For a moment on Sunday, it appeared the Chiefs would get the best of the Philadelphia Eagles, but a tipped pass off the hands of Travis Kelce at the goal line was picked off, and that changed the game. Now, Kansas City stands 0-2 on the season, searching for answers.
It’s nearly unthinkable to start the year with two heavy losses for the Chiefs, especially when Patrick Mahomes has trouble getting the ball to his receivers. With Travis Kelce dropping an easy touchdown and the head coach going for it on fourth down deep in his own territory, this loss seemed like a foregone conclusion.
The Eagles played a perfect game, never turning the ball over, and drained the clock on every snap. They also benefited from two key violations by the Eagles’ offensive line on their signature Tush Push play calls in key situations.
But the Eagles won this game because their defense pressured Mahomes into frustration, and without a running game, this offense is as stale as it has ever been since Reid came to Kansas City.
I’m unsure whether the issue is with Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy’s play calling or the head coach’s game plan. The main problem with this offense is its lack of creativity, and the coaching staff keeps running a basic, uninspired style of football.
From the stands, you could tell what the Chiefs were going to do based on their personnel on the field, whether they were passing or running. The Eagles recognized this, which meant Mahomes faced a lot of pressure in obvious passing situations.
Please don’t blame the offensive line for this loss, considering the change of tactics by the Eagles; they held their ground. Mahomes was off target for much of the game. This game could have been so different if Travis Kelce had converted a play he’s made hundreds of times.
The Chiefs’ mistakes, such as a missed field goal, an interception, and a failed fourth down on offense to start the third quarter, cost them seventeen points that the Eagles scored.
That’s the same number of points as the turnovers caused in Super Bowl LIX.
Kudos to the Chiefs’ defense for giving their best, but the Eagles’ offense, led by Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and Devonte Smith, played behind the best offensive line in football to keep any real challenge from the Chiefs at bay.
Mahomes, who turns 30 this week, has a lot to improve if he hopes to lead this football team back to winning and prove that he’s not the same quarterback we’ve grown used to seeing in Kansas City.
Now, that’s not entirely his fault, but at some point, he needs to take charge of the offense. If they run a play that doesn’t match the defense, call a different one. With the Eagles collapsing the pocket with multiple defenders, some opportunities might have worked if he had changed the play.
It’s not Andy Reid who will fix this mess; it’s Mahomes. Unfortunately, once again, the franchise has put him in the role of their savior.
He led the team in rushing with 66 yards and threw for a modest 187 yards. Yes, 59 of those yards came on the touchdown pass to Tyquan Thornton, but it was really too little, too late for the Chiefs at that point.
After an onside kick, the Chiefs’ defense was exhausted, and Barkley and Hurts’ running legs delivered the final blow.
The offense can’t succeed without a running game, and Isiah Pacheco isn’t the solution. Kareem Hunt is significantly better, but the future belongs to Brashard Smith, whom the Chiefs don’t yet trust to handle a larger workload.
I’m not sure where this team goes from here, but I can tell you they will start week three at the bottom of the AFC West, searching for answers that might not come until Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice return.
If there was a silver lining, the energy on both sides of the ball was better than in the season opener in Brazil. Still, the defense couldn’t create any turnovers or get Hurts on the ground. He came up clutch every time his offense needed him on Sunday.
The Chiefs will face the winless New York Giants next Sunday night, giving them another chance to prove their doubters wrong. However, the Chiefs have positioned themselves where they can’t afford to leave wins on the field against the Giants and a home game at the end of the month against the Baltimore Ravens.
