Packers Chiefs Betting – Green Bay Backups Just Might Be Good Enough
After their demolition of the defending AFC champion Indianapolis Colts in last week’s preseason game, the Green Bay Packers – one would think – should be favored to top the lowly Kansas City Chiefs in the year’s final exhibition game. Yes, this is the preseason, but still, a 59-point thermonuclear spectacular in the NFL preseason – anywhere and anytime – should catch the eye of pro football observers and register as a noteworthy development. While Minnesota receiver Percy Harvin continues to deal with migraine headaches and the Vikings regather themselves after another training camp rich with Brett Favre drama, the Packers just might be in the process of usurping Minnesota for the status of favorite in the NFC North Division. How will the Packers go about their business in their last exhibition go-round against Kansas City? Let’s find out.
NFL Betting: Green Bay Packers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Online Betting Odds: Chiefs -5.5
Why To Bet On The Packers
The Packers watched with delight last Thursday, as their star quarterback shone brightly. Aaron Rodgers torched the Indianapolis secondary for 195 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Rodgers completed just under 75 percent of his passes and looked as sharp as anyone in the league, Peyton Manning very much included. Sure, Rodgers won’t play in this final preseason game, but it’s worth noting that the Packers’ offense is very much in rhythm.
What confirms the above statement is that the Packers’ backup quarterbacks are also doing very well. They’re thriving in a scheme and framework that are clearly paying off for coach Mike McCarthy and the rest of the Green Bay staff. Last week against the Colts, backup Matt Flynn went 8-of-13 for 80 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Third-stringer Graham Harrell went 4-of-5 for 62 yards without throwing an interception. Combined, the two reserves – Flynn and Harrell – hit 12 of 18 passes (67 percent completions) for 142 yards, two scores, and no picks. That’s fabulous. Going up against the Chiefs’ anemic offense (anemic no matter who is throwing the ball for Kansas City), another 12-of-18, 142-yard, two-touchdown, no-interception performance should give Green Bay an excellent chance to go into Arrowhead Stadium and pull out a preseason victory.
Why To Bet On The Chiefs
As is the case with lot of these other exhibition finales around the NFL, the best reason to pick the Chiefs is not connected to anything they inherently own. Coach Todd Haley’s team has failed to hit 20 points in any of its first three preseason contests. The only reason to pick Kansas City is simply that Aaron Rodgers won’t occupy center stage on Thursday. Green Bay could very well decide to pull back and just get through this game without trying to make a push. Yes, some players might be competing for a final few roster spots, but if a team has settled on its lineup for the most part, the final exhibition game can turn into an entirely meaningless situation, and at that point, you can take conventional football wisdom and throw it out the window.
How The Game Will Play Out
Basically, Green Bay’s backup quarterbacks will not only give a damn, they’ll play solidly and will avoid the turnovers that would give Kansas City its best chance of winning. Take the Packers on Thursday.
Packers Chiefs Betting Pick: Packers + 5.5
