Chiefs vs. Packers: 5 Biggest Concerns Following Green Bay's First Loss

On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers lost for the first time in 364 days, and despite their league-best 13-1 record, there are certainly some concerns.

On offense, the Packers showed significant vulnerabilities, from the injuries to the offensive line to the increasing problem with dropped passes amongst receivers.

The defense was able to hold the Kansas City Chiefs to four field goals, but still let them run up and down the field and take time off the clock.

While this game could prove to be an aberration for a very good football team, it could be an exposure for some major concerns that have been covered for the past 13 weeks due to the fact that the Packers were still winning.

Here are the top five biggest concerns after a very difficult Packers loss against Kansas City.

5. The Injury to Greg Jennings Could Be Significant for This Offense

When Greg Jennings went down against the Oakland Raiders, many Packer fans, including myself, felt that the receiving corps would be able to step up and function well without Jennings. If this Sunday was any indication, the Packers receiving corps could be in big trouble without their star receiver.

Without Jennings, Jordy Nelson seemed to find it hard to get open, while Jermichael Finley had trouble holding onto the ball. Randall Cobb and Donald Driver got an increase in reps, but both were covered fairly well, also.

The loss of Jennings makes it easier for the defense to cover the Packers' arsenal of weapons better. However, there is a silver lining in that Jennings will likely be able to return for the playoffs.

4. Defenses May Be Catching Up to This Offense

After losing to the Chiefs, who were able to successfully stifle the Packers offense, the Packers will face the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, two division rivals that have equally stifling defenses.

There is talk that the Chiefs gave other opponents a "blueprint" for beating the Packers, and while this remains to be seen, what they did on Sunday certainly gives the Bears and Lions some ideas to stop the Packers offense who beat them earlier in the season.

The Packers will have a tough road ahead of them to win their next two games, as both the Bears and the Lions are division rivals who are fighting for playoff spots, and they would like nothing more than to knock down the defending Super Bowl champions who have beaten them earlier in the year.

3. The Lack of a Running Game

The Packers have relied on the pass all season long, and it has worked. But now that Greg Jennings is out, and the offensive line is hurting badly, the Packers may need to turn to pounding the ball more often, particularly in the cold weather they will be facing.

Ryan Grant had a solid game on Sunday, but if he gets injured, there is nobody available at the moment to back him up, with James Starks and Brandon Saine injured and Alex Green out for the season.

The Packers are going to have the run the ball better and control the clock in the postseason if they are to have a shot to repeat.

2. Inability To Pressure the Quarterback

In my opinion, the defensive woes for the Packers aren't rooted in a poor secondary, but a poor defensive line. Last year, the Packers were near the top of the league in sacks, and this year they are in the middle of the pack. Losing Cullen Jenkins could be the reason for this; it could also be simply the fact that teams are effectively taking Clay Matthews out of the game.

For whatever reason, the Packers pass rush hasn't been the same this year. While much of this could be due to the loss of Cullen Jenkins and the lack of production from the young Mike Neal, it is clear that the Packers have to figure out how they can get to the quarterback better, or elite quarterbacks like Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Philip Rivers will pick apart a defense that appears to be weak in the middle.

1. Injuries to the Offensive Line

The Packers offensive line was a concern in the preseason, with a concerning lack of depth. However, the starting group stayed healthy for the first part of the year, and everything seemed to be working for this line.

But injuries to Chad Clifton, Josh Sitton, Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod have hit this line hard, and they are now scrambling to find an answer. And while Sitton has returned and Clifton will likely return soon, this offensive line is clearly the most banged-up position on the team, which could be critical to an offense that runs best when their quarterback is protected and he can throw to his receivers.

While I would love to see the Packers go 15-1 and go into the playoffs on a winning streak, it might be smarter for them to start Matt Flynn in the final two games of the year, especially if the San Francisco 49ers lose on Monday night and Green Bay clinches home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Packers offense is becoming banged up, and it might be a good idea to let their starters rest for the next two weeks so they can return to the playoffs at full strength.