Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs Week 2 Preview
Disappointing, alarming, and déjà vu would be the three words to describe the Chiefs’ Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Kansas City’s defense was especially concerning, as Justin Herbert produced a flawless performance, completing 25-of-34 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns. In addition, Xavier Worthy's exit on the third play of the game reverted the Chiefs’ offense to the mundane state it was in last season, without two of their top three weapons.
In 2024, Brown and Rice missed the majority of the season with injuries. This season was supposed to be the year Kansas City’s offense returned to the explosive, high-flying game plan with the three wideouts part of the picture. However, with Rice suspended for six games and Worthy’s status moving forward uncertain, here we are again with a sluggish offense.
Regardless, the Chiefs must find a way to win on Sunday against an Eagles team that embarrassed them in the Super Bowl seven months ago.
Keys to the Game
How will the Chiefs defend the Eagles' offense?
In Super Bowl LIX, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo went all in on stopping Philadelphia’s rushing attack, holding Saquon Barkley to 57 yards on 25 carries. However, Spagnuolo stacking the box exploited Kansas City’s secondary, allowing chunk plays on a consistent basis.
Against the Chargers, the Chiefs went in with a similar game plan, and the secondary left massive voids all over the field, which Herbert took full advantage of.
On Sunday, Kansas City’s defense must plan a more balanced approach to slowing down Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia’s offense.
Spagnuolo will have to be content with taking some lumps against Barkley and not put his cornerbacks on islands against A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
Hurts’ rushing ability adds another layer to stopping the run game, but the Chiefs’ defense has to be patient and disciplined in how it counters Philadelphia’s offensive scheme.
Make life easier for Patrick Mahomes
Losing Worthy eliminates the explosive element for this offense, and that was apparent on Friday night against the Chargers.
Mahomes has not had the luxury of having the full complement of pass-catching options available to him, and that will most likely once again be the case on Sunday. In addition to that, the Chiefs’ running game, headlined by Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, has been pathetic, dating back to last season.
It’s a long shot, but these running backs are going to have to make some type of impact and produce a couple of explosive plays to keep the Eagles’ defense on its toes. Because without that, Kansas City’s offense is going to be predictable, which is something Philadelphia took full advantage of in the Super Bowl.
Finding success on the ground will open up more space in the middle of the field for Patrick Mahomes in the play-action game.
This could be a game where Andy Reid dials up several quick passes underneath to keep the offense on schedule and ahead of the sticks. Juju Smith-Schuster and Brown were peppered with targets in Week 1, as Brown led the Chiefs with 16 targets, 10 receptions, and 99 yards, while Smith-Schuster secured all five of his targets for 55 yards. These two players will be asked to replicate that output this week against an Eagles’ defense that could be vulnerable with Adoree’ Jackson as the CB2.
Kansas City needs to find a way to survive the next five weeks without Rice. An extra sense of urgency could push the Chiefs over the top in their home opener.
Prediction: Chiefs 24, Eagles 21