PACKERS

FINAL: Packers 27, Chiefs 19; game highlights, score; Jordan Love shines on 'Sunday Night Football' in win over Chiefs

Christopher Kuhagen Emmett Prosser
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Green Bay Packers won their third straight game after defeating the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, 27-19, in a star-studded game on "Sunday Night Football."

The Packers improved to 6-6 to move into the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC with five games to go. The Chiefs fell to 8-4.

Packers beat writer Tom Silverstein provided analysis and took questions during the game.

Here's a look at how the game unfolded in reverse chronological order.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) greets fans after their game Sunday, December 3, 2023 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-19.

Chiefs vs. Packers box score

Team1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Chiefs336719
Packers777627

Packers defeat Chiefs 27-19, improve to 6-6 on the season

A questionable personal foul on Packers' safety Jonathan Owens at the first down marker gives the Chiefs a first down at the Chiefs 45 after a 10-yard run by Patrick Mahomes. On the next play, Pacheco fumbled at the 35, but he was ruled down by contact, however Pacheco was called for an unnecessary roughness after the play and its 1st and 10 at the 50.

Mahomes throws it up for Marquez Valdes-Scantling and MVS appears to be interfered with by Valentine but there is no call. A 9-yard pass to the sidelines to Valdes-Scantling gives KC a first down with 18 seconds left. On fourth down with 5 seconds left from the 35, Mahomes lofts the ball to the end zone and with a lot of players fighting for the football, the ball falls incomplete and the Packers win, 27-19

Carlson gives Green Bay a 27-19 advantage

On 3rd and 6 from the 20, Love is sacked at the 30. Carlson kicks a 48-yard field goal to give the Packers a 27-19 lead with 1:09 left.

Green Bay Packers kicker Anders Carlson (17) watches as his field goal sails through the uprights late in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Packers driving, but Watson appears injured

A safe throw to Doubs for seven yards and Dillon's run for six get the series off to a good start. On 2nd and 10 from the Green Bay 48 Wicks' 8-yard catch sets up a third and short. The Packers push love ahead for the first down. On 2nd and 3 from the Chiefs 34, The Packers give the ball to Watson on a misdirection play, but as he picks up the first down near the sidelines and then pull up to stay in bounds, he appears to injure his leg, grabbing his hamstring. The Packers have a 3rd and 7 from the KC 20 at the two-minute warning. If they pick it up the game is over.

Nixon's interception gives Packers a chance for clinching drive

An acrobatic toss from Mahomes to Rice and a pass interference penalty on Ballentine give the Chiefs a first down at the Packers' 49, but Keisean Nixon picks off Mahomes on the next play and the Packers have the ball back at their own 35

Carlson's field goal extends lead for Packers

A holding penalty forces a second and 16, but Love calmly lofts a 27-yard throw to Doubs that sets the Packers up at their own 44. After a 13-yard reception by Watson on the next play and an incompletion, the Packers get Dillon involved again and he gets 10 yards to get the ball to the KC 33. On second down, Malik Heath catches a ball for 15 yards, but the drive stalls there after Love is sacked on third and long at the 22 and Anders Carlson kicks a 39-yard field goal to give the Packers a 24-19 lead with 6:03 left.

Packers' defense gets off field quickly

The Packers' defense comes up big, forcing a three-and-out with the help of a miscommunication on a route between Mahomes and Valdes-Scantling. The Packers will start at the KC 23.

Chiefs' defense get needed stop

An 8-yard scramble by Love to the sidelines gets the Packers going again at the Packers' 35. Love then completes two passes to Watson for a total of 2 yards and then a delay of game flag pushes them back to the 41-yard line. Love then throws three straight incompletions and the Chiefs have a chance to take the lead as they start from their own 19.

Pacheco does most of the work on Chiefs' scoring drive

A 12-yard reception by Richie James and a defensive holding penalty give energy to the Chiefs' next drive. The Chiefs continue to use Pacheco often as he gets seven more touches and carries the ball three straight straight times for 20 yards and gets the ball to the 1-yard line as the quarter ends. A shovel pass by Mahomes on second down is defended well by the Packers but he hits tight end Noah Gray for a 3 yard-score to draw the Chiefs closer. Pacheco has 17 carries for 108 yards. Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 5:32

Love continues great night with another touchdown to Watson

Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook suffered a lower leg injury, causing a delay in the game at 1st-and-10 from the Packers 47 after a 14-yard run by Dillon. However the next two plays go for just two yards forcing a 3rd and-8. Love hits Reed for 7 yards forcing a fourth and 1.

