For the first time since Week 10 of the 2015 season, the Kansas City Chiefs possess an under .500 record. What once seemed unfathomable with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback and Andy Reid as head coach happened when Kansas City fell to the Los Angeles Chargers last week and dropped to 1-2 on the year. Two hard-fought, one-possession losses in as many weeks hurt Kansas City, which sits in last place in the AFC West heading into the fourth week of the year.
Kansas City’s cure for the losing streak may be the Philadelphia Eagles, coming off an embarrassing loss to the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football.” Head coach Nick Sirianni had the worst game of his young career, only getting the ball to his running backs three times and running no motion plays in the blowout defeat. Philadelphia has lost two straight games as well, struggling to find any continuity on either sides of the ball. The Eagles also lead the league with 35 penalties and are on pace for the most in NFL history.
Reid — the winningest head coach in Eagles’ history — returns to Philadelphia for just the second time since the franchise fired him at the conclusion of the 2012 season. Reid had 140 victories in his 14 years with the Eagles (regular season and postseason), while he currently has 99 in his eight-plus seasons with the Chiefs. A victory Sunday against Philadelphia would give Reid his 100th win in Kansas City, making him the first coach in NFL history to win 100 games with two different franchises. An emotional return for Reid awaits as Mahomes faces the Eagles for the first time.
Both the Chiefs and Eagles will seek to get back to .500 in this interconference showdown.
How to watch
Date: Sunday, Oct. 3 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)
Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds: Eagles +7, O/U 54.5
Key matchups
Chiefs vs. themselves
Baltimore and Los Angeles are more talented teams than Philadelphia, but Kansas City could easily be 3-0 if it wasn’t for turnovers. A Clyde Edwards-Helaire fumble when the Chiefs were in field goal range cost them against the Ravens, and three first-half turnovers — plus an interception with under two minutes left — led to their loss to the Chargers.
Kansas City is a better team than Philadelphia, but turnovers are an equalizer. The Chiefs have six turnovers on their last 13 possessions, a major problem for winning games.
The Chiefs defense is also an issue, allowing the most points per game (31.7) and yards per play (6.97) in the league. They also have just four sacks through three games and have allowed touchdowns on 12 of opponents’ 13 red zone drives (92.3%) — the latter of which is fourth-worst in the NFL.
Kansas City has its problems, but they can correct them by not making simple mistakes. Holding the Eagles to field goals and not committing giveaways would be a start.
Eagles run offense vs. Chiefs run defense
If there was any week for Sirianni to run the ball, this is it. Philadelphia needs to keep Kansas City’s offense off the field, so the best way to accomplish that is to run the football. (The Eagles gave just three carries to running backs last week.) Kansas City allows 160.3 rush yards per game (second-most in NFL) and 5.4 yards per carry (third-worst in NFL).
How do the Eagles counteract? Give the ball to Miles Sanders, who averages 8.9 yards per carry on first down — the highest mark in the NFL. The Eagles average 5.4 yards per carry, which is second in the NFL. Philadelphia just throws the ball too much, so it needs to run the ball and sustain drives. Their 6.45 yards per play average is sixth in the NFL, so Philadelphia can move the ball.
Sirianni just has to commit to the run more, especially against Kansas City.
Prediction
Latest Odds: Philadelphia Eagles +7
The Eagles and Chiefs are both on two-game losing streaks, so something has to give. But the Chiefs are 7-point road favorites (odds via Caesars Sportsbook) for a reason. Philadelphia struggled to get pressure on Dak Prescott last week, leading to big plays by the Cowboys offense. The same can be expected this week with Mahomes and all the playmakers the Chiefs have.
Philadelphia has just one takeaway in the first three games — a number that must increase if the Eagles are going to beat Kansas City. They also have to control time of possession and contain Travis Kelce, who has at least six catches for 75 yards in all three games this year.
This is a tall task for Philadelphia against a hungry Kansas City team. This is just a bad week to face the Chiefs.
Chiefs 37, Eagles 20
