PHILADELPHIA — Merely 217 days following Super Bowl LVII, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs gear up for a highly anticipated revival of NFL giants. The Eagles and Chiefs are poised to clash in another unmissable confrontation during Week 2, as the teams that competed in two of the most recent three Super Bowls encounter varying circumstances this time around.
The Eagles have commenced with a 1-0 record, aiming to secure victory at Arrowhead Stadium for the second occasion in three years under the leadership of Nick Sirianni. The Chiefs find themselves at 0-1 for the second instance in three years, encountering an atypical scenario against the reigning Super Bowl victors. Andy Reid has never initiated a season with an 0-2 standing since assuming the role of Chiefs’ coach, and the franchise has never endured three consecutive defeats during Patrick Mahomes’ tenure (including postseason matches).
Keep in mind that teams starting 0-2 have only a 12.2% prospect of qualifying for the playoffs since the NFL broadened the postseason to encompass 12 teams in 1990. This percentage marginally rose to 12.5% following the postseason’s expansion to 14 teams in 2020. Therefore, it is indeed crucial for the Chiefs to realign their course this week.
The Eagles’ face-off with the Chiefs will represent the 11th instance of a Super Bowl rematch in the subsequent season within NFL history and the fourth instance occurring within the initial two weeks of that season. The Super Bowl-winning team has prevailed in seven of the 10 preceding rematches, with one of the three losses being the Chiefs against the Eagles in 2023.
This is undeniably not an infrequent encounter between the Eagles and Chiefs. Both franchises possess considerable experience in competing against each other.
“Since my arrival [2021], there have been four teams we’ve played annually, which notably include the Giants, Commanders, Cowboys, and Chiefs,” Sirianni stated. “We’ve faced them each year.
“You’re perpetually scrutinizing those tapes and devising a strategy for subsequent encounters with a team, navigating the process of anticipating their successful tactics that might reappear in various forms, while also forecasting potential adjustments to strategies they might not have executed successfully.”
For an advance glimpse into the Eagles’ confrontation with the Chiefs, along with guidance on watching the Super Bowl rematch, here’s a preview of what to anticipate:
Where to watch Eagles vs. Chiefs
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 14 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, Missouri
- TV: Fox | Stream: fuboTV (try for free)
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Odds: Eagles -1; O/U 46.5 (via FanDuel Sportsbook)
Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl rematch, plus other NFL Week 2 storylines and games to know before kickoff
Tyler Sullivan
When the Eagles have the ball
The Eagles’ offensive scheme is still evolving under Kevin Patullo’s guidance, having scored on each of its initial four possessions during its Week 1 victory over the Giants before executing 20 plays for 54 yards — without any points — to conclude the game. While the rain delay undeniably impacted timing, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith collectively received only four targets.
Philadelphia managed to rush for 158 yards, yet Saquon Barkley was limited to a mere 60 yards at 3.3 yards per carry. Barkley encountered eight or more defenders in the box on 12 of those carries, resulting in 33 yards (2.8 yards per carry). The Chiefs implemented a similar strategy against Barkley during Super Bowl LVII — restricting him to 57 yards on 25 carries (2.3 yards per carry). Barkley had 18 carries for 38 yards when confronted with 7+ defenders in the box.
“I’m accustomed to it,” Barkley remarked. “This isn’t the first instance of a team attempting to stop us. Teams attempted to impede us last year, with limited success, except for the Super Bowl, to be frank. However, it unlocks numerous opportunities.”
The Chiefs will exert maximum effort to contain Barkley, thereby emphasizing Hurts’ significance. Hurts excelled in passing during Super Bowl LVII, completing 8 of 10 passes for 120 yards and two touchdown passes without interceptions (156.3 rating) when the Chiefs employed 7+ defenders in the box. Hurts successfully completed both passes exceeding 10+ air yards when the Chiefs stacked 7+ defenders in the box.
“Furthermore, we possess a formidable quarterback,” Barkley affirmed. “He’s capable of both throwing and running the ball. That’s the advantage of representing the Philadelphia Eagles. We boast an abundance of talent. If you neutralize one aspect, we retain the capacity to inflict damage in another. That’s our prevailing mindset.
“Regardless of the strategy employed to secure victories in football games, whether they stack the box or refrain from doing so. However, if you opt against stacking the box, I’ll ensure you pay the price. That’s my conviction.”
When the Chiefs have the ball
The Chiefs were significantly impacted by the Eagles’ pass rush during Super Bowl LVII, as Mahomes faced pressure 38% of the time during the game. He achieved 4 of 9 for 48 yards, accompanied by a touchdown and an interception (58.8 rating), while being sacked six times. In the first half when pressured, Mahomes went 1 of 5 for 5 yards with an interception — resulting in a 0.0 rating.
The Eagles’ defense successfully thwarted Mahomes in that game, but Philadelphia’s pass rush no longer includes Josh Sweat and Milton Williams. Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, and Za’Darius Smith are positioned on the edge (Smith is set to debut on Sunday), while Jalen Carter will also make his return after being ejected last week.
The Chiefs are further hampered at the wide receiver position, as Rashee Rice serves his suspension, and Xavier Worthy’s availability remains uncertain. Mahomes’ primary targets at wideout could potentially be Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster, which might diminish some explosiveness in the passing game.
The Eagles’ secondary encountered challenges in Week 1, yet continues to employ Adoree’ Jackson at CB2. Expect the Chiefs to target him if the Eagles fail to establish a consistent pass rush.
Prediction
Should the Eagles’ pass rush gain momentum against the Chiefs, Mahomes could potentially endure another frustrating outing. The Eagles have demonstrated Hurts’ ability to throw the ball effectively when the box is stacked to contain Barkley, suggesting the possibility of the Chiefs altering their approach and allowing Barkley to excel. Given the Eagles’ tendency to avoid turnovers, the Chiefs will need to generate one or two turnovers to secure victory.
Kansas City is confronted with a must-win scenario, and Mahomes has never experienced three consecutive losses. Josh Simmons will be the offensive lineman to monitor on Sunday, as he conceded four pressures and an 8.5% pressure rate during his debut.
Previously selected the Eagles in the Super Bowl and the Chiefs in the season preceding Arrowhead. This contest could realistically unfold in either direction.
Pick: Eagles 27, Chiefs 24 | Eagles -1
