The Green Bay Packers lost for the first time this season and had their 19 game winning streak come to an end as they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, 19-14 at Arrowhead Stadium. It is the Packers (13-1) first loss since falling at New England 31-27 exactly one year to the day. The Chiefs (6-8) picked up a win in Romeo Crennel’s first game as the team’s interim head coach and they denied the Packers of clinching home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
The Chiefs found themselves in the red zone three times in the opening half, settling for two field goals and a 6-0 halftime advantage. The Packers first score came with 8:04 to play in the third quarter as Aaron Rodgers fired a 2-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver for a 7-6 lead. Kansas City answered with two more Ryan Succop field goals and a 1-yard scoring run by Jackie Battle for a 19-7 fourth quarter lead. Rodgers ran 8 yards for Green Bay’s second TD of the day, cutting the deficit to 19-14. However, the Packers ensuing onside kick trickled out of bounds and the Chiefs were able to run out the final 2:04 for the win.
Rodgers had a poor day by his standards. He completed 17 of 35 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown. Jermichael Finley caught three passes for 83 yards, but he and the rest of the Packers receiving corp were plagued by drops. Ryan Grant carried 12 times for 66 yards. Kyle Orton made his second start against the Packers this season. After losing in week 4 with the Broncos, Orton completed 23 of 31 passes for 299 yards in his first start since joining the Chiefs before their week 12 game.
The Packers banged up offensive line suffered two more losses. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. Bulaga did not return. The Packers first round draft pick Derek Sherrod replaced Bulaga, but also was lost to an injury. Sherrod went down in the third quarter with a broken leg and he is lost for the remainder of the season.
Green Bay can still clinch home field advantage in the NFC playoffs if San Francisco loses at home to Pittsburgh Monday night. The Packers will host the Chicago Bears Sunday night. Kickoff at Lambeau Field on Christmas night is scheduled for 7:20.
