Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are the biggest favorites in Week 8.
Aaron Rodgers has attempted just 24 passes in the preseason. Reuters

For the fourth consecutive year, the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs will close out the preseason against each other. Both teams enter the game at 1-2 in three exhibition games.

The biggest reason for the Packers poor record may be the lack of time Aaron Rodgers has spent on the field. Head coach Mike McCarthy has been very careful with his star quarterback, limiting his snaps to avoid injury. He threw a preseason-high 12 passes in the second exhibition game, completing 10 of them. In the third game, which usually sees the starters play into the second half, the former MVP was taken out after just one series.

With just one more tune-up before the start of the regular season, Rodgers may not until the opener. Green Bay, though, isn’t worried that their best player won’t be prepared to play meaningful games.

“I’d say Aaron’s in his game ready shape. He’s been very sharp,” McCarthy said. “I feel very confident that Aaron’s ready to go.”

Rodgers spending the majority of the time on the bench has given Vince Young a chance to prove he can still contribute. After sitting out 2012, Young appears to have earned a spot on the roster as the Packers No.2 quarterback. He beat out Graham Harrell, who was released, following the third preseason game. Las week, he had a lot of success against the Seattle Seahawks, who had the top defensive unit in 2012. He completed six of his seven passes and ran three times for 39 yards.

McCarthy has stated that B.J. Coleman is still in the running to surpass Young. That seems unlikely, though, unless things change drastically against the Chiefs.

The Chiefs starters aren’t expected to play much, if at all, either. They are coming off their first win of the preseason, in which the starters played the bulk of the minutes. In his first extended action with Kansas City, Alex Smith played much like he did in the last two years with the San Francisco 49ers. He was very efficient, completing 17-of-24 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown.

Kansas City is favored by four points in their preseason finale on Thursday night. Even in their two losses, they kept the game within one score.

TV Channel: KCTV-5 (Kansas City), WGBA 26 (Green Bay)

Live Stream: NFL Preseason Live

Prediction: Green Bay 27, Kansas City 17

National Football League