Five Packers to watch vs. Chiefs in Week 8 matchup

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GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills is tackled by Oren Burks #42 of the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter of a game at Lambeau Field on September 30, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

1. Oren Burks

Darren Waller had the game of a lifetime against the Packers on Sunday. Waller ripped right through the middle of the defense for catch after catch all game long. Waller was near unstoppable to the tune of seven catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

The Chiefs, with or without Mahomes, will try to attack the middle of the field in the same manner with their All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce.

Kelce had to be salivating seeing what Waller did to the Packers’ defense. Kelce is a tough matchup as it is. Having communication problems and leaving the middle of the field wide open will make things much worse. What also contributes to problems covering the tight end is not having one player who can match up.

The Packers tried to use a linebacker, a safety and a corner to stop Waller. None of it worked. One player who did not get an extended look was Oren Burks. Burks has been working his way back from a pectoral injury suffered in the preseason and has seen his playing time slowly increase. If there was a game the defense could use his size and speed, it’s this one.

Kelce is a big, fast target who will dominate this game if there isn’t a good plan in place to stop him. This is the week Burks needs to show why the team used a third-round pick on him.

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