Sunday night football was won by the surging Packers over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Jordan Love excelled at quarterback for the Green Bay Packers in their 27-19 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Lambeau Field on Sunday night. The 25-year-old quarterback threw 25 passes for 36 yards and three touchdowns on 267 yards.

With the victory, the Packers advanced to 6-6, their third consecutive, while the Chiefs fell to 8-4.

The Packers faced the AFC West-leading Chiefs and never trailed. After a touchdown by Noah Gray in the early fourth quarter, Kansas City reduced Green Bay’s lead to two points. However, they were unable to capitalize on their subsequent possessions.

With 5:14 remaining, Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon intercepted a pass from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Additionally, in the fourth quarter, Green Bay kicker Anders Carlson missed two field goals, one of which was a game-changing 48 yards and delivered the Packers a 27–19 lead with 1:09 remaining.

21 of 33 passes completed by Mahomes for 210 yards, including a touchdown and an interception. Isiah Pacheco, a running back for Kansas City, was dismissed in the fourth quarter after accumulating 110 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries during the defeat.

Two of Green Bay’s touchdowns were scored by Christian Watson, who was substituted late in the fourth quarter with an evident injury. He cautiously exited the field with the aid of trainers subsequent to a slide.

What took place during the last moments?

Defensive pass interference was not called on two crucial plays, including the game-winning play when Patrick Mahomes attempted a Hail Mary pass on fourth-and-10 from 33 yards out but it was incomplete as time expired.

A personal foul was called earlier when Mahomes was struck out of bounds with just over a minute remaining.

In response to this call, referee Brad Allen stated in the pool report: “The covering official held the opinion that the defender’s contact on the quarterback was untimely and superfluous. Thus, the demand for superfluous harshness arose.

Allen stated, in response to a question regarding whether or not Mahomes was within bounds, that “internal discussions occur during each play, and the covering official was certain the call was accurate.”

In reference to the no-call concerning the Packers’ Carrington Valentine seemingly being draped over the Chiefs’ Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen stated that the covering officials “were in an advantageous position and determined that there was no substantial obstruction that warranted the classification as defensive pass interference.”

Allen stated, “I am not aware that catchability was a factor.” “The level of contact simply did not appear to the covering official to be sufficient to warrant a material restriction for defensive pass interference.”

Regarding the incident, Valdes-Scantling stated, “I was on the ground… I know I attempted to capture the ball but was unsuccessful.

The Packers eye a probable playoff berth

The Packers were 3-6 and in danger of being selected in the top five of the 2024 NFL Draft, trailing the Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs. This was three weeks ago. A record of 3–9 was not merely a possibility. It appeared probable given the Packers’ poor performance, as their sole triumph spanning Weeks 4-10 was at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, led by quarterback Brett Rypien. Now? The Packers improved to 6-6 with victories over those three opponents.

A place in the playoffs is not merely a possibility. It is a certainty. Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina Panthers are the remaining opponents on the schedule for the Packers. Each of those teams is currently below.500. The Packers have not simply salvaged their season by defeating the league’s sluggish opponents. They have defeated two Super Bowl contenders in succession.

Perhaps it is time to discuss the Packers in the same breath…In actuality, that may be premature at this point. However, the Packers’ recent accomplishments remain noteworthy nonetheless. — Packers staff journalist Matt Schneidman 

Love is the individual

Further solidifying the case that Love is the quarterback of choice for Green Bay was his performance in another outstanding contest against one of the top defenses in the NFL. Love persists in making enormous leaps through narrow apertures and exercising shrewd judgment. Will he continue to endure for the next fifteen years as his two predecessors did? Who is aware? Conversely, he has thus far positioned himself as a genuine gentleman. Schneidman stated:

The Chiefs’ attack pauses.

In an additional primetime contest, the Chiefs’ offense encountered critical junctures in the fourth quarter, wherein Mahomes was unable to establish effective communication with two of his receivers, Skyy Moore and Valdes-Scantling. The Chiefs could have seized their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter with a touchdown on their ensuing drive. Mahomes failed to complete a deep pass intended for Valdes-Scantling, who was wide open between two defenders.

Mahomes observed his intended target, receiver Richie James, fall to the ground while running his route in the center of the field on the third-down snap that followed. Nixon intercepted Mahomes’ pass on the subsequent possession when second-year receiver Moore decelerated on his wheel route in close proximity to the sideline. Particularly in close games, the Chiefs’ inconsistent receivers remain a concern, as evidenced by Mahomes’ targeting of tight end Travis Kelce in the fourth quarter. — Nate Taylor, staff writer for the Chiefs

Chiefs’ defensive considerations

As of the commencement of play at Lambeau Field, the Chiefs’ defense had only conceded 24 points in a loss to the Denver Broncos. The Packers established a 14-3 lead by scoring 27 points and controlling the game’s tempo, in part due to Love’s outstanding performance against the Chiefs’ blitzes, which was the exact antithesis of what transpired during his rookie NFL start at Arrowhead Stadium in 2021. Nevertheless, the Chiefs may have more significant apprehensions on defense following this contest.

Ensuring Safety Bryan Cook, who was in his second season of play, appeared to have suffered a serious injury to his left tibia. Likewise, linebacker Drue Tranquill suffered a concussion while participating in the Packers’ initial drive. The Chiefs have maintained one of the finest defenses in the league, in part, due to the unit’s abundance of healthy rotational contributors. In Cook’s absence and Tranquill’s substitution start at linebacker Nick Bolton’s expense, the Packers capitalized on the play of reserve defenders including cornerback Joshua Williams, linebackers Jack Cochrane and Leo Chenal. Taylor (3)