Arrowhead Pride
Seven months ago, the Kansas City Chiefs recorded an embarrassing 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024’s NFL Championship, ending the team’s bid for an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl victory. Since then, many have given the Chiefs up for dead — and the team’s 27-21 season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil did nothing to push back on that narrative. So before a nationwide television audience during Sunday afternoon’s late slate, there is a lot at stake as Kansas City hosts Philadelphia on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, hoping to avoid the Chiefs’ first 0-2 start since 2014.
The Eagles would start at their own 31 after wideout John Metchie III returned Harrison Butker’s kickoff from in front of the end zone. George Karlaftis brought Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts down in the backfield on first down, causing a fumble. The Eagles landed on the ball and lost three yards. The Chiefs then wasted a chance to get the Eagles off the field early with an offsides penalty on Chris Jones paired with a seven-yard pass to wide receiver AJ Brown on third-and-8. The Eagles converted on the patented “tush push,” though the first down was actually given by penalty. The next set of downs would be more productive for the Chiefs defense. Star running back Saquan Barkley lost a yard on first down, and the Eagles would only advance six yards to midfield on the next two plays. Punter Braden Mann’s kick went out of bounds at the Kansas City nine-yard line, where Patrick Mahomes and company would take over.
The Chiefs would go three-and-out after a promising seven-yard run from Isiah Pacheco on first down. Punting from his own 16-yard line, Matt Araiza boomed the kick to the Eagles 22-yard line, where wide receiver Jahan Dotson called for a fair catch.
The Chiefs quickly again got the Eagles into a third-and-long after Hurts was incomplete on first down and Barkley lost a yard on a second down reception. On third down, Hurts was incomplete to Brown. Mann’s punt went to Nikko Remigio at the 17-yard line. He returned it 18 yards to start the Chiefs offense at their own 35-yard line.