The Packers go on 4th and 1 from the KC 44 and Love throws a rainbow up to Romeo Doubs, who catches it for 33 yards and a first down. On second and 11 from the 12, Christian Watson makes a beautiful arms-extended grab in the back of the end zone and the Packers answer the Chiefs' TD. The extra point makes it 21-12 with 5:23 left in the quarter. Love is 18 for 21 for 187 yards and three TDs.

Third-and-long conversion leads to Chiefs' TD

Mahomes fires a 21-yard pass to Travis Kelce to start the half but the Chiefs are called for two consecutive penalties and are forced to call an early timeout to try to salvage this possession on 2nd-and-22 from the Chiefs' 34.The Packers are ready for a short out pattern by Rashee Rice. However, Mahomes scrambles on 3rd and 18 and steps up to avoid pressure and hits Kelce down the middle for 27 yards and a big first down.

Pacheco then sprints 11 yards for another first down and Mahomes connects with Rice for 13 yards at the 11. Two plays later Rice takes the ball to the one after a 4-yard reception and Pacheco then scores on the next play. The two-point carry by Pacheco fails.

Chiefs force a punt, Packers lead 14-6 at halftime

With 2:19 left in the half, the Packers look for more points and begin by handing off to James Robinson for two yards. One play later he finds Watson rolling on the sidelines for 9 yards and a first down. After a five-yard run by Patrick Taylor, Love calls his number again and Tylor breaks through for 24 yards to the Chiefs' 32 yard line. Chris Jones finally gets some pressure on Love and the Packers punt for the for first time in the game rather than try a long field goal. The Packers down the ball at the 3-yard line after a 36-yard punt and the Chiefs take a knee.

Another penalty and sack in the red zone keep Chiefs out of the end zone

It's clear the Chiefs are trying to establish Pacheco early. He has eight touches for 54 total yards after he gets two carries and a reception early In the second KC drive. A 23-yard pass to Kelce on 2nd-and-8 from the Chiefs 38 gets Mahomes and company into Packers territory and on 3rd-and-1, Pacheco gets another carry for 8 yards and a first down at the Packers' 30. Kelce and Mahomes hook up again for 10 yards to get the ball to the 12 and then Pacheco gets them four more yards. However, on 2nd and 6 another penalty on a Mahomes scramble hurts the Chiefs and takes the ball back to the 18 and then on 3rd and 9 from the 11, Mahomes is sacked again, forcing another field goal with 2:19 in the quarter, again from 34 yards.

Packers up 14-3 after Love's second touchdown pass

Love starts his second series with a nice play-action throw to Kraft for 19 yards. one play later he hits Wicks for 27 yards, taking the ball to the Chiefs 27 in three snaps. Love then hits Kraft for 9 yards before giving the ball to Dillon for a short gain and a first sown at the 14-yard line of the Chiefs. The Chiefs bring pressure on second down and force a bad throw to Watson to force a 3rd-and-5, and Love calmly hits a Wide open Watson over the middle for 9 yards in the end zone. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 4:21

Packers get key sacks, hold Chiefs to a field goal after KC gets inside red zone

The Chiefs also open with a 9-yard pass to Isiah Pacheco. Pacheco actually gets three consecutive touches before Clyde Edwards Helaire gets a carry. A completion to Travis Kelce is wiped out due to a offensive pass interference call, but Mahomes scrambles for 9 yards and then hits Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 16 yards on a pretty sliding catch. On first down from the 31, Pacheco breaks free for 26 yards, but Mahomes is sacked twice in the next three plays and the Chiefs settle for a 34-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter.

Love, Dillon look sharp on opening TD drive

Jordan Love comes out throwing to Jayden Reed for nine yards. one play later, Love hits Christian Watson for 19 yards before three straight runs by AJ Dillon gives the Packers a first down at the Kansas City 34. Dillon already has five carries for 18 yards. Love flips another completion to Tucker Kraft for nine yards to take the ball to the KC 20. After another Dillon carry for 6 yards, Dontayvion Wicks caches another short throw from Love for nine yards to get the ball inside the 10 to the 7-yard line. Dillon then carries for six yards again before Love hits tight end Ben Sims with a one-yard score. Dillon had 70 carries for 30 yards. Drive 13 plays, 75 yards, 7:47

Taylor Swift, center, cheers for the Kansas City Chiefs during their game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Taylor Swift is in the building (and football is happening)

Taylor Swift is at Lambeau Field to watch boyfriend and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce face the Green Bay Packers. What a time for Packers fans and Swifties to be alive.

