Odds for Packers vs Chiefs shift dramatically after Aaron Rodgers is ruled out with COVID-19

Jordan Love is the new Green Bay Packers starting quarterback. But it’s not how anybody drew it up. Instead of the heir apparent taking over after an eventual trade or retirement of Aaron Rodgers, Love has been suddenly thrust into the role due to Rodgers testing positive for COVID-19. The news came at an especially inopportune time for Green Bay, as they prepare for a pivotal matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend.

Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 and is out Sunday, per @TomPelissero pic.twitter.com/Tnv6A0tZob

— Pickswise (@Pickswise) November 3, 2021

Love will now be tasked with going into Arrowhead and taking on Patrick Mahomes for his first regular season start. It’s a tough draw. Naturally, the betting odds shifted dramatically when the news hit. Let’s take a look at where things stand:

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Packers now underdogs of more than a touchdown

The Chiefs have looked pretty uninspiring in recent weeks, while the Packers have rattled off seven straight wins. As such, oddsmakers had moved the line in favor of Green Bay prior to this news. The Packers were a modest underdog on the lookahead line, but this week things had settled at close to a pick ’em.

Rodgers’ COVID-19 diagnosis sent the point spread rocketing in the other direction. The line originally jumped out to around Chiefs -8.5 in the immediate aftermath before pulling back a bit. It currently stands at Chiefs -7.5 at most sportsbooks. Green Bay went from being virtually even money to win, to being a +280 long-shot on the money line.

Love is being thrown into a tough spot, but Kansas City has been quite poor at covering large numbers recently, so it’ll be very interesting to see where this line goes throughout the week. With all this new information, it’s unlikely to remain static.

Rodgers must be away from the team until at least November 13th, so it’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to roll for Week 10 against the Seahawks. It’s anyone’s guess what the point spread will look like for that game, since Seattle has some quarterback uncertainty of their own with Russell Wilson potentially returning from his finger injury.