Packers Beat Chiefs 34-14 In Battle Of The Backup QBs

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien each made decisive closing statements in their competition to back up starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Flynn and Tolzien both threw for two touchdowns, and the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas Chiefs 34-14 in a preseason finale Thursday night played mostly by reserves.

Flynn threw for 102 yards and Tolzien had 139 in splitting reps by quarter in the evening's most closely watched position battle. Coach Mike McCarthy might keep both players anyway a season after Rodgers missed seven weeks with a collarbone injury.

The Chiefs' defense looked lost at times. Kansas City also had seven penalties in the first half, which ended with Green Bay up by 13.

Packers undrafted free agent Jayrone Elliott bolstered his underdog bid to make the roster with his fifth sack, beating Chiefs first-string tackle Donald Stephenson.

Chiefs receiver A.J. Jenkins made one of the most impressive plays of the night with a diving 45-yard catch. Third-string quarterback Tyler Bray followed on the next play with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Richard Gordon late in the second quarter.

But a receiving corps already dented by injuries to Dwayne Bowe and Junior Hemingway took more hits Thursday night. Jenkins later left with a concussion, while Kyle Williams departed in the first quarter with a shoulder injury.

Bowe has a groin injury, and the Chiefs already know their No. 1 receiver will miss the opener because a suspension for an arrest in November.

Jenkins could have made an important statement for playing time if healthy. He beat reserve defensive back Ryan White on a nice throw from Bray to get to the Packers 9.

The drive was set up by a 49-yard kickoff return by Frankie Hammond Jr., a former practice squad player coach Andy Reid also hopes can step up at receiver.

Joe McKnight, vying with Cyrus Gray for the third-string running back job behind Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis, rushed for a 1-yard score in the third quarter.

Otherwise, the Packers (3-1) set the tone early and were never threatened. They look to be in good shape heading into next week's season opener at the Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

Flynn hit rookie Davante Adams on play-action for a 22-yard touchdown on the Packers' opening drive. He added an 11-yard scoring pass on a screen to running back LaDarius Perkins in the third quarter.

On his first drive in the second quarter, Tolzien hit rookie receiver Jeff Janis for a 33-yard touchdown near the front corner of the end zone. Janis beat cornerback Phillips Gaines, who was also whistled for illegal contact and holding penalties in the game.

Janis, a seventh-round pick, added a 62-yard kickoff return that set up Tolzien's second touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Along with Rodgers, the Packers also held out starters Eddie Lacy, Jordy Nelson, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers.

The Packers did get a boost at defensive tackle with the return of Letroy Guion, who will be called on to help fill the void left by the season-ending biceps injury to B.J. Raji. Guion missed most of camp with a hamstring injury.

Fourth-round pick Khyri Thornton, a defensive tackle, left with a hamstring injury for Green Bay.

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