PACKERS SHOW CHIEFS FIRST TIME WASN�T A FLUKE
Waldorf, MD June 10 (AP) The Packers opened up the regular season with a 37-18 win against the Chiefs (the Packers actually scored 43). So when the Packers found out their first game of the playoffs was against the Chiefs, the team�s confidence was sky high. However, the Packers coaches realized that the Chiefs were a TOTALLY different team now and they were NOT going to be an easy out. Trying to get the kids to understand that just because you beat a team once doesn�t ensure you can beat them again was a tough task. And with starting QB Alex �Zander Bomber� Hodge out with a nasty thumb injury (5 stitches), the Packers had to look for other players to step up.
�I really began to think our season was done when I found out about Alex�s injury�, said Coach Chris. �Alex really started to master the playbook and had our offense rolling towards the end of the season, so to have him out with an injury was a real blow�, Chris added. But the Packers were very fortunate to have Jalen Barnes and Curtis Dockett step up and keep the offense rolling without missing a beat. The Packers found themselves in a heated battle with the Chiefs and at halftime the score was tied 6-6. Coaches Chris and Craig got together at halftime to try and figure out why the offense was struggling. They realized the plays were working and kids were open, but nobody was making any catches. �If we would have caught just a couple of those passes, we�d be up by 3 touchdowns at least�, said Coach Craig. So the coaches just stressed focusing on catching the ball making sure they caught the pass before running for the end zone.
As it turned out, the Packers turned up their focus big time, but on DEFENSE. The Packers shut the Chiefs down in the second half not giving up ANY points. The Packers also got the offense going and scored 2 more TD�s in the second half to take the game 19-6. �We made the adjustment to go from zone to man-to-man because they were sending everyone deep and had an underneath receiver wide open. So by going to man-to-man, we hoped to confuse their QB a little and it worked�, said Coach Craig. Once the Packers got up by 2 scores, the Chiefs went to exclusively deep throws which is exactly what the Packers wanted. �We want them to throw �hail mary�s� because very few if any ever get completed�, added Coach Craig.
The Packers, after their 1st round bye and 2nd round win over the Chiefs, will face the Broncos in another rematch, this time however, against a team who beat them. The Packers lost to the Broncos in the 2nd game of the season in OT, 30-24. Game time is 8am Sunday morning.