Nine months ago in New Orleans, the Eagles didn’t just beat Kansas City in the Super Bowl; they dismantled them. It was a coronation disguised as a competition. By halftime, Philadelphia had 24 points on the board while the Chiefs had only 23 total yards of offense. Think about that. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid couldn’t even pick up more than one first down until late in the half. Nick Sirianni’s team suffocated Kansas City’s rhythm, then emptied the bench in the second half. It was a blowout that validated everything this roster had been building toward: depth, development, and dominance.
I never understood why the Eagles entered that game as underdogs. They had more talent across the board, were surging with confidence, and had just throttled Washington in the NFC Championship. From the jump, it felt inevitable. Surprisingly, the Eagles are not favored to win this time either.
Week Two
Now, fast forward to September 2025. The Eagles are 1–0, rolling into Kansas City with momentum. The Chiefs are 0–1, and the reigning AFC champs know they can’t afford to fall into an early 0–2 hole, especially at Arrowhead, where expectations are higher than ever.
But the scars of February still linger. For the Chiefs, that Super Bowl was an embarrassment. For the Eagles, it was proof of superiority. Kansas City will be desperate to reassert itself, to remind the league that Mahomes and Reid remain the standard. Philadelphia, meanwhile, will be looking to double down, showing that February wasn’t an anomaly, but the beginning of an era where they dictate terms.
The Matchup
Jalen Hurts has outplayed Mahomes the last three times they have faced each other, but Arrowhead will be loud, and Mahomes rarely loses two straight. If Philadelphia controls the trenches the way they did nine months ago, if Jalen Hurts sets the rhythm early and the pass rush makes Mahomes uncomfortable, the noise won’t matter.
In the trenches, where most games are decided, the Eagles added veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and hope to have Jalen Carter wreaking havoc on the interior. The Chiefs’ O-line has to keep Mahomes clean if they want to protect their home turf. If the Chiefs lose that battle, they lose the game, and if Nick Sirianni is counting sacks on the sideline again, this didn't go as K.C. had hoped.
Wide receiver Xavier Worthy left Friday’s game dinged up with a shoulder injury, putting his status in doubt, which only adds pressure on Travis Kelce to get rolling after a quiet Week One. If the Eagles can bracket Kelce and force Mahomes to lean on secondary options, Kansas City’s passing game could sputter again. On the other side, the real question is who slows Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, and this Eagles receiving corps. Barkley’s power and burst demand gap discipline, while A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith stretch defenses thin. If Kansas City’s front can’t control the line or their corners can’t hold up in single coverage, it may be another long afternoon for the Chiefs' defense.
Conclusion
Philadelphia has already proven it once. Now Kansas City has to prove that it still belongs. Simply put, the Chiefs need this win. The Eagles expect it.
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