Picks: Even without Aaron Rodgers, Packers will win in Kansas City

Mike White, in his first game as a starter, had a great game (405 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions) against Cincinnati. The Jets gave us yet another surprise by defeating another contender in the AFC (they had already beaten Tennessee).

Now coach Robert Saleh must make a decision: either reinstall rookie Zach Wilson or stay with White for the rest of the season.

Cooper Rush took Dak Prescott's place (calf) Sunday Night in Minnesota and the Cowboys backup delivered: 325 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Dallas' win over the Vikings. His second pass to the end zone was 51 seconds from the end of the game to secure the Cowboys victory.

Geno Smith threw two passes to the end zone and the Seahawks finally won at home (31-7 to Jacksonville).

Russell Wilson shared some pictures of his fractured nail that was removed on social media, which means we will be soon seeing him back in Seattle. And with a 3-4 record, he is not far to compete for a Wild Card ticket in the NFC.

Finally, in New Orleans, Trevor Siemian replced the injured Jameis Winston (knee ligaments) and threw for his first touchdown pass in two years to help the Saints beat Tampa Bay.

Not all substitutes, however, have delivered. Washington Football Team's Taylor Heinicke is 2-5 since he took over from Ryan Fitzpatrick (hip), with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.

Coach Ron Rivera will have to use his first pick from the 2021 Draft (which will presumably be high) on a quarterback.

This Sunday it’s Jordan Love's turn, who will replace Aaron Rodgers for the Green Bay Packers offense, after the starter tested positive for COVID-19 (in addition, he is not vaccinated).

Love makes his NFL QB1 debut at Arrowhead against the defending AFC champs.

And this brings me to the Week 9 picks:

New opponent with a winning record and a new opportunity for the Chiefs to show that they can still rescue the season.

Kansas City is 0-4 against teams with a winning record and, after suffering at home against the Giants on Monday Night, they now face the Packers (7-1) in Arrowhead, who have not lost since Week 1.

They will, of course, be very different Packers because Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 and is out for this game. His place will be taken by Jordan Love, Green Bay's controversial first pick in the 2020 Draft.

Last week, wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard missed the game against Arizona after testing positive for coronavirus, and during the game they lost tight end Robert Tonyan, who has already been placed on injured reserve.

Lazard has already tested negative and can return on Sunday.

Without Rodgers, the game plan must include a lot of Aaron Jones, who had 110 combined yards and a touchdown in the win over the Cardinals.

The Chiefs have their own problems, but it all comes down to the trenches: an offensive line that hasn't been able to protect Patrick Mahomes, and a defense that has only performed "up to scratch" against second-rate teams.

Mahomes has not played at the level expected of an MVP: he has completed 66.5% of his passes, leads the league in interceptions with 10 and his 94.5-point rating is 17th among qualified quarterbacks. Mahomes will face a defense that is seventh in yards per game (331.8), sixth in passing yards (216.8) and ninth in points (20.9).

Rivals have found a way to keep Mahomes' performances low-key; they only pressure him with four men and the rest just drop to defend the pass. The Giants, for example, used double teams against Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, and the Chiefs' quarterback had to toss short passes or simply throw the ball away to avoid sacks.

The Green Bay defense has to do something similar and force Mahomes to hold the ball longer than desired or force him to throw compromised passes, which have cost him some of those 10 interceptions.

Pick: No one knows what the Packers' offense will look like with Love at control, but, just like they did in Arizona, their game plan should be to run the ball with Jones, control the game clock and trust their defense. Yes, even without Rodgers, Green Bay is a better team than Kansas City. Packers 23-20 Chiefs

Nobody respects Foxborough anymore, but Mac Jones and the Patriots are 3-0 on the road. Patriots 24-17 Panthers

In season: 79-43