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Are you the kind of person who functions significantly better with words than with numbers? If so, then you might want to hit the back button right now (or better yet, click over here for our non-numerical preview).
If you're still here, we're going to look at a few numbers that tell the story of the Kansas City Chiefs over the past year or so, as they come into Lambeau Field tonight for a date with the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. If the Packers end up on the better end of these values, they should be in great position to win tonight's game and move to 3-0.
Kelce receiving: 77/1026/7
That's the stat line for Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce over the past eighteen games, dating back to week one of the 2014 season. Kelce has become one of the premier receiving tight ends in the NFL over that span - only Martellus Bennett, Greg Olsen, Rob Gronkowski, and Jimmy Graham have equal or better numbers in all major receiving categories over that span.
The Packers kept Graham in check last week, but allowed 5 catches for 55 yards and a score to Bennett the week before. How the defense handles Kelce in the passing game should be a strong indication of the unit's performance as a whole.
Charles rushing: 5.47
That is the career yards-per-carry average that Jamaal Charles has in his NFL career, which now spans just over seven seasons. In fact, Charles has only once finished a season with less than five yards per carry, and even in that year (in 2013), his average was 4.97.
Oh, and he's big in the passing game as well, averaging just under three receptions for about 24 yards per game in his career. He's essentially Matt Forte, just smaller, faster, and a little younger - and we all know what Forte did to the Packers' defense sans Morgan Burnett two weeks ago.
Chiefs' pass-rush: 8.0
Through two games, the Chiefs have recorded eight sacks of opposing QBs, an average of four per game. Including the 2014 season, Kansas City averaged exactly three sacks per contest. However, the Packers have allowed just 32 sacks over the last 18 regular season games, an average of less than two per game. If that number stays at 2 or less tonight, that should bode well for Aaron Rodgers and company.
Fleming's coverage: 111.1
Opposing quarterbacks have this passer rating this year when throwing at cornerback Jamell Fleming. Compare that to the 80.4 passer rating when targeting other defensive backs, and you can see which player Aaron Rodgers will be likely to target early and often tonight. Fleming primarily only plays in the nickel alignment, manning one outside position while starter Phillip Gaines moves into the slot, so expect a lot of three- and four-wide formations (not a stretch to imagine) to force Kansas City into using extra defensive backs to get desirable matchups with Fleming.
Connections: 7
Okay, this one isn't really going to seriously affect the result of the game, but it's still interesting to note that there are no fewer than seven members of the Chiefs organization with close ties to the Packers. General Manager John Dorsey worked for Ted Thompson in the front office until getting the head job in KC. Offensive coordinator Doug Pederson was Brett Favre's longtime backup. Assistant secondary coach Al Harris was a Pro Bowl cornerback for the Packers, while his boss, Emmitt Thomas, was the Packers' defensive coordinator in 1999 under Ray Rhodes.
As for players, backup linebackers Frank Zombo and Dezman Moses were both Packers, with Zombo being a part of the 2010 squad that won Super Bowl XLV.
Oh, and Andy Reid was a Packers assistant under Mike Holmgren from 1995-98, serving as quarterbacks coach for his final two years.
Bonus: Rodgers' passer rating: 133.0
That's Aaron Rodgers' passer rating since 2010 on plays when he draws opponents offsides (including pass interference penalties drawn as completions). Check out this post from Arrowhead Pride for more on that.