Jaire Alexander out vs. Chiefs

There have been plenty of games the Green Bay Packers have played without cornerback Jaire Alexander and running back Aaron Jones − two pillars of their roster − this season, but few where their absences will be this significant.

Alexander is inactive for Sunday night's game against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Jones was ruled out Friday, so his inactive is less surprising. Neither is ideal for a team hoping to pull off a home upset against one of the NFL's best teams.

Without Alexander, who is missing his fourth straight game because of a shoulder injury, Mahomes will be throwing against rookie seventh-round draft pick Carrington Valentine and backup cornerback Corey Ballentine. Both have played well over the past month, but tonight will be a different kind of test.

The Packers will have safety Darnell Savage, who was activated off injured reserve Saturday. 

MORE

What time do the Packers play today vs. the Chiefs?

The Packers play the Chiefs at 7:20 p.m. Sunday.

What channel is the Packers vs. Chiefs game? TV, livestream

NBC (Channel 4 in Milwaukee area, Channel 26 in Green Bay/Appleton area).

For streaming, you can watch on the NBC or Peacock app. You can download the NBC app but it requires a subscription with a TV provider.

FUBO, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV also offer NBC.

Taylor Swift has arrived in Green Bay for Packers-Chiefs game on 'Sunday Night Football'

Taylor Swift has arrived in Green Bay for the Chiefs-Packers game on "Sunday Night Football."

The Instagram account @taylorswiftjets reported at 4:21 p.m. that her 2009 Dassault Falcon 7X took off near Kansas City, Missouri, and is headed for Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport.

The @taylorswiftjets account posted at 5:31 p.m. that the plane had landed.

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Packers look to continue perfect December record under Matt LaFleur

If recent history is any indication, Green Bay is about to enter their favorite month of the season.

Under Matt LaFleur, the Packers are 15-0 in December and 8-0 at Lambeau Field in this month.

Will this be the start of another perfect December stretch as they look to continue their playoff push?

Sunday night's game against the Chiefs will likely be their toughest test of the month. Next week they head to New York to face the Giants for "Monday Night Football" on Dec. 11, then return home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 17, face the Carolina Panthers on Christmas Eve on the road and then end the 2023 calendar year with a key NFC North game against the Minnesota Vikings on "Sunday Night Football" Dec. 31.

What's the weather in Green Bay for the Packers game tonight?

About 2 inches of snow fell in the Green Bay area Sunday morning and there should just be some light flurries in the afternoon heading into the game.

Sunday's high temperature will be around 35 and drop to the freezing mark toward the end of the game.

Here's a look at the full forecast.

HOW TO WATCH:Packers vs. Chief TV schedule, streaming, radio and more

Packers vs. Chiefs odds: spread, money line, over/under point total

Spread: Chiefs favored by 6 points

Money line: Chiefs -255, Packers +205

Over-under: 42.5.

All odds are courtesy of BETMGM.

The Chiefs average 23.3 points per game, which is 11th best in the NFL. That mark is actually the team's lowest scoring average since the 2014 season. It's also down about a touchdown from their league-leading total from 2022 when they averaged 29.2 points.

The Chiefs are stingy on defense, allowing just 16.5 points per game, third-best in the NFL.

The Packers enter the game averaging 21.0 points per game. After failing to score above 20 points in seven straight games, Green Bay has scored 23 and 29 points in their last two wins.

The Packers are tied for 10th in scoring defense, allowing 20.4 points per game.

Packers vs. Chiefs predictions

Can the Packers pull off the upset for a second straight week? Our beat reporters don't think so. Here's who they are picking for the "Sunday Night Football" game and their reasoning:

Pete Dougherty: Chiefs 27, Packers 21

Kassidy Hill: Chiefs 28, Packers 20

Tom Silverstein: Chiefs 26, Packers 21

Ryan Wood: Chiefs 26, Packers 19

SUNDAY'S WEATHER:Rain, snow in the forecast for Packers-Chiefs game at Lambeau Field

Taylor Swift cheers on the Kansas City Chiefs, along with Brittany Mahomes, wife of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers earlier this season. Swift, who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, is expected to be in Green Bay for the Packers-Chiefs Sunday night game.

Will Taylor Swift be at the Chiefs vs. Packers game Sunday night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay? What about Tony Shalhoub and Simone Biles?

It appears all of the above.

When asked on Friday about whether Swift will be in attendance, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said: "That’s what I’ve heard."

Swift is dating Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce and her appearances at games earlier this season have been must-see for the networks broadcasting the games. The Chiefs are also undefeated when she shows up.

