**Chiefs vs Packers Official Game Day Thread - 9/28/15**

[TopekaRoy]

MNF! Primetime! Woohoo!
Discuss...

[TopekaRoy]

The Kansas City Chiefs (1-1)



vs

The Green Bay Packers (2-0)



Monday, September 28, 7:30pm CT
at
Lambeau Field

Green Bay, Wisconsin



Television coverage:

ESPN
and

KMBC-TV

[TopekaRoy]

Weather forecast: 63 degrees farenheit, light rain 8 mph NNE winds

Line: Packers (-6.5), Over/Under: 49
Trends:
The Chiefs are 1-0 on the road
The Chiefs are 1-1 ATS
The Chiefs are 1-0 away ATS
The Chiefs have not been an underdog

The Packers are 1-0 at home
The Packers are 2-0 ATS
The Packers are 1-0 at home ATS
The Packers are 2-0 ATS as favorite

Quick Hitters:
Chiefs: Former No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher will return to the starting lineup after battling an ankle injury for two weeks. Fisher will start at right tackle Monday night versus the Green Bay Packers.

Packers: Running back Eddie Lacy and receiver Davante Adams are both questionable with ankle injuries for the Green Bay Packers' Monday night tilt versus the Kansas City Chiefs.

Notable Quotables:
Chiefs: "I caused us the loss" -- Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles

Packers: "It is probably one of the more satisfying regular-season wins that we've had, just to get that monkey off our back of not being able to beat these guy" -- Packers Guard T.J. Lang on last week's win over the Seahawks

Injury Report:
Chiefs:
PROBABLE:
Jeffery Allen G Knee
Eric Fisher T Ankle
Demetrius Harris TE Foot
Joshua Mauga LB Achilles
Donald Stephenson T Ankle
De'Anthony Thomas WR Calf
Charcandrick West RB Achilles
Albert Wilson WR Shoulder

Packers:
OUT:
Bryan Bulaga T Knee
Demetri Goodson CB Hamstring
QUESTIONABLE:
Morgan Burnett S Calf
Seandre Richardson S Ankle
Aaron Ripkowski RB Shoulder
Davante Adams WR Ankle
Eddie Lacy RB Ankle
Michael Neal LB Groin
PROBABLE:
Randall Cobb WR Shoulder

[TopekaRoy]

Team Stats:

OFFENSIVE COMPARISON

Chiefs
Packers

Total Yards Per Game

• 322.0
• 341.5

Passing Yards Per Game

• 200.0
• 211.5

Rush Yards Per Game

• 122.0
• 130.0

Points Per Game

• 25.5
• 29.0

Third Down Conversion %

• 15.0
• 47.6

Time of Possession

• 1929.0
• 1843.0

Chiefs Packers

DEFENSIVE COMPARISON

Total Yards Per Game Allowed

• 347.5
• 363.0

Passing Yards Per Game Allowed

• 268.0
• 209.0

Rush Yards Per Game Allowed

• 79.5
• 154.0

Points Per Game Allowed

• 25.5
• 20.0

Third Down Conversion % Allowed

• 30.0
• 53.8

[TopekaRoy]

Stats Leaders:
Chiefs:

Offense:
Passing Yards Alex Smith 434 Yds Jeremy Maclin 0	Rushing Yards Jamaal Charles 182 Yds Alex Smith 30 Knile Davis 25	Receiving Yards Travis Kelce 164 Yds Jeremy Maclin 109 James O'Shaughnessy 54
Defense:
Sacks Justin Houston 3.0 Sacks Allen Bailey 2.0 Derrick Johnson 1.0	Interceptions No pic available Marcus Peters 2 Ints Dee Ford 0 Dontari Poe 0	Total Tackles Jamell Fleming 12 Total Marcus Peters 12 Jaye Howard 12

[TopekaRoy]

Stats Leaders:
Packers:

Offense:
Passing Yards Aaron Rodgers 438 Yds	Rushing Yards James Starks 97 Yds Eddie Lacy 94 Aaron Rodgers 58	Receiving Yards Randall Cobb 154 Yds Davante Adams 92 James Jones 80
Defense:
Sacks Julius Peppers 2.5 Sacks Mike Daniels 1.0 B.J. Raji 0.5	Interceptions Clay Matthews 1 Int Jayrone Elliott 1 Tim Masthay 0	Total Tackles Ha Ha Clinton-Dix 16 Total Nate Palmer 11 Micah Hyde 11

[TopekaRoy]

Game Preview from ESPN:

The Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers are coming off emotional Week 2 games with vastly different outcomes.
While the Chiefs look to turn the page on a bitter loss to a division rival, the Packers try to move on from a satisfying revenge win when the teams face off Monday night at Lambeau Field.

