Packers: Top five performers vs. Chiefs in Week 8 victory
By Jesse Fry
The short-handed Kansas City Chiefs gave the Green Bay Packers all they could, but these players made sure the Packers left Arrowhead with the win and a 7-1 record.
Absent Patrick Mahomes, their two best pass rushers (Frank Clark, Chris Jones) and their top cover man (Kendall Fuller), the Chiefs would have appeared to be overmatched. But Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo put together a tough game plan and kept the Packers off-balance with their attack.
The Packers jumped out to a quick start with a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, built on explosive plays and perfect use of the team’s dynamic duo of running backs. But the lead wouldn’t hold up for very long. Kansas City used its own explosive talent to get back into the game while putting up 17 unanswered points to close out the half.
The Packers had a hard time answering KC’s run game as LeSean McCoy and Damien Williams were able to find holes along the line and get good gains on the ground. Much like last week versus the Raiders, the game changed on a fumble.
McCoy’s fumble with about a minute left in the third quarter helped turn the tide for good in the Packers’ favor. The Packers responded with a touchdown and had the perfect answer after the Chiefs went right back down the field to tie the game shortly after. Another explosive play put the Packers ahead for good.
The game was far from perfect but Aaron Rodgers is proving he still has plenty of greatness left in him while Matt LaFleur is earning his stripes as a head coach and play-caller.
There were some other players who had something to prove, and here’s the top five from this past week’s victory over the Chiefs.