Dhruv Koul shares his in-game thoughts and observations from the Packers-Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In case you've been living under a rock, Green Bay Packers' legendary QB Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week. It turns out, he was unvaccinated, which meant he'd miss today's game in Kansas City. Of course, the media storm that followed was wild. But all it meant was Jordan Love would make his first start for the Packers.
Given all the possible fallout this offseason between Green Bay and Rodgers, today's game was a good glimpse at the possible future for the Packers -- one that would greatly impact your beloved
Chicago Bears. Love's selection in last year's draft was met with lukewarm reaction everywhere. And Rodgers took it hardest. He responded with an MVP season in 2020.
All in all, today was a good glimpse at the possible future -- for the Packers, Bears, and the rest of the NFC North. So, I decided to cover it. Follow me on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1. (PREGAME) -- The Packers won a wonderfully game-planned game in Arizona last Thursday night. They rode their strong running game while the Packers' top three WRs were out. I expect them to lean on their running game again today, on the road, in Love's first start.
2. Love's first drive, one run and two incomplete passes. A three-and-out. No surprise there. I've got jokes for Bears fans.
3. Love's second possession relied a lot on the running game (as I expected). He also threw a low screen that was dug up by the Packers' receiver and taken for a long gain.
But in an obvious passing situation, a WR screen was airmailed. Love has looked very, very rough in the first quarter.
Mason Crosby couldn't get any points on the board, as his FG attempt sailed wide left. It's still 7-0 Chiefs.
4. After the Chiefs went for it on their own side of the field on 4th and 1 and failed miserably, the Packers stalled out themselves. Aaron Jones is very good, but I'm not sure he can carry Love. By the way, Jordan Love should've had a pick-six, but his awfully telegraphed throw went right through Tyrann Mathieu's hands and into the hands of AJ Dillon. Strong catch. Eventually, Mason Crosby's kick was blocked.
So far, Love looks overwhelmed in his first start. I don't blame him. Tough place to be.
5. The sad thing is, as bad as Love has looked so far, Patrick Mahomes has looked just as bad. It continues an over 16-game stretch of Mahomes looking very, very bad. It's remarkable.
Wonder if the Chiefs need Matt Nagy back to get Mahomes right. (I'm kinda serious.)
6. The Packers end the first half with no points. After Mahomes failed in a goal-to-go situation to only get a FG out of it, Love tried to rally the Packers down the field. After a prayer got completed downfield to Randall Cobb, Love was inaccurate on third and fourth downs. He's been truly horrific in this first half.
7. Man, oh man. Mahomes almost gave away three points with a brutal toss towards Tyreek Hill that should've been picked by Kevin King. Alas, he dropped it, and Harrison Butker put the Chiefs up by 13 with a 55-yard FG to end the first half. The boo-birds are out at Arrowhead.
8. Riveting start to the third quarter, as the Chiefs punted, the Packers punted, the Chiefs punted, the Packers punted... you get the idea.
Both QBs are bad today.
9. Something for the folks evaluating Matt LaFleur as a coach without Aaron Rodgers:
Rodgers and his smarts have helped the Packers a lot. I don't doubt LaFleur's ability to game plan. But Love being overwhelmed isn't allowing the Packers to do anything. They have to hope he grows out of that going forward.
For Bears fans, you're probably seeing parallels to Justin Fields' first start against the Cleveland Browns.
10. Love finally started to look decent on the first drive heading into the fourth quarter. He strung together a few solid throws and converted on a 4th and 1. But on 3rd and 10 in the red zone, he was picked off on a desperation throw down the sideline. Not a good decision/throw and it cost Green Bay points.
Frankly, though, it was decent progress for Love on that drive. He looked more confident/decisive.
11. It finally paid off a drive later, as Love finally found Allen Lazard for a touchdown after a missed tackle attempt by Daniel Sorensen. On third down, he'd missed Lazard on a slant only to fire deep to Cobb that was broken up. But he found a touchdown on that last drive.
In reality, it was a bad throw (underthrown floater), but it fooled Sorensen.
12. On the ensuing drive, the Chiefs almost blew their shot at salting the game away with an ill-timed false start. But on 3rd and 10, Mahomes finally looked like the Mahomes of old, scrambling and finding Tyreek Hill for a first down. Clutch. Game over.
13. Overall impressions -- Love looked exactly like a bad QB making his first career start in a hostile environment with little preparation time. Sure, he may improve as he goes forward. But the Packers missed Rodgers a lot tonight. They probably win that game if he's playing, given how bad the Chiefs' offense was.
They better hope that Rodgers is back for the next one.
For Bears fans, probably fun to see such bad QB play by a Packers QB. We'll see what happens in the future.
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