Who: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers
When: Sunday, October 27 @ 7:20 PM
Where: Arrowhead Stadium
Before I delve deep into my Red Friday predictions, I have
to give credit where credit is due. One of my favorite sports writers for the Kansas City Star, Sam Mellinger, has
described our QB Patrick Mahomes as a “unicorn quarterback.” And I
wholeheartedly agree. Mahomes is some kind of mythical creature.
Last week we saw him dislocate his knee whilst writhing in
pain on the field. Now, a mere seven days later, we are actually discussing the
possibility of him playing on Sunday. Best case scenario for a knee injury like
that would be at least 3-5 weeks on the bench. Even so, there he is at
practice, doing leg exercises and throwing the football, looking like the
Patrick Mahomes we love. I say this with upmost admiration, the guy is just a
freak! I mean, he is just not human.
Chiefs:
At the beginning of the season, this game was billed as the
match up of the year. Unfortunately with Mahomes’ injury, the narrative will
change a bit. There is a possibility of
using Mahomes for Sunday’s game (since he apparently refuses to rest). It makes
it tough to really make a prediction for the outcome of the game without
knowing the quarterback situation. Ironically, I think, that was Andy Reid’s
intention all along. Obviously if we have Mahomes, then you can just copy and
paste my analyses from my previous predictions. Get the ball to your play
makers like Hill, Kelce and Watkins (who I have heard will play this week) and
get that running game going and I think Mahomes and the boys stand a better
then good chance against a Packers D that gave up 24 points to the Raiders, 24
points to the Cowboys and lost 27-34 to a very underwhelming Eagles team.
If the Chiefs play without Mahomes (which is a most likely
scenario), then the plan for the offense really doesn’t change much. Not to
knock on Matt Moore, but I don’t think anyone expects him to be as explosive as
Mahomes. But if he can at least put the ball in the hands of his play makers, I
believe they will have no problem doing the rest.
The Chiefs defense wreaked havoc on the Donkeys last week,
sacking Donkeys QB Joe Flacco 9 times. Don’t get me wrong, I am taking nothing
away from the Chiefs defense, and I hope it gave them some confidence moving
forward, but I can’t help but wonder, was it good Chiefs defense or bad Broncos
offense? I think it was honestly a bit of both. The Chiefs were playing with an
aggressiveness not yet seen this season, but if we are being honest, the
Broncos have a poor offensive line and Joe Flacco might as well have had
pigeons landing on him, because the guy was a statue. The Chiefs’ defense will
play with this new found confidence and aggression they gained flattening a
sputtering Broncos team, but additionally I don’t think Aaron Rodgers will let
himself be sacked 9 times.
Packers:
In the words of one of my favorite ESPN personalities
Stephen A Smith, “Aaron Rodgers is a baaaaaad man” and he’s not wrong. Rodgers
racked up 5 touchdowns and 429 yards with a perfect QBR last week against the
Raiders. He will be looking for a repeat performance against what was a rather
porous Chiefs defense until last week. Rodgers may not have any big name
receivers surrounding him, but one of Rodgers greatest strengths is to make
something from nothing. That sometimes isn’t too hard to do against this Chiefs
team. If the Chiefs play with the same ferocity that they did last week, then
they can put Rodgers on his back, create turnovers, and stuff that run. That
will serve to rattle him a bit.
BQB Final Prediction:
Look, I am a football fan, and I love Patrick Mahomes. That
side of me wants to see him defy the odds, defy his own injury, and suit up for
Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead to send Aaron Rodgers packing (pun
intended). It would make for a fantastic story to add on to the legend of
Patrick Mahomes. But the other side of me wants to see him in street clothes on
the bench.
His ankle was already gimpy and now his knee cap is
recovering. He does not need to be right in the pathway of a 300 pound
defensive end trying to flatten him. If that were to happen, he could suffer
another injury or even worsen his current recovering injuries and may not
bounce back in a week. So, as much as I would love to see #15 trot onto the
field, I think we should err on the side of caution and start the 12 year
veteran coach Matt Moore, who proved himself more then up to the task against
the Broncos.
Regardless of which quarterback takes the snaps, I hate to
say this, but I predict a Chiefs loss. Even if Mahomes starts, he will be
extremely limited and I am not sure he will be able to make his typical “did
you see that?” types of plays.
I believe Matt Moore is a good quarterback, but I don’t know
if a week is enough time to prepare to face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
Packers 34, Chiefs 23.
Your predictions? Sound off in the comments!
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