Packers vs. Chiefs: Tale of the tape for Week 8 matchup
Defense
Packers
The Packers and Chiefs have similar defenses. At least, the stats tell us they do.
The Packers have given up just 19.9 points per game this season. If they can continue to do that, then they should be in a position to win a lot of games. While they don’t give up a lot of points, they give up yards. On the year, they’ve given up 381 yards per game,129 yards per game on the ground (24th) and 252 yards per game through the air (21st) in the league.
Those stats show this truly is a bend-but-don’t-break defense. A lot of these passing yards are coming since rookie safety Darnell Savage was injured against the Cowboys. Since then, the secondary has been giving up a lot of yards.
Will Redmond just isn’t the same caliber player as Savage and definitely doesn’t have the speed Savage possesses. When the Packers can get Savage back, I think this secondary will become vastly improved and will shut down the opponent’s passing game again.
This game will be a good test to show how good this defense truly is. In what could be a shootout, it will be important for the defense to pressure the quarterback and make plays in the secondary, while also continuing to make plays in the red zone.
Chiefs
Like I said before, the stats tell us this Kansas City defense is very similar to Green Bay’s. They give up 21.4 points per game, 13th in the NFL. They also give up a lot of yards, allowing 377.4 yards per game, one spot ahead of the Packers.
On the ground, they get gashed, allowing 148.9 yards per game, the fifth-most in the league. In the passing game, however, they are a lot more stout. They give up just 228.6 yards through the air, good for ninth in the NFL.
The pass rushers showed last week against Denver that they can get after the quarterback as well. They had nine sacks against the Broncos alone, giving them a total of 20 on the year. This defense is also above average at forcing turnovers, with 1.9 takeaways per game.
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Aaron Rodgers and this Packers offense are rolling, but I think this Chiefs defense is sneaky good, and they are going to need to be if they want to hold off the Packers at home while their MVP quarterback is out. But overall, I think Mike Pettine will get the kinks figured out and facing a backup quarterback will give the Packers defense the advantage this week.