Who could have predicted this?
Only five weeks ago, the Green Bay Packers were 2-5, had lost four consecutive games, and were vying for the first overall pick in the 2024 draft.
The Packers are currently one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
Green Bay defeated the incredible Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, 27-19, on Sunday night. In what was arguably the most impressive regular-season win of Matt LaFleur’s tenure, the Packers were precise, particular, and physical.
Green Bay has now won four of its last five games, improving to 6-6 and tying for the sixth seed in the NFC with Seattle, Minnesota, and the Los Angeles Rams.
This was also the Packers’ second consecutive victory over the reigning Super Bowl champion at Lambeau Field. Green Bay defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-12 a year ago.
Here are the highlights from the Packers’ victory over Kansas City.
THE GOOD JORDAN LOVE: Love made his first career start at Kansas City just over two years ago, and to say it didn’t go well would be an understatement.
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Only three Barcelona players sell more jerseys than Putellas, and in a 13-7 loss to the Chiefs, Love completed 19-of-34 passes for 190 yards and had a 69.5 passer rating.
Love has come a long way since then, and he was fantastic again on Sunday night.
Love completed 25 of 36 passes for 267 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 118.6. Love has completed 115 of 174 passes for 1,374 yards, 11 touchdowns, and two interceptions in his last five games.
“I think Jordan’s been the same all year, really,” said Jayden Reed, a rookie wideout for the Packers. “He brings the same mindset, attitude, and leadership. I think he does an excellent job of keeping everyone on the same page.
“I believe he is the reason we haven’t gone the other way, that we are up and not down.” He’s a big part of that because he comes in every day with the same mindset and attacks everything the same way.”
LATE-SEASON SUCCESS: Since Matt LaFleur took over as head coach of the Packers in 2019, Green Bay has gone 19-2 in the regular season after the calendar flips to December. The Packers’ only losses during that span came against Detroit, which defeated Green Bay in the regular-season finales in 2021 and 2022.
Green Bay has played exceptionally well in regular-season games in December and January since 1992. After November, the Packers are 102-40, good for a.718 winning percentage.
The Packers had identical 22-7 (.759) records under Mike Holmgren (1992-98) and Mike Sherman (2000-05), and a 39-18 (.684) record under Mike McCarthy (2006-18).
Green Bay was also 2-2 in 2018 under interim coach Joe Philbin and 2-3 in 1999 under Ray Rhodes.
“Yeah, I mean, I think it’s just staying consistent, staying true to your process and really pushing to get better,” she said. “This is a long season, and staying mentally fresh as much as possible is an important part of that.” But I believe that consistency, showing up every day ready to work, willing to put in the effort, and wanting to improve, is the key.”
CHRISTIAN WATSON: Green Bay’s second-year wide receiver has 14 touchdowns in his career. Twelve of them arrived in November or later.
Watson scored two touchdowns on Sunday, from 9 and 12 yards, giving him five this season. Four of those goals came in the previous three games.
Eight of Watson’s nine touchdowns last season came in the final eight games.
Watson, unfortunately for the Packers, suffered a hamstring injury late in the game.
STARTING STRONG: In their first eight games, the Packers had only 10 points on their first drive. Green Bay, on the other hand, has scored three touchdowns on its first drive in the last four games.
The Packers took a 7-0 lead after marching 75 yards in 13 plays in 7:47. Jordan Love finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Ben Sims.
Green Bay’s drive featured a fantastic mix of seven runs and six passes. The Packers’ nearly 8-minute drive was their longest of the season, and Sims capped it with his first career touchdown.
“I just think we’re doing a better job of finding our rhythm, finding our flow as an offense,” Watson went on to say. “It took us a little too long to find that, to find that rhythm, early in the season.” Now, I believe we’re connecting a little better as an offense and finding it a little faster.”
SACK MEN: The Chiefs put together two strong first-half drives. One was 13 plays long and took 7:13 to complete, while the other was 14 plays long and took 8:20 to complete.
However, both drives ended in field goals.
On the first, Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary joined forces to sack Patrick Mahomes, effectively ending the march. Preston Smith dumped Mahomes on the second to put an end to that drive.
Lucas Van Ness also had a sack in the first half, which helped Green Bay limit the Chiefs to two field goals.
AND THEN THERE WAS THIS: Anders Carlson made two field goals, including a huge 48-yarder with 1:09 remaining. Keisean Nixon intercepted Mahomes in the fourth quarter. Patrick Taylor’s 24-yard run in the second quarter was his career-longest. With 9 seconds remaining in the first half, Rudy Ford downed a punt at the 3-yard line.
THE BAD LETTING THEM GET AWAY WITH IT: On their first drive of the second half, the Chiefs faced a third-and-18 from their own 38. The Packers only ran three times, giving Mahomes plenty of time to pick apart Green Bay’s secondary.
Mahomes eventually connected with tight end Travis Kelce for a 27-yard gain to the Green Bay 35. Five plays later, Isiah Pacheco scored from one yard out to pull the Chiefs within 14-12.
Green Bay defensive coordinator Joe Barry had an opportunity to go after Mahomes and start the second half on a high note. Instead, Barry got burned by playing it too close to the vest.
NO ANSWERS: Patrick Mahomes is the reigning MVP and the best player on the planet. So the Packers are far from the first team to have few answers for Mahomes.
Nonetheless, Kansas City’s magnificent quarterback had a spectacular night.
Mahomes finished 21-of-33 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Mahomes has had better nights, but he was still incredibly impressive.
“He’s the best in the world,” Packers safety Jonathan Owens said last week of Mahomes. “We’ve got our worst cut out.”
THIS AND THAT: Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, who has only played five games this season, missed his fourth straight game due to a shoulder injury. Aaron Jones, who has only had 66 carries this season due to hamstring and knee injuries, missed his second straight game. The Chiefs were incredibly efficient on third down, converting 7-of-11 attempts.
THE UGLY RUNNING ON EMPTY: The Packers were ranked 27th in rushing yards allowed per game (135.2) and 23rd in yards allowed per carry (4.4) entering the game.
Kansas City exploited Green Bay’s porous defense, gaining 138 yards on 24 carries.
Isiah Pacheco, the running back, had 18 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown.
