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Behind Enemy Lines: 5 questions with Packers Wire for Week 9

Charles Goldman
·4 min read

The Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 9. It’s the first time these two teams have played since 2019 when Matt Moore was starting in place of an injured Patrick Mahomes.

To learn more about Kansas City’s opponent, we spoke with managing editor Zach Kruse over at Packers Wire and asked him a few questions.

Chiefs Wire: Can you give Chiefs fans a quick scouting report on Jordan Love?

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Packers Wire: Great arm talent, good athleticism, mostly inexperienced and a big unknown. Love started two preseason games and has thrown seven passes in the regular season, so there’s not much to go off in terms of evaluation. He looked decisive and willing to push the ball down the field at times in the preseason, and he has the legs to get outside the pocket and make something happen. He’ll get in trouble at times trying to find a big play when it isn’t there, and accuracy was a little bit of a question mark coming out of college. It will be interesting to see how fast he can play in his first start, and how Matt LaFleur protects him. The Packers offense will look different on Sunday, but Love will have a strong offensive line and good playmakers around him. With Aaron Rodgers’ future in Green Bay uncertain past 2021, this is a BIG spot for the young quarterback.

Chiefs Wire: Do you expect the Packers to lean on the run game a bit more this week with Aaron Rodgers out?

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Packers Wire: Absolutely. The Packers have leaned on the run game even with Aaron Rodgers under center. In fact, the duo of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon has become a foundational part of the offense. Jones is the slasher, home-run type, but he’s tough between the tackles and can make people miss. Dillon is the hammer. He runs hard downhill, not unlike Derrick Henry. And he’s providing more production in the passing game. Last week, the pair handled 38 touches, including 31 run attempts. That might be the plan again for Sunday.

Chiefs Wire: Who has stepped up for the Packers at the OLB spot in the absence of Za’Darius Smith and Chauncey Rivers?

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Packers Wire: Rashan Gary, big time. The 2019 first-round pick has 37 total pressures, the seventh-most among edge rushers. With Za’Darius Smith out since Week 1, Gary has been a full-time player, and he’s ascended to the doorstep of stardom. He’s big, athletic and relentless. Preston Smith has also bounced back from a disappointing 2020 season, and former Texan Whitney Mercilus has seven pressures in his first two games in Green Bay. This will be an excellent pass-rushing group if Za’Darius Smith returns, but it’s a good group even without the All-Pro. They are affecting the game consistently.

Chiefs Wire: Are there any rookies or underrated players for the Packers that Chiefs fans should be aware of ahead of the game?

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Packers Wire: I’m not even sure if he can be considered “underrated” after winning NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October, but linebacker De’Vondre Campbell has reshaped the Packers defense. He’s provided a legitimate playmaker against both the run and pass in the middle of the defense. No. 59 has played like an elite linebacker. The rookie to watch is first-round pick Eric Stokes. He’s played the fourth-most snaps on the defense, and the Packers haven’t been afraid of matching him with top receivers. The speedy rookie could see Tyreek Hill on a bunch of snaps on Sunday. That could be a fun (and fast) matchup.

Chiefs Wire: What’s your prediction for this game? Do you think Green Bay can pull off an upset with Love under center?

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Packers Wire: I originally picked the Packers to win with Aaron Rodgers available, and I’ve gone back and forth on Green Bay’s chances since he tested positive for COVID-19. Jordan Love is a big unknown, but the Packers are still talented around the quarterback position, Matt LaFleur is a terrific playcaller and the Packers defense is playing at a high enough level to keep them in it. We’ve seen backup quarterbacks around the league win with less recently, and I think Love can play winning football on Sunday. Do I think he pulls it off? I’m not going to predict it, but I won’t be shocked if the Packers win. This team keeps beating adversity. Losing the MVP quarterback is the ultimate adversity.

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