The Green Bay Packers enter Monday night’s nationally-televised game against the Kansas City Chiefs with loads of optimism and plenty of confidence. And why shouldn’t they?
At 2-0 this season, they haven’t lost at Lambeau Field the last 10 times they’ve played there. They dominated their recent nemesis, the Seattle Seahawks, for three quarters last Sunday night and are 14-8-1 all-time in Monday Night Football games, 4-1 under Coach Mike McCarthy.
They go against a Chiefs team that has an experience defensive line and is tough against the run, but has a young and inexperienced secondary.
Pro Football Focus reported this week that the Chiefs two cornerbacks, Marcus Peters and Jamell Fleming, currently lead the league in times they have been targeted by the opposing team’s quarterback, at 51, and the Chiefs will be without their top secondary player, Sean Smith, who won’t return from suspension until next week.
With Aaron Rodgers enjoying one of the finest starts in his career—a 76.8 percent completion average, 5 touchdowns, no interceptions (and none at Lambeau since Dec. 2, 2012) and a near-perfect 128.4 passer rating—along with an improved defense that ranks 10th in the NFL and is facing a team that ranks 23rd in total offense, it’s obvious the Packers hold the upper hand.
That’s why Packer fans should be worried, or at least leery.
With the San Francisco 49ers and another troublesome running quarterback in Colin Kaepernick on the horizon in Week 4, this certainly is the definition of a “Trap Game” if there ever was one.
Whether it’s regaling in last week’s victory or looking ahead to next week’s game, the Packers easily could overlook the Chiefs, who come into the contest at 1-1 following last week’s final minute meltdown at home against the Denver Broncos.
With 10 days to prepare for this game, Kansas City, with former Packers coach Andy Reid at the helm, will be playing fast and loose with little to lose in a nonconference game.
The Chiefs are 7-3-1 all-time against the Packers and 3-0 at Lambeau, although the last meeting there was in 2003. Ironically, it also marks the golden anniversary when the two teams met in the first Super Bowl, won by the Packers, 35-10.
To avoid its first loss of the season, Green Bay will rely on its passing game, but also needs to lengthen the field. Rodgers longest pass completion so far has been 36 yards, so defenses likely will begin to crowd the middle and forced him to throw long. That could mean more playing time for rookie Ty Montgomery and possibly Jeff Janis, who have more speed that James Jones and Davante Adams, who is recovering from a sprained ankle.
Both Adams and running back Eddie Lacy returned to practice Friday and with an extra day of treatment are expected to play against the Chiefs.
Defensively, Green Bay again will need to stop the run like it did last week against Seattle and Marshawn Lynch (15 carries, 41 yards).
Jamaal Charles has rushed for 182 yards in two games, but he will be looking for a big game against the Packers to atone for his fumble and game-winning touchdown return by Denver in the last final 21 seconds last Thursday
