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Chiefs vs. Packers: 12 Observations

12 things that stood out during the Chiefs game on Monday night against the Packers

1. Chiefs fall 38-28 to the Packers on Monday Night

The Kansas City Chiefs got behind early and couldn't fight their way back against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night.

Despite trailing 31-7 in the second half, the Chiefs outscored the Packers 21-7 in the final 22 minutes of the game, but it wasn't enough.

The Packers made big plays on both sides of the ball and the Chiefs just couldn't recover.

There were a number of areas the Chiefs need to play better, but offensively, third down was a problem again for the Chiefs, as they converted just 2 of 10 opportunities.

The Chiefs fell to 1-2 on the season and now have a short week to prepare for the 3-0 Cincinnati Bengals.

2. Derrick Johnson becomes the Chiefs all-time leading tackler

On a night that didn't end up the way anyone had hoped, one of the best to ever wear a Kansas City Chiefs uniform put himself atop the franchise record books.

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In this regard, Monday night was special.

Veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson became the franchise's all-time leader in tackles with a stop of Packers running back James Starks midway through the third quarter.

It gave Johnson the 1,000th tackle of his career.

The record was previously held by former great Gary Spani, who had a standout career for the Chiefs during his nine-year career (1978-86).

Johnson needed just 5 tackles coming into the game to set the record and he finished the game with 8.

3. Aaron Rodgers continues to be special at Lambeau Field

Aaron Rodgers is good. We knew that coming into the game and he showed everyone why he's a two-time MVP on Monday night.

Rodgers finished the game 24 of 35 for 333 yards with 5 touchdowns.

In his last 19 games at home, Rodgers has thrown 48 touchdowns and no interceptions.

His favorite target on the night was either Randall Cobb, who finished the game with 7 catches for 91 yards and 3 touchdowns, or James Jones, who finished with 7 receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Either way, the Chiefs fell behind early and Rodgers and the Packers offense just kept making plays.

Photos from the Chiefs week three matchup against the Packers

4. Packers defense created negative plays

The Packers defense finished the game with 7 sacks, 9 tackles for loss and 8 quarterback hits.

While the Chiefs didn't do themselves any favors by getting behind early, the offense wasn't able to keep Alex Smith off the ground long enough to make plays, particularly early in the game.

5. A tale of two halves: First half vs. second half offense for the Chiefs

First half statistics:

First downs: KC – 7, GB – 20

Total plays: KC – 20, GB – 42

Total yards: KC – 94, GB – 304

Yards per play – KC – 4.7, GB – 7.2

Time of Possession – KC – 8:49, GB – 21:03

Second half statistics:

First downs: KC – 16, GB – 6

Total plays: KC – 45, GB – 26

Total yards: KC – 232, GB – 144

Yards per play – KC – 5.2, GB – 5.5

Time of Possession – KC – 17:33, GB – 12:27

6. Chiefs offense finds chunk plays

Early in the game, Travis Kelce picked up a huge 38-yard reception from quarterback Alex Smith when the Chiefs offense was desperately needing a big play.

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It's a route we often see from Kelce as he was outside of the numbers and Smith placed the ball perfectly in front of him in stride.

After the play, Packers defensive back Sam Shields was called for a penalty and the Chiefs were given 15 more yards, setting up their first touchdown of the game.

Early in the fourth quarter, Jeremy Maclin took an Alex Smith pass 61 yards down the field on a post route. It set up Jamaal Charles' second touchdown of the game.

Maclin finished the game with 8 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown.

7. Jamaal Charles sets a new personal best

When it was really needed on Monday night, Jamaal Charles put the Chiefs on the board with a 9-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

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The Chiefs had cut the Packers lead to 14-7 at the time.

He would later add 2 more touchdowns on the ground, which was the first time in his storied career he's had 3 or more rushing touchdowns.

His 3 touchdowns also moved him into third place on the Chiefs all-time list with 63 in his career, passing former running back Larry Johnson (61).

Since 2013, Charles has more touchdowns than any other player in the NFL.

8. Phillip Gaines leaves with injury

Early in the game, starting cornerback Phillip Gaines left with an apparent knee injury and did not return.

While facing Rodgers was already a challenge, losing a starting cornerback early didn't help matters.

After the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Gaines has a knee sprain and that they'd know more on Tuesday.

9. Alex Smith and Jeremy Maclin find groove in second half

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Much has been made about the Chiefs not having a touchdown from a receiver for a while, and that ended on Monday night as Alex Smith found Jeremy Maclin late in the third quarter for the 5-yard touchdown pass.

Maclin was targeted twice but didn't have a reception in the first half. He came back in a big way in the second half as he had 8 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown in the final 30 minutes of the game.

The hookup brought the score to 31-14.

10. Chiefs Kingdom showed their pride before kickoff

One of the great things about a home game at Arrowhead Stadium is to listen to the crowd yell "Home of the Chiefs" at the end of the National Anthem.

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Well, there were enough members of Chiefs Kingdom in attendance at Lambeau Field that it was audible to hear that same thing on Monday Night Football.

It wasn't the showing they wanted to see as they represented their team on the road, but it was nice to see some red in the stands getting excited before the game.  

11. Tamba Hali inches closer to Neil Smith for second place all time

With his sack of Rodgers in the first half of Monday's game, Tamba Hali now has 80.5 career sacks, which puts him just 6.5 shy of passing former great Neil Smith for second all-time.

12. Chris Conley gets the first reception of his career

Conley caught a 16-yard pass from Smith midway through the fourth quarter for the first reception of his career.

The rookie was one of the Chiefs two third-round picks in the draft last May.

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