Locals in the NFL: Packers' Love story, playoff chase continues with win over Chiefs

AROUND THE SHIELD — Taylor Swift made her first appearance at Lambeau Field Sunday, but it was Green Bay's quarterback who was writing his own Love story.

Third-year NFL quarterback Jordan Love threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns as the Packers held off Kansas City 27-19 on Sunday Night Football, handing the Chiefs their first loss when the world-famous pop start attends a game.

The former Utah State standout completed 25-of-36 passes with two sacks taken, while running for 10 yards on two carries and finishing with a quarterback rating of 118.6. Love's three-touchdown game without an interception is his fourth of the season, tied for the most in the NFL with San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy.

Love told NBC after the game the win was "100%" a revenge game after the Packers lost to the Chiefs two years ago in his first career start.

"I've been having this game circled," he said. "I wanted to see these guys again after my first start. It feels good to get the dub."

The win keeps Green Bay's wild card hopes alive, inching the Packers to the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff chase with five games remaining.

It wasn't just the win that had fans cheering on the frozen tundra, but how Love did it. The Aggies alum from Bakersfield, California, threaded passes all night, including back-to-back back-shoulder throws that led to a 12-yard strike for Christian Watson's second score that put Green Bay up 21-12 in the third quarter before Patrick Mahomes capped an 11-play, 66-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown strike to Noah Gray to pull within 21-19 with 14:51 remaining.

But after a failed 2-point conversion, Anders Carlson drained a pair of field goals from 40-plus yards each, and the Packers (6-6) held on to knock off the Chiefs.

Mahomes completed 21-of-33 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown, but also threw an interception to Keisean Nixon, one of five Packers with five or more tackles.

"I think, as a unit offensively, we were just clicking today," Love told NBC. "And our defense balled out."

Here are a few other highlights from former Utah high school and college football standouts in Week 13 of the 2023 NFL regular season:

• Former BYU receiver Puka Nacua caught four passes for 105 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown, in the Rams' 36-19 win Sunday over the Browns. The Orem High product left the game in the second quarter with a rib injury before returning to start the second half prior of a game where he became the first Rams rookie to top 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
• Former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill came off the bench in specialty packages to replace starter Derek Carr in the Saints' 33-28 loss to the Lions, running for a team-best 59 yards including a 1-yard TD dive and making a tackle on special teams.
• Former Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner had a team-high 14 tackles and a tackle for loss in the Seahawks' 41-35 loss to the Cowboys on Thursday Night Football.

Monday Night Football

Cincinnati 34, Jacksonville 31 (OT)

Bengals (6-6)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve cornerback had one tackle on special teams.
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Inactive for Week 13.

Jaguars (8-4)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker totaled 11 tackles, including nine solo stops.

Sunday Night Football

Green Bay 27, Kansas City 19

Packers (6-6)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 25-of-36 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 10 yards on two carries.
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety also played on special teams.

Chiefs (8-4)

• No locals on the active roster, but coached by former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant Andy Reid.

Sunday afternoon

Houston 22, Denver 17

Texans (7-5)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Inactive for Week 13.

Broncos (6-6)

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle.

Los Angeles 6, New England 0

Chargers (5-7)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback also played on special teams.
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety had three tackles on defense.

Patriots (2-10)

• No locals on the active roster.

Detroit 33, New Orleans 28

Lions (9-3)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Started at right tackle.

Saints (5-7)

• Taysom Hill, QB, BYU: Reserve quarterback ran for team-high 59 yards on 13 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown; attempted two passes; and caught two passes for 15 yards on offense, while making a tackle on special teams.
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Reserve running back had five carries for 10 yards and caught a 6-yard pass.
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Reserve linebacker tied for the team-high with eight tackles and two tackles for loss.
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Inactive for Week 13.

Atlanta 13, New York 8

Falcons (6-6)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 26 yards on eight carries.
• Clark Phillips II, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback had four tackles and a tackle for loss.
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker totaled six tackles.

Jets (4-8)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 13.

Arizona 24, Pittsburgh 10

Cardinals (3-10)

• No locals on the active roster.

Steelers (7-5)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for 59 yards on nine carries, caught one pass for a 4-yard loss.
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made two tackles on special teams.

Indianapolis 31, Tennessee 28

Colts (7-5)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Reserve tackle also played on special teams.
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting strong safety had seven tackles and recovered a fumble.
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Made field goals of 23, 46, 23 and 28 yards with one PAT.
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Starting running back had 19 carries for 51 yards, and caught two passes for 6 yards.

Titans (4-8)

• No locals on the active roster.

Miami 45, Washington 15

Dolphins (9-3)

• No locals on the active roster.

Commanders (4-9)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker had team-high 11 tackles.
• Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State/Jordan: Started at center.

Tampa Bay 21, Carolina 18

Buccaneers (5-7)

• Deven Thompkins, WR/RS, Utah State: Reserve receiver ran twice for 7 yards, caught one pass for 4 yards; returned three punts for 21 yards with three fair catches on special teams.

Panthers (1-11)

• No locals on the active roster.

Los Angeles 36, Cleveland 19

Rams (6-6)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting receiver caught four passes for 105 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown catch; and ran twice for 34 yards
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive end made three tackles.

Browns (7-5)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker had four tackles.
• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams.
• Siaki Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Inactive for Week 13.

San Francisco 42, Philadelphia 19

49ers (9-3)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had four tackles and a quarterback hurry.
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted twice for 95 yards (47.5 yards per punt) with a long of 49 yards.

Eagles (10-2)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Inactive for Week 13.
• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Reserve receiver fair-caught one punt.

Thursday Night Football

Dallas 41, Seattle 35

Cowboys (9-3)

• No locals on the active roster.

Seahawks (6-6)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker posted team-high 14 tackles and a tackle for loss in 89 snaps on defense and seven on special teams.

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