Swift is on a break from her wildly-popular The Eras Tour and just returned from a brief visit to London to celebrate Beyoncé's concert movie premiere.

If Swift indeed comes to Green Bay, she won't be the only celeb in attendance. Emmy Award-winning actor Tony Shalhoub, a Green Bay native, will be there. He told Green Bay Press Gazette's Kendra Meinert this week he's looking forward to sharing some cheese curds with Swift.

And we can't forget about gymnastics legend Simone Biles. Biles, who is married to Packers safety Jonathan Owens, has confirmed that she plans to attend the game.

CELEB NEWS:Are Taylor Swift and Simone Biles friends? Here's the history between the two icons.

Patrick Mahomes stats, record vs. Packers

The two-time MVP Mahomes has only played the Packers once in his career. The Chiefs defeated the Packers, 13-7, at Arrowhead Stadium in 2021 in a game that Love actually made his first career start as Aaron Rodgers recovered from COVID-19.

Mahomes was 20 of 37 for 166 yards and one touchdown for a 74.8 rating.

This season, Mahomes, who remains in the MVP conversation, has completed 68% of his passes for 2,917 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Mahomes has had to deal with a wide receiving corps that leads the league in dropped passes.

Kelce remains his favorite target. The tight end has 70 receptions for 732 yards and five touchdowns.

TAYLOR EFFECT?:Has Taylor Swift hype led to higher prices for Packers-Chiefs tickets at Lambeau Field?

Jordan Love made his first career start in 2021 against the Kansas City Chiefs. He filled in for Aaron Rodgers, who was out with COVID-19.

Jordan Love stats, record vs. Chiefs

Love is completing 60.5% of his passes for 2,599 yards, has 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with an 87.4 rating.

But he'll have to contend with a Chiefs defense that is among the NFL's best. Kansas City's defense allows the fourth-fewest yards in the NFL at 290.0 per game. The Chiefs' passing defense is where they shine. The unit allows 176.6 yards per game, which is third best in the NFL. The Chiefs are also fifth in the NFL with 37.0 sacks.

Love will look to continue his upward trajectory after having his best two games the last two weeks. Love had his first 300-yard passing game of his career in the Packers' 23-20 win over the Los Angeles Chargers two weeks ago. And then he delivered a spectacular performance on Thanksgiving, passing for 268 yards and three touchdowns without any interceptions for a second straight week.

In his first game as a starter two years ago filling in for Rodgers against the Chiefs, Love was blitzed heavily and finished 19 for 34, 190 yards with one TD and one INT. The Packers lost, 13-7.

NFC playoff picture

Here's what the NFC playoff picture looks like heading into Sunday's Week 13 games. The top seven make the playoffs with the top 4 spots going to the division winners.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles: 10-1, plays host to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday
  2. San Francisco 49ers: 8-3, plays at the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday
  3. Detroit Lions: 8-3, plays at the New Orleans Saints on Sunday
  4. Atlanta Falcons: 5-6, plays at the New York Jets on Sunday
  5. Dallas Cowboys: 9-3, defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 41-35, on Thursday
  6. Minnesota Vikings: 6-6, Bye
  7. Seattle Seahawks: 6-6, lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 41-35, on Thursday
  8. Green Bay Packers: 5-6, plays host to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday
  9. Los Angeles Rams: 5-6, plays host to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday
  10. New Orleans Saints: 5-6, plays host to the Detroit Lions on Sunday

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NFC North standings: Lions, Vikings, Packers, Bears schedules

The Lions look to get back in the win column after falling to the Packers on Thanksgiving. A victory would give the Lions a three-game lead in the NFC North with five games to play after this week. The Lions and Vikings play each other twice over the final three weeks of the season.

Meanwhile, the Vikings and Bears get the week off after playing on Monday night. The Bears handed the Vikings their second straight loss, a result that was important for the Packers as they look to get closer to that seventh and final playoff spot.

Detroit Lions: 8-3, play at the New Orleans Saints at noon Sunday

Minnesota Vikings: 6-6, Bye

Green Bay Packers: 5-6, play host to the Kansas City Chiefs at 7:20 p.m. Sunday

Chicago Bears: 4-8, Bye

Packers record

The Packers are 5-6 heading into their "Sunday Night Football" showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.

They have won three of their last four games after a four-game losing streak across Weeks 4-8.

Chiefs record

The Chiefs are 8-3 and lead the AFC West. They enter Week 13 as the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff standings behind the 9-3 Baltimore Ravens.

