Second-half gambles did not pay off for the Kansas City Chiefs, as the Philadelphia Eagles won the rematch of Super Bowl LIX by a 20-17 score Sunday, Sept. 14 at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Eagles scored first, taking advantage of a short field after Harrison Butker missed a 58-yard field goal that went wide right. Philadelphia went 52 yards in eight plays to set up a 13-yard rushing touchdown by Saquon Barkley. Butker would redeem himself early in the second quarter when he put the Chiefs on the board with a 53-yard field goal. After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Chiefs went ten plays and 69 yards, with Patrick Mahomes taking care of business with a 13-yard keeper to the end zone. The Eagles would tie it up at the half with a 58-yard kick from Jake Elliott.
Philadelphia would capitalize on another Chiefs miscue, when KC decided to go for it on fourth and one on the opening drive, but Kareem Hunt was stopped shy of the line to gain, the Chiefs’ own 35. The Chiefs defense would get a stop, but the short field allowed Elliott to give Philly the lead from 51 yards. KC threatened to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, but a Mahomes pass intended for Travis Kelce was tipped just inside the end zone and into the hands of the Eagles’ Andrew Mukuba, who returned it 41 yards. The Eagles took advantage with the game-winning score by way of their infamous “tush push”, as Jalen Hurts plowed into the endzone with just under eight minutes remaining.
After exchanging punts, the Chiefs made their next comeback attempt. Mahomes took a sack and threw four straight incompletions, but a roughing the passer penalty on one of those kept the drive alive. Mahomes would finally get two long completions, including a 49-yard touchdown pass to Tyquan Thornton that closed the gap to three. The Chiefs would not get the ball back, as Philly recovered the onside kick, then claimed a first down to end the game.
Mahomes finished the afternoon 16-for-29 with 187 yards. He was sacked twice for 14 yards. He was also the top rusher for the Chiefs with 66 yards on seven carries, while Kelce had four catches for 61 yards. For the Eagles, Hurts went 15-for-22 with 101 yards in the air. Barkley ran 22 times for 88 yards, while DeVonta Smith caught four passes for 53 yards. The Chiefs offense outgained Philadelphia 294-216, but gave the Eagles enough opportunities to profit from their mistakes.
It’s the first time in the Mahomes Era that Kansas City start the season 0-2. Including February’s Super Bowl loss, the Chiefs are on a three-game losing streak. The Chiefs will look to end that skid in The Meadowlands next Sunday night, when they face the New York Giants. Pregame coverage will begin at 6 p.m., with kickoff at 7:20 p.m., on KMMO-FM 102.9.