The Kansas City Chiefs saw victory slip through their hands during their Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, plenty of players put together admirable performances that set a good tone for the team, despite the loss.
Injuries played a key factor in the matchup’s outcome, and several Chiefs stepped up in a tight spot to give Kansas City a chance to make a late-game comeback. If not for a few questionable calls on the final drive of the Sunday Night Football showdown, the Chiefs may have been able to overcome the severe adversity they faced in the game to complete a come-from-behind win at Lambeau Field.
Though some pundits will choose to focus on what Kansas City didn’t do in this tilt, the intrigue in watching the Chiefs’ backups compete was worth tuning in for, even if they were behind the eight-ball in all four quarters.
Check out which players were Kansas City’s studs in Week 13:
DB Justin Reid
Reid made the most of every opportunity he was given despite briefly leaving the game after being shaken up on a hard-fought play. He led Kansas City in tackles and was a force to be reckoned with in the secondary, especially after the injury to Byran Cook.
TE Travis Kelce
Kelce didn’t put together the best performance of his career against Green Bay with Taylor Swift in attendance but managed to lead Kansas City in receiving yards. The Packers did their best to contain Kelce in all four quarters, but that didn’t matter for the All-Pro tight end who caught four passes for 81 yards.
LB Jack Cochrane
Cochrane entered the game after Drue Tranquill exited the matchup due to injury. He tallied seven combined tackles in relief and while he was unable to force a turnover to help turn the tide in the Chiefs’ favor his effort was commendable.
RB Isiah Pacheco
Pacheco carried the ball 18 times and gained 110 yards on the ground against Green Bay. His two-touchdown performance helped keep Kansas City close, and even if it wasn’t enough to earn the Chiefs a win, the outstanding showing was one of the best of his young career.
DL Mike Danna
Danna has been one of the Chiefs’ most underrated defensive players for years now and managed to make his presence felt against Green Bay by registering a crucial sack late in the game. Without him, Kansas City’s defense would have lacked the juice necessary to keep the score close.
WR Rashee Rice
Rice cemented his role as Patrick Mahomes’ favorite wide receiver against the Packers, catching eight passes on nine targets for 64 yards. Despite being kept out of the end zone, Rice’s production was a boon for the Chiefs in a game where it seemed nothing could go right for Kansas City on offense.
DL Charles Omenihu
Omenihu was the only other Chiefs defender to tally a sack in Kansas City’s Week 13 loss. He continued showing fans why Brett Veach made a point to sign him as a free agent in the offseason. With more performances like the one he managed against Green Bay, Omenihu could quickly become a cornerstone of Kansas City’s pass rush.
TE Noah Gray
Gray caught Patrick Mahomes’ only touchdown pass against the Packers, and while the reception was his only big moment in the game, it made a huge difference when it happened. The tight end’s ability to perform when his number is called has made him one of the more underrated pieces on the Chiefs’ offense.
