Arrowheadlines: Davante Adams off COVID list, expected to play against Chiefs

The latest

Packers WR Davante Adams off COVID-19 list ahead of Sunday’s game vs. Chiefs | NFL.com

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur announced that Davante Adams is back in the building after missing last week on the COVID-19 list. In addition, defensive coordinator Joe Barry is also back.

“Great to see those guys … they were fired up to be back,” LaFleur said, via NFL Network’s Stacey Dales.

LaFleur later added that Adams still has some things to work through this week regarding his return, but the coach is “hopeful” Adams will play Sunday.

Unfulfilled dynasty? Why Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes could walk a path similar to Packers’ Aaron Rodgers | ESPN

A decade ago, Rodgers was in a similar spot as Mahomes today. He was 27 years old in the winter of 2011 when he quarterbacked the Packers to a Super Bowl championship. It was widely assumed at the time Rodgers would win many more titles. Even Rodgers — the day after the Packers’ Super Bowl victory — said he was looking forward to going after more.

“I always look for challenges,” he said then. “The challenge goes to repeating. We’ve got one, so now what? Let’s go get another one.”

Rodgers and the Packers haven’t been back to the Super Bowl since.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl Hangover Has Historical Precedent | Forbes

At the halfway point of the season, they shockingly have regressed to a middling team. But if you look at the history of teams who have lost in the Super Bowl the previous season, their performance is not so surprising.

Of the 20 teams that have played and lost a Super Bowl this millennium — starting with the 2000 New York Giants — half of them missed the playoffs the following year.

That includes the San Francisco 49ers, who the Chiefs bested 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV. Beset by injuries, the 49ers fell to 6-10 last year.

To conclude that 2020 season, the Chiefs lost Super Bowl LV, 31-9, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NFL Week 9 odds, picks: Chiefs offense ready to take off vs. Packers, plus banking on Dak to sit out again | CBS Sports

Packers at Chiefs: Chiefs Over 27.5 (-120)

So, we found out that the Packers will be without Aaron Rodgers after he tested positive for COVID-19. As you’d expect, this had a major impact on both the spread and the total. Before Rodgers’ diagnosis became public, the Chiefs were favored by a point, and the total was at 54.5. As of publication of this column, the spread has moved to Chiefs -7.5, and the total is at 48. So, basically, Rodgers is worth a touchdown.

But I don’t want to figure out how his absence impacts the Packers; I just want to take advantage of it with the Chiefs. You see, while all the attention will be on Rodgers, he’s not the only player the Packers are missing. A quick look at their injured list shows a lot of key players on the defensive side of the ball have already been ruled out or are questionable. Now that Packers defense will have to help cover for a young, inexperienced QB in Jordan Love, who is a lot more likely to put them in bad positions than Rodgers ever has. And its facing a Kansas City offense that could really use a chance to show off and dominate somebody. Once the dam breaks, I don’t see this Chiefs offense slowing down, and there’s a good chance that happens Sunday afternoon.

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Packers 17

Week 9 NFL game picks: Colts roll past Jets on Thursday night; Jordan Love-led Packers stun Chiefs | NFL.com

Green Bay Packers 27-26 Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are 3-15-1 against the spread in their last 19 games, a stretch that puts some data on the concept of being overrated. They have played so consistently below expectations without the expectations changing, at least until this week. This game was a pick ‘em, at home, against a strong — if flawed — Packers team. The market correction was here, at least until Aaron Rodgers got COVID-19. Now Kansas City’s a heavy favorite against a team that could/should get Davante Adams, David Bakhtiari and Allen Lazard back in the lineup. Jordan Love showed off his talent in the preseason, and his Week 1 cameo is enough to believe that ever-resourceful Matt LaFleur is a strong pick to cover that number. I believe the Packers can win outright because of their stout running game. Plus, I’m here for the chaos that would ensue after.

