Chiefs (8-3) at Packers (5-6)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
TV:
Spread (BetMGM):
Chiefs by 6.5
Chiefs’ keys to victory: Win the line of scrimmage and win the middle of the field. Kansas City needs to get the ground game going with RB Isiah Pacheco, consistently get pressure on the QB, find ways to get TE Travis Kelce open against zone coverage and keep the Packers from getting explosive pass plays. QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs may need to dink and dunk underneath and run the ball consistently to score. Defensively, the Chiefs need to force the Packers into obvious passing situations and get off the field on third down by winning up front.
Packers’ keys to victory: Win the turnover and sack battle, again. On Thanksgiving, the Packers won the turnover battle 3-0 and the sack battle 3-0 over the Lions. Matt LaFleur’s team must repeat the performance against the Chiefs. Can the Packers steal a possession or two away from Mahomes, avoid costly giveaways and keep QB Jordan Love protected against a top pass rush? The Chiefs turned the ball over eight times in their three losses. Love’s momentum in the passing game could be thwarted by DT Chris Jones and DE George Karlaftis.
Matchup to watch: Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor vs. Packers OLB Rashan Gary. Taylor is becoming more reliable in pass protection, but he’ll get Gary, who had three sacks on Thanksgiving.
Who wins? The Chiefs have looked vulnerable at times recently, and the Packers are coming off a huge win. But a disruptive Chiefs defense and a few big off-schedule plays from Mahomes prevail.
Chiefs, 23-20