The Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers are built largely the same. Each team possesses a top flight quarterback, one of the leagues' top five wide receivers and a universally dominant offensive line. Defensively, both Kansas City and Green Bay have begun to see younger investments take center stage.

However, injuries and execution has distanced the two teams among the NFL ranks so far in 2021. We will not get to see the highly anticipated Aaron Rodgers vs Patrick Mahomes quarterback matchup once again, similar to 2019. With Rodgers on the COVID-19/reserve list, it will be 2020 first round pick Jordan Love making his first ever NFL start. That change will be heavily factored into the player matchups that we are focusing on today.

Which personnel matchups could help one team gain an advantage over the other? Today, we will list our top five key matchups entering Sunday afternoon's affair between the Chiefs and the Packers. Let's kick it off with a battle inside the trenches.

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Chiefs Offensive Line Vs Packers Pass Rush

The game of course starts in the trenches. Both of these respective units have improved overall this season, compared to last year. Some weeks are more impressive than others. Nonetheless, the Chiefs offensive line and Packers pass rush has proven to be reliable.

Kansas City has instituted more man blocking calls on occasion lately. This has allowed the interior trio of Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith to utilize their core strength and technical prowess. Meanwhile, left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has begun to show adjustments against speed rushers, which will come in handy in this meeting with Green Bay.

The Packers pose an interesting threat on the other side. They are not necessarily the most aggressive pass rush across the NFL. For example, they have the eighth lowest blitz percentage (20.3 percent).  Not blitzing has been the better tactic when trying to defend Mahomes. Though, they have the sixteenth best pressure percentage in the league (24.8 percent). Green Bay is also tied for the fifth most sacks in the NFL (20 sacks). Moreover, the Packers have three individual games this year where they managed four sacks in a single day.

Furthermore, the Green Bay pass rush does a stellar job of controlling their gaps and working straightforward up the field. The Packers also display a crashing nature that keeps the quarterback contained. Can they keep Mahomes from escaping the pocket and bottle him up?

Travis Kelce Vs Savage And Amos

We know the Chiefs offense can still figure things out. And, they showed some adjustments and improvements in certain areas against New York last week. But, the connection between Mahomes and Travis Kelce is simply not there right now. In the past, they would hit on big plays by mixing in quick releases from the QB and Kelce fooling defenders with his wiggle at the top of routes.

Fast forward to 2021, Kelce has struggled to create as much separation. Mahomes is expecting him to use certain double moves or fakes to counterattack the opposing defender. Their timing has continued to be off, however. Kelce is sometimes too late in turning around for the ball. Elsewhere, Mahomes just throws it away if the tight end cannot climb to where he is expecting.

The Green Bay safety duo of Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos will likely take on Kelce throughout most of Sunday's game. Like Kelce, these defensive backs are having admirable seasons. Previous standards have not been reached, though. The success and effectiveness has not been as common as years past. Each of Savage and Amos are allowing more explosive plays this season. More importantly for opposing offenses, they are each making less plays on the football. Each of Savage and Amos only have three pass deflections on the year.

This will be a matchup that could allow one of these sides to get going. Which one(s) will get some momentum going? Kelce or the Packer safety duo?

Jones And Dillon Vs Bolton And Gay

The younger linebacker duo of the Chiefs has played well for most of the season. Yet, the last two weeks have been their best performances of the season. Nick Bolton has brought a determined attitude to the fold. His downhill and thumping ability has been felt heavily by opposing running backs. To boot, Bolton has rarely missed a tackle this season (two missed tackles on the year). That has been a rarity recently for Chiefs linebackers. Bolton was also named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month for October earlier today.

On the other hand, Willie Gay is continuing to build a larger role week by week. His athleticism has always been a fall back option that the team can lean on. More importantly for both Kansas City and Gay, the Mississippi State product has become more comfortable with what he is seeing or reading. His instincts and play recognition have been a big reason as to why the Chiefs defense is starting to get off the field more often.

The test each of those two will face with the Packers is going to be just as challenging as when they went up against Derrick Henry. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are each having tremendous seasons. For Jones, Kansas City felt his presence multiple times in the Packers trip to Arrowhead Stadium two years ago (226 total yards on 20 touches). He can slash through tight spaces in between the tackles, race by everyone in the open field, or overpower opponents as a pass catcher. Rather with Dillon, Green Bay has seen him improve with patience and field vision. The Chiefs and the duo of Bolton and Gay have to continue to tackle as well as they have recently when facing the power and size of Dillon. 

Packers Offensive Line Vs Chiefs Pass Rush

This key matchup has become even more fascinating due to the developments of each side over the last week or so. Let's start with the Packers. Green Bay has seen their star guard Elgton Jenkins return to the lineup and command and lead upfront. It is expected that left tackle David Bakhtiari will return soon as well, even though it may not happen on Sunday. Others like Lucas Patrick or Billy Turner continue to churn out consistently sharp performances as well. But still, how will their blocking assignments change with Love at quarterback? Can they handle possibly more tricks from the Kansas City pass rush while the passer makes his first career start?

Defensively, the Chiefs have seen their pass rush perform better lately. This is perfect timing, given the Green Bay situation. We know Steve Spagnuolo loves to bring as much pressure as he can. Will he remain relentless at doing so and using his creativity in this game against the Packers?

Meanwhile, Frank Clark and Chris Jones have had their best showings as of late. Clark looks quicker and healthier after dealing with a hamstring injury early. For Jones, the increase of snaps back inside at defensive tackle has certainly helped. How much we will see of new addition Melvin Ingram after the trade for him remains to be seen this week. Ingram's quickness and set of counter moves have not gone away, however. Even in limited snaps, the pass rusher could place fear in a younger quarterback.

Packers Wide Receivers Vs Chiefs Cornerbacks

Which wide receivers end up playing for Green Bay is still a question mark. Davante Adams is on track to return from COVID protocol if he can clear certain parts of the NFL's COVID policy. Allen Lazard is likely to be back in the lineup as well. Contrastingly, the Packers have started to see guys like Amari Rodgers and Equanimeous St. Brown cash in with increased looks.

Quietly, the cornerback trio of Charvarius Ward, Rashad Fenton and L'Jarius Sneed has been playing well in recent weeks. Ward has frustrated receivers early in their routes since returning to the lineup from a quad injury. His physicality and length has distracted pass catchers. Fenton and Sneed continue to come through when the Chiefs need them to make a play on the football.

The intriguing part of this key matchup involves the play styles of these two units. Green Bay does possess obvious quickness and size in their receiver room. But, the intricate route running, patient nature and deceptiveness while the ball is in the air can take defensive backs out of their element. How much of that will change with Love starting this week?

Finally, the Chiefs cornerbacks love to embrace their rough style down the field. Can they display a much more reserved nature this Sunday? Plays and opportunities are going to likely be there for the taking. At the same time, this Chiefs cornerback trio has to remain under control and careful. These Packers receivers create penalties and get into the head of opponents quickly without having to work too hard for that.

Be on the lookout for our FPC Chiefs game preview article and podcast on Friday. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.