WHAT'S NOT WORKINGGreen Bay's pass defense, which is fourth with eight interceptions, fourth with 39 passes defensed and 14th wi

The Kansas City Chiefs released veteran linebacker Justin Houston on Sunday after they were unable to drum up enough trade interest Breeland Speaks Jersey , ending the tenure of one of the best pass rushers in club history.The Chiefs had made it clear they would trade or release Houston this offseason, primarily because of his cost. He was due $15.25 million and carried a salary cap hit of $21.1 million, numbers that would have made it nearly impossible to make other much-needed upgrades to their defense.The move means the Chiefs will free up $14 million and make the four-time Pro Bowl selection a free agent when the period begins Wednesday. The Chiefs will also take on $7.1 million in dead money.“Justin has made a lasting impact on this franchise and I can’t thank him enough for his contributions over the years,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said in a statement.“These decisions are never easy,” Veach said. “I have a great deal of respect for Justin as a player and person and I wish him and his family the best moving forward.”The 30-year-old Houston was a third-round pick of the Chiefs out of Georgia who quickly became a fan-favorite, not to mention one of the team’s most visible leaders. He wound up starting 96 of the 102 games he appeared in over eight seasons, and his best season came in 2014, when Houston shattered the franchise record with 22 sacks and was voted a first-team All-Pro.He parlayed that season into a $101 million, six-year deal in 2015 that was at the time a record for a defensive player. But he has been slowed by injuries the past four seasons, and despite continuing to pile up sacks, Houston has been unable to keep up the pace that landed him the lucrative deal.As the Chiefs try to rebuild one of the league’s worst defenses Patrick Mahomes Jersey , and provide some help to one of the NFL’s best offenses, it became apparent that Houston’s days in Kansas City were numbered.“Over the last eight seasons we’ve had the ability to watch Justin grow into a leader on and off the playing field,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said. “His passion helped him become one the most successful pass rushers in franchise history. We appreciate his contributions to our team and community.”Houston departs Kansas City with 78 1/2 sacks, trailing only Derrick Thomas (126 1/2), former teammate Tamba Hali (89 1/2) and Neil Smith (85 1/2) for the most in franchise history.He should have no shortage of suitors after seasons of 9 1/2 sacks two years ago and nine more last season, provided he convince a club that he can remain healthy. Houston has experienced with elbow and knee injuries that have allowed him to play 16 games in a season just twice.The Chiefs used their franchise tag on fellow pass rusher Dee Ford, though it’s possible they could still trade him. Other premier edge rushers that were franchised include DeMarcus Lawrence, Jadeveon Clowney and Frank Clark, and that could create a more robust market for Houston.Working against him is the fact pass rusher may be the most stacked part of April’s draft.“You can never have enough of that,” Veach said. “It’s a really intriguing class. I think it’s been mentioned multiple times throughout the first few days, the defensive line this year is really deep. There are a lot of players Travis Kelce Jersey , pass-rushers, interior pass-rushers, run players, there’s a lot of depth at that position. I certainly think there will be a lot of names from those defensive players called early on.” Aaron Rodgers is coming off consecutive near-perfect games for the rolling Green Bay Packers.Rodgers led the Packers past the Oakland Raiders last week and Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. On the heels of throwing five TD passes against the Raiders, Rodgers added three more against the Chiefs.After throwing eight touchdown passes in the first six games, Rodgers has thrown eight the past two games — including a remarkable 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Jamaal Williams in the fourth quarter with two Chiefs defenders in his face. His strong play has helped the Packers (7-1) to their best start since opening 13-0 in 2011."Some of those throws just leave you speechless, to be honest with you," coach Matt LaFleur said.Making Rodgers' performances all the more impressive is he's done it without star receiver Davante Adams, who missed his fourth consecutive game with turf toe."We've found a way to win," Rodgers said after the 31-24 victory over the Chiefs. "It hasn't been the prettiest the entire time. There's been some pretty moments, though. It's a lot of guys really pitching in (and) it it's given those guys a chance to gain some confidence. At the same time Tyreek Hill Jersey , we're excited about getting (Adams) back at some point."Rodgers is playing so well that LaFleur took a chance on third-and-5 at the two-minute warning. He could have kept the ball on the ground and drained 45 seconds off the clock. Instead, he called a pass. An incompletion would have stopped the clock and given the Chiefs a chance to rally. Instead, Rodgers fired a pass into the flat to running back Aaron Jones for the clinching first down.WHAT'S WORKINGJones wasn't much of a factor in the passing game his first two seasons but has become a major option this season. Not only does he have a team-leading 466 rushing yards, but he paces the club with 34 receptions — almost matching the 35 receptions he had in his first two seasons combined. Against the Chiefs, he had a 50-yard catch in the first half, a 67-yard touchdown in the second half and the clinching third-down conversion.Jones' production as a receiver could put defenses in a bind, because he's been routinely beating linebackers in coverage. The answer for opposing defensive coordinators would be to use an extra defensive back, but that would invite Jones to get the ball in the running game."I think when we get in some of those empty formations or we have the back out wide," LaFleur said, "it forces the defense to make a decision, if they're in man coverage Carlos Hyde Jersey , of, 'All right, who are we going to match up with who?'" Then it's our responsibility to try to exploit the best matchup."WHAT'S NOT WORKINGGreen Bay's pass defense, which is fourth with eight interceptions, fourth with 39 passes defensed and 14th with 20 sacks, has made some big plays. However, on a play-to-play basis, the Packers have given up big games to Dallas' Dak Prescott, Oakland's Derek Carr and the Chiefs' Matt Moore. The Packers are 24th with 7.30 yards allowed per pass play. Up next: the Chargers' Philip Rivers, who is on pace to pass for more than 4,600 yards.STOCK UPThe Packers haven't a running back like Jones since Ahman Green at the start of the millennium. Jones had a huge game against the Chiefs Juan Thornhill white jersey , with 67 yards on 13 carries (5.2 average) and seven catches for 159 yards (22.7 average) and two touchdowns. That receiving total was the most by a running back since Le'Veon Bell in 2014.STOCK DOWNThe Packers are 4-0 without Adams but the contributions from the rest of the receiver group have been sporadic. Regular starters Marquez Valdes-Scantling (one catch, 4 yards) and Geronimo Allison (one catch, 7 yards) combined to catch two of five targeted passes for 11 yards.INJUREDRight tackle Bryan Bulaga, who had not allowed a sack in the first seven weeks but gave up one on Sunday, missed the final two series with an injured right ring finger. Alex Light replaced him, with the Packers scoring a touchdown on his first possession and running out the final five-plus minutes on the second. Bulaga expects to play on Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers once he and the trainers can settle on a protective device.KEY NUMBER61.5 percent — Green Bay's third-down conversion rate the past two games. The first six games, the Packers moved the chains only 31.0 percent of the time.NEXT STEPSAfter a home-heavy schedule to start the season, the Packers will play a second consecutive road game, this one at the Chargers.