This prime-time matchup would have been between unbeatens had Kansas City (1-1) held on to a seven-point lead in the final minute of last Thursday's showdown with Denver, in which the Broncos scored two touchdowns in the final 36 seconds to pull out a stunning 31-24 decision.

The winning score came on cornerback Bradley Roby's 21-yard return of Jamaal Charles fumble, the star running back's second of the night and the Chiefs' fifth turnover. The touchdown came nine seconds after Peyton Manning led a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders.

"It was pretty simple. Five turnovers, 70 yards worth of penalties, very tough to win in this league having those kind of stats," coach Andy Reid said.

Kansas City draws another tough assignment in its visit to Lambeau Field, where Green Bay (2-0) owns a 10-game win streak -- including playoffs -- and Aaron Rodgers has put together an even more remarkable run.

Counting the postseason, Rodgers recorded an 18th consecutive home game without an interception in last week's 27-17 victory over Seattle. The reigning NFL MVP has attempted 539 passes, thrown for 43 touchdowns and posted a 124.0 passer rating over a streak dating to December 2012.

"I don't know what it is, but I think he's a pretty good player," said Reid when asked about Rodgers' streak. "You've got to start there, right?"

Rodgers was 25 of 33 for 249 yards and two touchdowns to help the Packers avenge a 28-22 overtime defeat to the Seahawks in the 2014 NFC championship game, where Green Bay blew a 12-point lead with under three minutes left.

'It is probably one of the more satisfying regular-season wins that we've had, just to get that monkey off our back of not being able to beat these guys," guard T.J. Lang said.

If the Packers are vulnerable to a letdown, coach Mike McCarthy only needs to point out the last time these teams met. A then 13-0 Green Bay team left Arrowhead Stadium with a 19-14 loss Dec. 18, 2011, as Rodgers was sacked four times and completed just 17 of 35 throws.

Kansas City brings a formidable pass rush into this game as well, having registered eight sacks. Three have come from Justin Houston, who's notched at least one sack in eight straight games and had a league-best 22 in 2014.

Containing Houston will be a challenge for a Green Bay offensive line without right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee surgery) for a second straight week.

McCarthy is hopeful that running back Eddie Lacy and receiver Davante Adams can go. Lacy missed most of the Seattle game with a sprained right ankle, though veteran backup James Starks ran 20 times for 95 yards in his place.

"It's a medical decision," McCarthy said Monday. "There's a process that goes on with every player that goes through this, and it'll be no different with Eddie."

Lacy's foot was heavily wrapped Friday, but he returned to practice after sitting out Thursday. That was also the case for Adams, who left in the second quarter last week before returning in the second half. He appeared to be favoring his left foot.

Charles had a 125-yard, one-touchdown effort overshadowed by his miscues but could be in line for another productive night against a Green Bay defense that's surrendered 154 rushing yards per game and 5.3 per carry, both 31st in the NFL.

Alex Smith added two interceptions to the Chiefs' troubles after delivering a near-flawless 22 of 33, 243-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 27-20 opening win at Houston. The 2005 No. 1 overall pick will have a third head-to-head meeting with Rodgers, selected 24th in that draft.

They've split the first two, with Smith winning the latest after going 20 of 26 for 211 yards and two touchdowns to lead San Francisco to a 30-22 decision at Lambeau in the 2012 opener.

Kansas City is 7-2-1 in this series and 3-0-1 on the road, though it last visited Lambeau Field in 2003. The Chiefs have won six of the last seven matchups.

[TopekaRoy]

Scouting Report from the Kansas City Star:

BY TEREZ A. PAYLOR
tpaylor@kcstar.com

When the Chiefs run

EDGE >> CHIEFS
The Chiefs were able to get the running game going against the Broncos last week, and Jamaal Charles rushed for 125 yards and 6 yards per carry. The Packers can be run against, however, even with the presence of some stout and occasionally disruptive interior linemen in B.J. Raji, Mike Daniels and Mike Pennel. If the Packers have a weakness, it’s at inside linebacker, though former outside linebacker Clay Matthews has helped out there. As an inside linebacker, he is aware, gives great effort and is quick in pursuit. He is an upgrade over the Packers’ other options inside, though he still walks out to the edge occasionally. The Packers did a good job stuffing Marshawn Lynch’s cutback lanes a week ago, and “Beast Mode” only rushed for 41 yards. The Chiefs should explore some of their read option and packaged plays. The Seahawks had some success with those, and quarterback Russell Wilson rushed for 78 yards in 10 carries.

