Maybe one day we will get to see Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes go head-to-head. Mahomes missed the first opportunity in 2019 due to a knee injury. Two years later, Rodgers is now the one not suiting up after testing positive for COVID-19. Unfortunately, this historic matchup will have to wait as the Green Bay Packers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9. Green Bay hopes to extend their 7-game win streak, but they will have to do it without their starting quarterback.
The Chiefs have not looked like themselves this season. Usually, it’s the defense holding them back, and while their defense has been pretty bad in 2021, the offense also hasn’t been great. Mahomes has already thrown 10 interceptions through the first eight games, which is uncharacteristic for the 2018 MVP.
If there was ever a game where the Packers needed to force a turnover, this is the one. Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense would greatly appreciate it. Luckily, defensive coordinator Joe Barry is back with the team, which should help even though Jerry Gray did a superb job filling in against the Arizona Cardinals. Rasul Douglas came up huge with a game-winning interception at the end of last week’s game, and perhaps some of that turnover luck will carry over to Week 9.
Sans Rodgers, this is still an intriguing matchup. Both teams have talented rosters and two of the best head coaches in the NFL. This is also a chance for Green Bay to get a good look at their young backup quarterback making his first career start.
Not that it should come as a surprise, but for this week’s list of key matchups, let’s start with Love facing a struggling Kansas City defense.