As Competitors, Packers Would Rather Face MVP Mahomes
If MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes is unable to play on Sunday night, the Green Bay Packers would be much more likely to beat the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, as competitors, that’s not how the Packers are viewing Mahomes’ potential absence following the dislocated kneecap sustained on Thursday night at Denver.
“Of course. Of course,” cornerback Kevin King said when asked if he wanted to go against Mahomes. “We might see him a little later.”
That, of course, is thinking ahead to this year’s Super Bowl. It’s not a farfetched possibility. The Packers are 6-1 and the Chiefs are 5-2 after reaching the AFC Championship Game last year.
Video: Linebacker and offensive line drills from Wednesday.
They got there behind Mahomes, who turned in the type of season that Aaron Rodgers produced during his MVP season of 2011. Mahomes threw for 5,097 yards and a league-leading 50 touchdowns en route to a 113.8 passer rating. In NFL history, he finished second in touchdowns, eighth in passing yards and ninth in passer rating. Heading into the Denver game, Mahomes was on pace for 5,610 passing yards and 53 touchdowns.
Mahomes reportedly will be out for three weeks but practiced Wednesday. Still, it seems more likely than not that 35-year-old Matt Moore will make the start against Green Bay.
“Obviously, he’s the reigning MVP. That’s who we want to face,” defensive back Tramon Williams said of Mahomes. “Chances are, if we’re blessed enough to get into the playoffs – I don’t like to speak ahead – he can be a potential guy that we’ve got to face. That’s who we want to face.”
Rodgers vs. Mahomes, arguably the two most-talented quarterbacks in the game and the driving forces behind legit Super Bowl contenders, would have been must-see TV. Now, their only appearances on Sunday night might be on their State Farm commercials.
“I said yesterday I would never count Pat out of playing this week,” Rodgers said. “I really enjoyed working with him this summer. He’s a great actor. We had a lot of fun in those commercials. Obviously, he’s an extremely talented player. I love putting on the film and watching him and his arm angles and throwing ability and his eye manipulation. He’s an extreme talent in the league, and the league is obviously better when he’s playing.”
With the Packers facing the AFC West in this year’s schedule rotation, Rodgers and coach Matt LaFleur have seen plenty of Mahomes this season. LaFleur said Mahomes reminds him of Rodgers – a comparison made frequently over the past 12 months – because of their abilities to make plays on the move, throw with power and accuracy from odd arm angles and deliver the occasional no-look pass.
“He does some incredible things on the field,” Rodgers said. “I enjoy watching guys who have similar styles. He’s able to extend plays. He’s obviously very talented throwing the ball on the run to either side. He’s got the arm to put it all over the field. He obviously had a fantastic year last year winning MVP and I think he’s going to be around for a while doing that.”
He just might not be doing it on Sunday. That would be an obvious advantage for the Packers as they prepare for a third consecutive game against a team with a scheduling advantage. Regardless of who’s at quarterback, the Chiefs have an abundance of talent. Tyreek Hill might be the most dangerous receiver in the NFL, Travis Kelce might be the best tight end in the NFL and the addition of LeSean McCoy has provided a boost to the backfield.
“Obviously, Matt Moore has been a serviceable quarterback in this league for a while,” Williams said. “He’s been a backup to some great quarterbacks and he’s been the starter for some teams. I think he’s always had a good showing pretty much for a lot of teams that he’s been on. He’s definitely a guy that we don’t take for granted. We think that he can get the job done at a high level, especially with Andy Reid as the coach. I don’t think anything’s going to slow down in that offense. They’ve got a lot of weapons on that offense. I think they have a capable quarterback who has a lot of experience and he can get the job done. I tell the young guys, ‘Let’s get prepared to face the same Kansas City team that we’ve been seeing over these weeks.’”