Browns, Odell Beckham Jr. working toward split: Raiders, Saints among 10 potential landing spots for receiver | CBS Sports

4. Chiefs

Their offensive problems aren’t solely or primarily stemming from a lack of talent, but one way to help Patrick Mahomes settle down might be giving him yet another big-play outlet. Beckham would be playing second fiddle to Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, perhaps, but K.C. throws it so much that he’d still see a bump in action. The Chiefs, remember, sniffed around WR additions prior to this season.

Around the NFL

Who do we think will win NFL MVP, rookie of the year, and more | SB Nation

Offensive Player of the Year: Cooper Kupp, WR — Los Angeles Rams

Nobody has benefited more from a new quarterback than Cooper Kupp. The Rams’ receiver was routinely the team’s top weapon, but never seemed to fully gel with Jared Goff. Now, with Stafford under center he’s putting up not just the best season of his career, but could end up with one of the greatest receiving seasons of all time.

Kupp is on pace for an absolute mind-boggling season: 134 receptions, 1,964 receiving yards, 21 touchdowns. No other receiver is close right now, and this projection holds there will be no stopping him running away with the award.

Source: Washington DE Montez Sweat has broken jaw, could miss a month | ESPN

The loss deals a serious blow to Washington, which has lost four consecutive games and entered its bye week with a 2-6 record. It’s the same record it had a year ago after eight games en route to a 5-3 finish and NFC East title. Repeating that won-loss success will be difficult minus Sweat, whose injury was first reported by Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan.

He hurt his jaw late in Sunday’s 17-10 loss, with his final snap of the game occurring at the 6:54 mark of the fourth quarter. Sweat could be seen grabbing the side of his face after the play had concluded. It wasn’t until he got an X-ray that the fracture was discovered. He can’t have any physical contact for a month. That means he’ll miss upcoming games vs. Tampa Bay, Carolina and Seattle.

Texans QB Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) to start vs. Dolphins | NFL.com

Coach David Culley said Taylor suffered no setbacks to the hamstring injury that forced the quarterback to miss the past six games.

“He was our starting quarterback, and he got hurt,” Culley said. “He’s back healthy now, and he’s starting. The fact he’s been our leader going into the year, will that help us? I hope so. We’ll see.”

Taylor suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 against Cleveland that forced him to the sidelines. He returned to practice last week.

New York Jets expect QB Mike White to be recovered by next game after exiting loss with forearm injury | ESPN

Mike White’s storybook run as the New York Jets’ quarterback was interrupted Thursday night with a first-quarter injury to his right forearm, but the team expects him to be recovered by next week, setting up a big quarterback decision for coach Robert Saleh.

The Jets, dominated by the Indianapolis Colts in a 45-30 loss at Lucas Oil Stadium, also suffered a crushing injury on defense. The team fears that safety Marcus Maye, one of their top players, tore an Achilles tendon — a season-ending injury.

“I’m sick for him,” Saleh said. “It’s not looking good.”

Maye tweeted after the game, asking for well wishes and for his teammates to “Hold it down!”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Film review: Frank Clark trending up after another strong performance

Speed rush

During his strongest moments in 2019 and 2020, Clark’s ability to win around the edge with quickness stood out most. He has generally always been able to jump the snap, and less athletic offensive tackles struggle to combat the small shoulder dip move that earned him the majority of his sacks.

Working back from hamstring injuries to both legs during August and September, it took some time for Clark to regain the athleticism we were used to seeing. Monday night appeared to be his return to full form, as he really stressed New York’s offensive tackles with speed.

To make matters even more promising, it appears he has maintained that same level of quickness he possessed in prior years despite packing on some (good) extra weight.

For those who do not recall, Frank Clark actually lost a significant amount of weight during the 2019 season with an illness. This happened with the Seattle Seahawks in 2018 as well, so it will be something to monitor if Clark becomes ill at any point this season. However, reports from training camp and a simple eye test suggest that the Chiefs’ defensive end is perhaps as heavy now as he has been since joining Kansas City.

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