Post-game analysis as the KC Chiefs do just enough to beat the Green Bay Packers

From a blocked field goal to recovering a muffed punt to putting up points in the kicking game, the Chiefs’ special teams performance proved rather exceptional against the Green Bay Packers at Arrowhead Stadium.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub’s unit set the tone early, highlighted by defensive end Alex Okafor’s sticking up his right hand in time to deny Packers kicker Mason Crosby’s 37-yard field goal attempt.

With Okafor and the likes of cornerback Chris Lammons, who recovered a muffed punt in the second quarter, making distinct plays, the Chiefs took charge against an Aaron Rodgers-less Packers team before holding on for a 13-7 win.

“I though special teams did a great job and Dave (Toub) had a nice plan,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.

Kansas City’s special teams helped pick up the slack throughout the game.

After a successful first drive, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes struggled against the Packers defense and finished the first half with a lower passer rating (74.8) than Rodgers’ backup Jordan Love, who posted a 76.4 rating.

Mahomes finished the game completing 20 of 37 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown for a 74.8 passer rating. Somewhat incredibly, Mahomes didn’t top the 100-yard passing mark until late in the third quarter.

After Mahomes connected with tight end Travis Kelce on the team’s opening drive for a 1-yard touchdown pass, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker connected on two first-half field goals, including a 55-yard bomb.

Punter Tommy Townsend also contributed six booming punt for 341 yards, averaging a head-turning 56.8 yards per attempt. Five of Townsend’s punts landed inside the Packers’ 20-yard line to help flip field position.

Special teams and defense carried the day for the Chiefs, who improved to 5-4 on the season and recorded their first two-game winning streak of the season.

Sunday wasn’t pretty, but the Chiefs will take it.

“I’d rather work on getting better and still have the opportunity to win a game,” Reid said. “That’s how we finished this one.”

The win almost moved the Chiefs a half game from the AFC West-leading Las Vegas Raiders (5-3), who lost Sunday to the New York Giants.

INGRAM MAKES IMPACT

New Chiefs outside linebacker/defensive end Melvin Ingram made his debut and the box score will show that he recorded an assisted tackle.

His value, however, went beyond the box score.

“I thought he did well,” Reid said. “Sometimes I’m on the bench, sometimes I’m up, so I don’t get to see every snap, but what I saw in practice, I liked. And it looked like it carried over. He’s very, very smart and he’s got good leadership, and I could feel that today on the ones I was watching.”

The Chiefs worked in Ingram on passing downs, and he alternated lining up on the right and left side of the defensive line. He made his first contribution on the Packers’ first possession of the game after entering on a third-down passing situation.

Ingram rushed from the left side of the defensive line and used a bull-rush to get under Packers right tackle Billy Turner and pushed his way into the pocket to pressure Love, who was forced to throw an incomplete pass.

Ingram’s presence also allowed the Chiefs to move Chris Jones to defensive tackle, where he started the game. The Chiefs elected to start second-year pro Mike Danna at left defensive end.

“He does some special things,” defensive end Frank Clark said of Ingram. “Some things, everyone is yet to see here with the Chiefs. And I feel like the way he’s going to be utilized in the future, it’s only going to be a benefit to us, defensively.”

DEFENSIVE BREAKTHROUGH

Chiefs coach Andy Reid has said on multiple occasion in recent weeks that the defense was close to putting it all together.

If Sunday provided an indication, perhaps that time has finally come.

OK, not having to face Rodgers helps, but the Chiefs limited the Packers to 301 total yards and 19 first downs. Kansas City also held the Packers to seven points, 17 below their season average of 24.

Health probably has a lot to do with the Chiefs’ defensive performance.

For the first time this season, the Chiefs had all their starting pieces on the field at the same time after multiple players missed time because of injuries.

Linebacker Anthony Hitchens returned after missing two games with a tricep sinjury, and he resumed his role as the green dot play-caller alongside Willie Gay Jr. and rookie Nick Bolton. Hitchens paced the defense with a seven tackles, including one for a loss.

Right defensive end Frank Clark, who missed three of the Chiefs’ first four games because of hamstring injuries, has hit his stride and showed his ability to cause havoc in the Packers’ backfield, totaling three quarterback hits to go along with two tackles.

Mathieu chipped in with six tackles and a sack, while cornerback L’Jarius Sneed had six tackles, an interception and two passes defensed.

“Sneed’s pick was a big play for us as we went,” Reid said.

CHIEFS OFFENSE SPUTTERS

The Packers entered the weekend as one of the NFL’s better defensive units, especially against the pass: Green Bay ranked ranked sixth (216.8 yards allowed per game).

Like other defenses to face the Chiefs this season, the Packers played their safeties well off the line of scrimmage to take away the deep ball. And for the most part, the strategy continues to yield results for defenses facing Mahomes.

The Chiefs managed just 237 total yards of offense, 175.9 off their weekly average of 412.9 yards per game. Mahomes also appeared out of sync, especially with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who caught four passes for 37 yards on 11 targets.

Mahomes completed 54.1 % of his passes and averaged just 4.5 yards per attempt.

NO SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS

For the first time since the season opener, the Chiefs took care of the football and snapped a dubious streak of seven games with a turnover. In that span, the Chiefs totaled a league-worst 32 turnovers, which includes Mahomes’ 10 interceptions.

The Chiefs also cut down on penalties, totaling six infractions for 33 yards. In Week 8, the Chiefs were flagged 12 times for 103 yards.

INJURIES

Rookie right tackle Lucas Niang suffered a rib injury in the first half and didn’t return. Veteran Andrew Wylie replaced Niang in the lineup.

“Andrew did a nice job of filling in for him on short notice there,” Reid said.

Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed briefly left the game in the first quarter and spent time in the blue medical tent. Sneed later said he was evaluated for a concussion, but cleared the protocol.

INACTIVES

Right tackle Mike Remmers (knee), defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (knee), tackle Prince Tega Wanogho, cornerback Deandre Baker and tight end Daniel Brown were not dressed for the game.

UP NEXT

The Chiefs travel to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders in Week 10.