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Associated Press 10y

Buried by flags, KC backups fall 34-14 to Packers

NFL, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Kansas City Chiefs' receiving corps took two more hits, though coach Andy Reid seemed to be a bit more worried by all the flags.

The Chiefs had 14 penalties in all during a 34-14 loss Thursday night to the Green Bay Packers to wrap up the preseason. It didn't matter to Reid that both lineups were littered with backups.

"They're all ours. We don't look at them like they're backup players," Reid said. "They're mistakes and we have to correct them."

Third-string quarterback Tyler Bray threw for 116 yards and a touchdown on 8-of-15 passing. Joe McKnight added 50 yards and a score on 10 carries in vying for the third-string running back job.

Otherwise, the Packers reserves set the tone, with Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien each throwing for two touchdowns in their competition to back up starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

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 -- though McCarthy has also said he doesn't want to overreact to what happened in 2013.

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

"It's good to get the preseason over. Let's get on with the regular season," Reid said. "We had an opportunity to play a lot of young guys today, which is one of the positives ... you get a chance to evaluate some of the young players and go from there."

Rosters must be trimmed to the 53-man limit by Saturday afternoon.

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

But a receiving positions already dented by injuries to Dwayne Bowe and Junior Hemingway lost two more players. Jenkins later left with a concussion, while Kyle Williams departed in the first quarter with a sprained shoulder.

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. Still, Reid thought the Chiefs would be fine with receiving depth.

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.

"I've learned so much this offseason and this preseason from where I was last year," Bray said. "It's easy once you kind of know what's going on, and you're not out there guessing."

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

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) were never threatened. They look to be in good shape heading into next week's season opener at the Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

"That's exactly how you want to finish your preseason," McCarthy said. "I don't know if I've felt this good coming out of the preseason as I do tonight."

Flynn hit rookie Davante Adams on play-action for a 22-yard touchdown on the Packers' opening drive. 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.

"I think Matt and Scott have both championed the case to be on our football team," McCarthy said.

On the touchdown, Janis beat cornerback Phillips Gaines, who was also whistled for illegal contact and holding penalties in the game.

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

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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