throughout every single drive in a game. We’re just not executing.”
The Packers (7-2), who are 6-12-1 without Rodgers since 2008, totaled 301 yards of offense.