When the Chiefs pass

EDGE >> PACKERS
The Chiefs were able to get the passing game going some against the Broncos, but Denver’s pass rush exposed their offensive line. The Chiefs have allowed seven sacks this season, which is 28th in the NFL. They’ve also allowed 14 quarterback hits, which ranks 20th. Outside linebacker Julius Peppers is 35 years old, but he still has the length, quickness and strength off the edge to give tackles fits. He primarily lined up against the right tackle a week ago, which means he should see plenty of Eric Fisher this week. After a handful of passing play calls backfired against the Broncos, it will be interesting to see if the Chiefs get it going this week.

When the Packers run

EDGE >> CHIEFS
Running back Eddie Lacy is a big back (5-11, 234) with good burst and power at the second level. He is listed as probable because of an ankle injury. If Lacy can’t go, James Starks is capable. Starks is quick and shifty, and he’ll run behind a line that boasts one of the league’s best guard duos in Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang. The Chiefs’ defense has been vastly improved against the run this year. Some of that has to do with the return of inside linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive end Mike DeVito from injuries, but it also has to do with the improvement interior linemen Allen Bailey and Jaye Howard. Those two, along with DeVito and Dontari Poe, have helped as the Chiefs are deep and stout up front.

When the Packers pass

EDGE >> PACKERS
Simply put, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is outstanding. His pocket awareness, accuracy and arm strength are all top-notch, which makes him a pain to game-plan for. He will stress the Chiefs’ defense, both horizontally and vertically. What’s more, he has a trio of reliable receivers in Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and James Jones, who are all interchangeable. Cobb is the best of the bunch; he is primarily a slot guy who regularly burns defenses with his hands, quickness and ability to create separation in his routes. The Chiefs may have caught a break, though, because Adams — like Lacy — went down with an ankle injury against Seattle. Adams is probable, but the Packers’ depth at the position isn’t great. Tight end Richard Rodgers is an emerging receiving threat, and he occasionally flexes out wide. The Chiefs’ pass rush is led by linebacker Justin Houston, who has recorded a sack in eight straight games, and he’s been backed by a strong interior rush led by Bailey. However, Rodgers’ ability to escape pressure is elite — he’s only been sacked twice and hit six times this year —and the Chiefs’ secondary, led by impressive youngster Marcus Peters, will be tested.

Special teams

EDGE >> CHIEFS
Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby has a heck of a leg — he’s five for five on field goals this year, with a long of 54 yards. The Chiefs’ Cairo Santos is three for four on field goals, and he has drilled 10 his 11 kicks for touchbacks. Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt has planted five punts inside the 20 and allowed four returns on 11 attempts, compared to Green Bay’s Tim Masthay, who has allowed three returns on five attempts. Neither team has given up a kickoff or punt return touchdown, but the Chiefs’ return averages are superior.

Coaching

EDGE >> PACKERS
Packers coach Mike McCarthy has a Super Bowl win under his belt, a goal Chiefs coach Andy Reid still is seeking. McCarthy ceded his play-calling responsibilities to longtime Packers assistant Tom Clements this offseason, and he also has a respected defensive coordinator in Dom Capers, who has been an innovator when it comes to the 3-4 scheme for 20-plus years.

X-factor

EDGE >> PACKERS
To win on Monday night against an outstanding Packers team, the Chiefs will need to create some turnovers. Problem is, the Packers rarely give the ball away at home. Aaron Rodgers has not thrown an interception at Lambeau Field since 2012.

Bottom line: Packers 30-24

It is asking a lot to expect the Chiefs to go into Lambeau Field and pick up a victory, especially after a crushing loss to Denver last week. But if this team is as good as it hopes it is, it will come out, compete hard and be in the game until the end. And if the Chiefs get a few breaks — like unexpectedly winning the turnover battle — all bets are off.

[kcvet]

thanks TR

[TopekaRoy]

Yw, KCV!