Red Friday Preview: Chiefs vs. Packers

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!