Packers vs. Chiefs: Madden simulation predicts Matt Moore will outplay Aaron Rodgers

Matt Moore as primetime sensation? We asked Madden 20 to simulate Sunday’s results between the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers.

The Kansas City Chiefs bounced back last week after suffering consecutive losses in Week 5 and Week 6. In the defensive stunner over the Denver Broncos, quarterback Patrick Mahomes went down early with a patella dislocation, forcing him to sit out the rest of the game. It was later determined that, although there was no extensive damage (no cartilage nor ligament damage), Mahomes would have to sit out for an undetermined amount of weeks while he recovers.

There was some hope that Mahomes would play this week against the Green Bay Packers, after being listed as a limited participant in all of the team’s practices. That rumor mill was quickly shut down, however, as the team listed Mahomes as one of the several players who will not suit up for Sunday night’s game.

While fans won’t be able to get a taste of Mahomes v. Aaron Rodgers just yet, they can still see how the Chiefs’ defense stacks up against the Rodgers-led Packers. According to this Madden simulation, they did their part.

Quarter 1

For some reason, as the simulation started with a touchback by Harrison Butker to give the Green Bay Packers the ball on its own 25-yard line. The Packers’ drive started off with an errant Rodgers pass intended for wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, which fortunately (for Rodgers) floated out of bounds. The very next play was a hand-off to wide receiver Geronimo Allison for a loss of 4 yards. There wasn’t much success for the rest of the drive, as MVS dropped a pass intended for him on 3rd & 14. The Packers were forced to punt; the Chiefs’ defense held up strong to force a 3-and-out.

As for the Chiefs, Moore and his offense started out on their own 39-yard line. With a beautiful pass down the sideline to wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs had already gone further than their opponent in terms of offense, with a 14-yard reception to start the drive. The next series of plays were short rushes and an incompletion by Moore, forcing the drive to stall out on Green Bay’s 27-yard line. Kicker Harrison Butker did what he does best, and nailed a 44-yarder through the uprights.

Much of the same for both teams continued, as two consecutive punts (one by each team) led to the first quarter dwindling down. With 3:48 left in the first quarter, Rodgers threw a pass in the direction of Geronimo Allison. Like a bat out of the abyss, safety Juan Thornhill swooped in and intercepted the pass, returning it for 17 yards. The drive that ensued would prove to be a positive one for the Chiefs, as it ended the first quarter with a 23-yard bomb on 3rd & 10 from Moore to Sammy Watkins, who had been relatively quiet to start the game.

Quarter 2

The second quarter started right where the Chiefs left off; a quick pass from Moore and a 3-yard rush by Damien Williams sealed the Chiefs’ first touchdown of the game, putting them up 10-0. The very next drive, the Packers responded by flexing their first real offensive muscle, led primarily by the rushing attack. The drive stalled out, however, as a pass intended for MVS on 3rd down was knocked down by cornerback Morris Claiborne, which forced the Packers to kick a 40-yard field goal.

Much like the first quarter, the majority of the second was filled with punts, including two consecutive punts in which neither offense were able to get things rolling. On the closing seconds of the quarter, however, the Chiefs drove the ball down the field with several back-to-back passes of 20+ yards by Moore. On a 12-yard wheel to Damien Williams, Moore threw for his first pass touchdown, and Williams scored his second touchdown of the game in the closing seconds of the first half. The Packers were unable to respond, and were forced to let time expire and head to the locker room to try and regroup.

Second Half

The second half started with the Chiefs receiving the kick, and wide receiver Mecole Hardman returning it for 22 yards. Penalties plagued the drive, as the Chiefs were just not able to get anything going. It all fell apart, too, as Preston Smith picked off a pass intended for Travis Kelce, and returned it for 4 yards. Much to the dismay of Kansas City, Rodgers drove down the field and capped off an impressive drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Valdes-Scantling to make the score 17-9 (with a missed extra point attempt).

The Chiefs responded with a little pizazz of their own, however, as the very next drive saw a series of short passes from Moore. Soon, from the Packers’ 42-yard line, Moore delivered a strike down the seam to Hill, who flew by defenders for an easy touchdown. This would prove to be the final action in the third quarter, as Rodgers and his crew was just unable to get anything to give, and was forced to punt the ball after another 3-and-out.

With the score at a breezy 24-9, the Packers had to figure something out. Although they let the Chiefs drive down the field, with yet another impressive drive by Moore, the Chiefs ultimately stalled out and were forced to rely on Butker’s right leg yet again. The Packers, meanwhile, managed to complete several consecutive, deep passes on their next drive, which put them in a red zone situation with just 6 minutes left on the clock. Getting Allison more involved in the passing game, Rodgers found the young receiver for a 13-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead down to 11.

The following drive unfortunately stalled out yet again for the Chiefs; however it was the defensive effort delivered on the final true offensive drive by the Packers that mattered the most. On Green Bay’s own 6-yard line, set up by an amazing punt courtesy of Dustin Colquitt, Rodgers tried to make magic happen and threw what should’ve been a catch to MVS. Instead, Thornhill picked the ball off and took it all the way to the house for a touchdown, which would end up being the final score of the game.

The Packers had nothing going for them on the next drive and turned the ball over on downs to end the game on a Matt Moore kneel.

Final Score: 34-16

Highlighted Stats:

Matt Moore:(24 of 37, 307 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception

Damien Williams: 17 rushes, 67 yards, 1 touchdown

Demarcus Robinson: 8 receptions, 61 yards, 1 touchdown

Marquez Valdes-Scantling: 7 receptions, 80 yards 1 touchdown