Chiefs vs. Packers will come down to these two mismatches

The Green Bay Packers are only a 5.5-point favorite against the Kansas City Chiefs so we can expect a close game if those NFL odds mean anything. There are a number of things to watch in this game, including the return of Eric Fisher at RT and Jamaal Charles against the Packers run defense but there are two other matchups in this game that will decide the difference.

Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel correctly identified those two key matchups:

Chiefs LB Justin Houston vs. Packers RT Don Barclay: The Chiefs hope to win starts and stops with Justin Houston and the Chiefs pass rushers putting pressure on Aaron Rodgers. The Chiefs won't be blitzing all the time in this game so the pressure is on Houston to change the game. Based on what we've seen from him so far, I'm confident he can do that.

Chiefs CB Jamell Fleming vs. Packers WRs: This gets tricky for the Chiefs because Fleming was exposed late in last week's game against the Broncos. The Packers have good receivers in Randall Cobb, DaVante Adams (expected to play) and James Jones. I imagine Rodgers will key in on whoever Fleming is covering because the Chiefs other corners - Marcus Peters and Phillip Gaines - are probably more difficult matchups for the Packers. Chiefs fans have to hope that DC Bob Sutton knew this was coming and has a plan to stop it. Or at least contain it, because you probably can't fully stop Rodgers.

Jamaal Charles and the Chiefs run blocking will be another key but those two matchups above will likely decide the outcome of this game. Tamba Hali and Allen Bailey were able to pressure Rodgers for a combined four sacks the last time these two teams met; can the Chiefs do it again?