Packers at Chiefs
THE STORY: By all indications, the injury to star receiver Greg Jennings isn’t going to affect the Green Bay Packers’ pursuit of an undefeated regular season. Defensive tackle B.J. Raji said he thinks coach Mike McCarthy is “going to go for this thing” after last week’s 46-16 rout of Oakland. For his part, McCarthy told reporters, “Our players still want to play" when asked about his plans for the final three weeks. His tone may change soon. Green Bay will try to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs on the road Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The injury-riddled Chiefs, who fired coach Todd Haley on Monday, don’t figure to threaten the second-longest winning streak in NFL history.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Packers -13.5, O/U 46
ABOUT THE PACKERS (13-0): The Packers are seeking to become the first defending Super Bowl champion to start 14-0 and just the fourth team in NFL history to accomplish the feat. Their 19th straight win moved them into sole possession of the second-longest winning streak in NFL history. Only the New England Patriots' run of 21 straight wins from 2003-04 is longer. Aaron Rodgers passed for 281 yards and two touchdowns against Oakland before sitting out the fourth quarter, while Ryan Grant ran for two scores and the defense recorded four interceptions. The mood was dampened by the loss of Jennings (knee), who suffered a sprained MCL in the third quarter and is out two to three weeks. Still, it’s a loss that the Packers can absorb thanks to arguably the deepest receiving corps in the league. The Packers' defense has been under siege all season, but it leads the NFL with 27 interceptions, which helps make up for the chunks of yards it allows (394.7, 31st).
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (5-8): Haley led the Chiefs to an AFC West title last season, but injuries and a general lack of competitiveness marred the end of his tenure. The final straw was Sunday’s 37-10 blowout loss to the New York Jets. Kansas City managed a staggering four yards in the first half. It also committed 11 penalties for 128 yards – including an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Haley. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel’s first move as interim coach will be to bench Tyler Palko, who has been extremely ineffective in four starts (749 yards, 2 TDs, 7 INTs) in place of the injured Matt Cassel. He was 3 of 8 for 11 yards in the first half last week. Crennel said Kyle Orton (dislocated index finger) will make his first start with the Chiefs, assuming he is healthy enough. If Orton can’t go, fifth-round pick Ricky Stanzi would make his first career start.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Rodgers’ next touchdown pass will break the franchise record of 39 set by Brett Favre in 1996. He will also try to top the NFL record of 13 straight games with at least two touchdown passes.
2. Haley was 19-27 in two-plus seasons with Kansas City, which was his first head coaching job.
3. The Packers can join the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the 2007 New England Patriots and the 2009 Indianapolis Colts as the only teams to start 14-0.