Kansas City is just 2-2 in its last four games. After a loss to the Eagles in a rematch of last year's Super Bowl on Nov. 20, the Chiefs rebounded with a win over the Raiders last week. But they had to overcome a slow start in which they fell behind 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Packers rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed is questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs. He had four catches for 34 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' 29-22 win over the Lions last week.

Packers injury report

The Packers inactive list will be released about 90 minutes before kickoff.

Here's the team's latest injury report.

NAMEPOSSTATUS
Jaire AlexanderCBQuestionable
Rudy FordSQuestionable
De'Vondre CampbellLBQuestionable
Josiah DeguaraTEQuestionable
Dontayvion WicksWRQuestionable
Jayden ReedWRQuestionable
Robert RochellCBQuestionable
Aaron JonesRBOut
Luke MusgraveTEInjured Reserve
Emanuel WilsonRBInjured Reserve
David BakhtiariOTInjured Reserve
Luke TenutaOTInjured Reserve
Tyler DavisTEInjured Reserve

Chiefs injury report

NAMEPOSSTATUS
Jerick McKinnonRBOut
Justyn RossWROut
Mecole Hardman Jr.WRInjured Reserve
Nick BoltonLBInjured Reserve
Prince Tega WanoghoOTInjured Reserve
Jody FortsonTEInjured Reserve
Nazeeh JohnsonSInjured Reserve
Running back Aaron Jones is carted off the field in the second quarter of the Green Bay Packers' game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 19. Jones will miss his second straight game with a knee injury.

Packers depth chart

With Aaron Jones missing another game with a knee sprain he suffered in the team's win over the Chargers on Nov. 19, AJ Dillon tops the running back depth chart. He rumbled for 43 hard yards in last week's win over the Lions. Patrick Taylor and James Robinson, who was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday, are next in line. The running backs will look to attack the Chiefs' vulnerable rush defense. It allows 113.4 yards per game (19th in the NFL) and gave up a 63-yard TD run to Raiders running back Josh Jacobs last week.

The Packers' secondary depth chart is also one to watch. Let's talk about the safety position first.

Darnell Savage (calf) should give the unit a boost after being activated from injured reserve this week. He has missed the last five games, having last played in the Packers' 19-17 loss to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 22. Meanwhile, Rudy Ford (biceps), who has missed the last two games and three of the past four, is questionable. Owens will get the start if Ford can't play and still could get the nod even if Ford is active. Owens' fumble recovery for a touchdown was one of last week's huge plays and he has led the team in tackles the last two weeks. Rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. is next on the depth chart at safety and has played well in the place of Ford.

All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander looks to get back on the field after missing the past three games. His return would provide a tremendous lift to a defense that will have to contend with a Chiefs offense that while not as explosive as past seasons still has plenty of playmakers.

Two of the Packers' breakout rookie wide receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks are questionable. Reed (upper-body) had a touchdown in the win over the Lions, while Wicks missed the game with a concussion. If both play that would give the Packers a healthy wide receiving corps for Love, who has been gaining in confidence over the last few weeks.

Here's a look a the Packers' full depth chart.

DOUGHERTY COLUMN:Growing pains mostly behind them, Packers pass-catchers proving Brian Gutekunst right

Packers schedule

Date, timeOpponent
Sunday, Sept. 10, 3:25 p.m.at Chicago, (W), 38-20
Sunday, Sept. 17, noonat Atlanta, (L), 25-24
Sunday, Sept. 24, noonvs. New Orleans, (W), 18-17
Thursday, Sept. 28, 7:15 p.m.vs. Detroit, (L), 34-20
Monday, Oct. 9, 7:15 p.m.at Las Vegas, (L), 17-13
Sunday, Oct. 22, 3:25 p.m.at Denver, (L), 19-17
Sunday, Oct. 29, noonvs. Minnesota, (L), 24-10
Sunday, Nov. 5, noonvs. Los Angeles Rams, (W), 20-3
Sunday, Nov. 12, noonat Pittsburgh, (L), 23-19
Sunday, Nov. 19, noonvs. Los Angeles Chargers, (W), 23-20
Thursday, Nov. 23, 11:30 a.m.at Detroit, (W), 29-22
Sunday, Dec. 3, 7:20 p.m.vs. Kansas City
Monday, Dec. 11, 7:15 p.m.at New York Giants
Sunday, Dec. 17, noonvs. Tampa Bay
Sunday, Dec. 24, noonat Carolina
Sunday, Dec. 31, 7:20 p.m.at Minnesota
Saturday, Jan. 6, or Sunday, Jan. 7, TBDvs. Chicago
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