The Chiefs visit the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. These players could make a difference
Chiefs offensive lineman Wanya Morris has gotten most of his work on special teams this season.
The rookie picked up three offensive snaps against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7, but that was it ... until Sunday’s game at the Las Vegas Raiders.
In the third quarter, Morris was summoned to replace left Donovan Smith, who had to leave the game with an injury. The Chiefs faced a third-and-1 from their 47, and the call went to running back Isiah Pacheco, to the left side.
Morris was ready for the task. On the snap, he pushed Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson with help from guard Joe Thuney, and Pacheco picked up six yards.
Four plays later, Pacheco scored from the 1, with Morris sealing his man. Smith returned to the game on the next series, and Morris’ day, at least on offense, was over.
“You know what? He did a nice job,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Physical. Good to get him a couple of reps.”
Just another day at the office, Morris said, although that’s not exactly the case. The third-round draft pick from Oklahoma with limited snaps looked like he belonged, and that brief appearance bodes well for his future.
“I was just doing my job,” Morris said. “You never know when your number is going to be called. It’s any given game. Thankfully (Donovan) is healthy and was able to go on, but whenever he’s down I’m ready to go.”
Here’s what else to keep an eye on as the Chiefs take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football:
Chiefs player to watch: Running back Isiah Pacheco
Pacheco is coming off the first two-touchdown game of his two-year career. Both were 1-yard runs that helped the Chiefs turn the tide in short-yardage situations.
Pacheco has averaged 70 rushing yards over the past three games. If he maintains that average over the final six, he will become the Chiefs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt in 2017.
Packers player to watch: wide receiver Jayden Reed
The Packers have balance among their wide receivers, but leading the way is Reed, the rookie from Michigan State. He tops Green Bay with 497 receiving yards and is part of a passing game that has improved throughout the season.
Quarterback Jordan Love’s 103.3 passer rating over the past four weeks is the NFL’s best. In the Packers’ Thanksgiving Day victory over the Lions, Love threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions.
The offensive line did its job. Love wasn’t sacked after being dropped five times by the Lions in Detroit’s Week 4 victory.
Special teams player to watch: Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker
We should keep Butker in this position until he misses a kick.
The amazing season continues. If he remains perfect through Sunday’s game at Green Bay, he will become the seventh kicker in NFL history to be perfect on field goals and extra points through 12 games (with a minimum of 12 field-goal attempts).
Butker is 20 for 20 on field goals, with a long of 60, and has made all 28 of his extra-point attempts. But Butker and the Chiefs’ special teams might face difficult conditions Sunday: A wintry mix is in the forecast.
What else to watch: Packers are streaking
December weather suits the Packers. Under Matt LaFleur, Green Bay is 15-0 in December games. That’s the second longest winning streak in NFL history (the San Diego Chargers won 18 in a row in December from 2006-09).
The Chiefs aren’t part of this particular Packers streak, but they did lose the only trip they’ve made to Lambeau Field in the past two decades, falling 38-28 in September 2015.
