Eagles @ Chiefs Super Bowl LIX rematch
Sunday, 4:25 PM ET at Arrowhead
This week's game of the week is a Super Bowl LIX rematch. Two teams looking to prove something as the 0-1 Chiefs, coming off a lackluster week 1 performance, look to bounce back against the 1-0 Eagles who themselves have things to prove. This game will live and die by the lines up front, situational pass rush, and which secondary can stop the opponent’s chunk plays.
Quick Look
E agles Week 1
beat Dallas 24–20
Saquon Barkley : 18 carries for 60 rush yards, 1 rush TD
Eagles won but AJ Brown was mostly bottled up
Chiefs Week 1
lost to the Chargers in São Paulo, 27–21
Patrick Mahomes : 24/39, 258 yards, 1 TD
Chiefs’ passing game was workable but they left plays on the field and lost important receiver help.
There is high emotions attached to this game, It's a Super Bowl rematch, a Super Bowl in which the Chiefs lost 40-6.
Defending Champs
The Eagles are the defending champs, they will have something to prove throughout all 18 weeks of the regular season and into the playoffs
showed fight in Week 1 but also showed places other teams can attack.
Secondary struggles and run game issues presented themsevles throughout the entire week 1 game versus the Cowboys
They also sustained key injuries
Goedert
Shipley
Kansas City
The offense is diminished, realistically because of receiver availability
Rice suspended
Worthy out
Their OL still hasn’t fully settled at LT in recent years and pass-protection has been a talking point.
Chiefs were out played in Brazil and will be extra motivated In this game, but they’re missing key pieces to what makes them contenders.
the chess match
Philly’s front seven vs Kansas City’s pocket and short passing game .
Edge rush and interior push will dictate whether Mahomes has clean, rhythm throws or is forced into improvisation and quicker passes and vice versa, Mahomes and his quick concepts will test Philly’s secondary and their scheme adjustments.
Coach on Coach
Andy Reid vs. Nick Sirianni
Reid will keep scheming to get short to intermediate completions and move Mahomes in rhythm;
Sirianni with Vic Fangio as DC will try to create pressure, collapse the pocket, and force Mahomes into crowded windows.
with Rashee Rice suspended and Xavier Worthy out, KC leans even more on quick game, screens, quick outs, intermediate crossers. Kelce's role has been diminished. If the OL gives Mahomes time, they’ll still get chunk plays but the depth and vertical juice is just thinner. Tyquan Thornton has 4.28 speed is the deep speed option to watch in place of the injured guys.
Eagles defensive identity
The Eagels have a violent DL with a lighter Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter back, newly added Za’Darius Smith to bring a veteran energy. they willmake the Chiefs beat them with quick, timing throws. Philly wants to keep Kelce from getting clean releases and eliminate chunk plays.
If Philly can win inside Mahomes won’t have comfortable stepping lanes. Conversely, if Kansas City handles the interior, Mahomes can buy time to use misdirection and Kelce seams. A ‘who controls pocket?’ battle.
Injury Report
Eagles official
OUT TE Dallas Goedert (knee) ;
OUT RB Will Shipley (oblique)
OUT OT Cameron Williams (shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE QB Tanner McKee (thumb)
Landon Dickerson listed as limited earlier but cleared for game
Chiefs Official
OUT WR Xavier Worthy dislocated shoulder
OUT WR Jalen Royals (knee) .
SUSPENDED WR Rashee Rice
Tempo
Expect quick possessions early from KC, short passes.
to test Philly’s zone discipline
Philly will try to mix tempo set the run with Barkley and use play action to open the middle for Hurts.
Explosive plays
Limited on KC’s part, with Worthy/Rice out, the Eagles should game plan to bracket Hollywood Brown when needed. If Mahomes finds early protection, KC should try to get chunk plays while they can
They need to attach Adoree Jackson
Key drives to watch
3rd and medium inside the red zone, 2 minute possessions after halftime
Eagles MUST
Win the line of scrimmage up front
G et Barkley rolling and collapse the pocket.
Force Mahomes into early decisions
pre-snap pressure and disguised free rush lanes.
Target short wins early
with rotation between Brown/Smith/Calcaterra
Limit penalties
discipline was flagged in Week 1
against KC, penalties equal extra life.
Manage Kelce properly
inside leverage, jam on releases, don’t let up the seam.
Eagles AVOID
Getting into a shootout with KC late game
giving Mahomes clean pocket time.
Chiefs MUST
Protect Mahomes
interior and LT play must be steady, no repeat pressure rates from Week 1.
Establish a credible run to keep Philly honest
Create mismatches for Kelce early
chip usage and quick throws to get Kelce one on one.
Use speed Thornton, JuJu on short outs/swing routes
to avoid 1 on 1 press matchups with Philly’s corners.
Chiefs AVOID
Letting Philly convert third downs and chew clock
don’t rely only on late fourth quarter heroics when you’re playing catch up with an undermanned receiving room.
X-factors
Interior pressure vs. Mahomes’ pocket mobility. If Jordan Davis & Jalen Carter can collapse 2-3 times a drive, KC’s rhythm dies.
How Eagles replace Goedert. Who steps into seam/TE checkdowns Grant Calcaterra must be efficient.
Special teams / field position. Arrowhead is loud and field position matters both teams have return weapons that can change possessions.
Chiefs’ receivers stepping up. JuJu / Hollywood Brown / Tyquan Thornton performance will determine whether Eagles can lock down routes or find cover match confusion.
Tactical film notes
Philly blitz packs
worked in Week 1 situationally
Fangio should send more interior pressures disguised as zone looks. Expect stunts up the middle designed to push Mahomes off clean lanes.
KC quick game counters
watch for Kelce on shallow crossers and WR's on low drag and pick concepts
these will be used early to check Philly’s zone integrity.
SHU'S TAKE
If the Eagles can force Kansas City into quick, contested passes and win the trenches with Jordan Davis or Jalen Carter making Mahomes uncomfortable, Philly walks out with back to back statement wins.
If the Chiefs keep Mahomes upright, find their rhythm with Kelce and JuJu, and get speed from Thornton, this turns into the late comeback storyline we’ve seen from KC for years.
The game is a true “who controls the pocket” fight and that’s where the championship rematch becomes must watch again.
