GREEN BAY, Wis. — By beating the defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs 27-19 Sunday night at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers have served notice locally and nationally. They’re surging and can’t be looked past.

Many thought this was going to be a painful rebuilding year for the Packers. When they started 2-5, things looked ugly. Since then, they have won four of five, including the last three. They are ahead of schedule and very much in the NFC playoff race.

The terrific play of Jordan Love and a revitalized Packers offense is one ingredient to the recent success. The much-maligned defense has done their part as well. There was no Patrick Mahomes magic Sunday night. The Packers defense prevented that.

Special teams also chipped in. Rookie kicker Anders Carlson drilled a pair of fourth quarter field goals, including a 48-yarder to put the Packers up eight. That’s a whole lot different than being up five.

What Pat Riley called “The Innocent Climb” has been fun and free. Now the Packers will be favored to win down the stretch. That brings a different kind of pressure. Yet, with these Packers, who am I say they can’t keep winning?