What to Expect in Super Bowl LIX Revenge Matchup
In Week Two, the Eagles are on the road to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Chiefs. The teams haven’t faced off since meeting in Super Bowl LIX, where Philadelphia overcame Kansas City to prevent a three-peat. Tensions are high this week. The Eagles are coming off a big Week One win against their Dallas rivals. The Chiefs will attempt to recover after a devastating performance and loss against the Chargers last week. The Birds' opening rival game was filled with excitement, and the win was hard-fought. However, the team's offensive rhythm was questionable, and the defense got lucky when the Cowboys couldn’t capitalize on their untimely flags and errors. On the other hand, the Chiefs' first performance was disorganized, especially in the first half. Looking at their match-up in Week Two, the game should be a close contest played with high intensity.
After getting walked down in the Super Bowl and losing to the Chargers in Week One, the stakes are much higher for the Chiefs to pull away with a win this week. Already, Kansas City finds itself in a must-win situation since falling 0-2 early would hurt playoff odds, especially in the AFC. Last week, the Chiefs’ offense struggled from the start. Within three plays, Travis Kelce collided with teammate Xavier Worthy, which left the WR off the field for the remainder of the game. They did not score a touchdown in the first half and failed to convert on the first seven third downs of the game. Despite efforts to make a comeback with three touchdowns in the second half, Kansas City ended up falling short. If they want to beat the Eagles this week, Patrick Mahomes needs to find success early and keep the pressure on.
The Eagles, on the other hand, started early with two touchdowns before halftime and found success on eight of their 13 third downs. These conversions proved beneficial, since delivering under pressure and getting ahead early can make all the difference in a football game. Philly’s offense remains loaded with playmakers, though Week One proved that their passing game needs improvement. If Kansas has any edge on the Eagles, it will be forcing Jalen Hurts into rushed decisions. Against the Cowboys, Hurts' time to throw averaged over three seconds. With Chris Jones looking to collapse the pocket, Hurts will have to get a better, earlier read to avoid pressure.
With Jalen Carter's status in the air after his early ejection last week, the Birds' pass rush is in dire need of improvement. The Eagles’ defense is young, which makes them energetic but unpredictable. Carter's absence could force them into bigger roles in this game. Their secondary in Week One struggled at times as Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb—a threatening wide receiver who should have been a top priority—found more connections than Philly fans were hoping. Without better pass rush pressure on Mahomes in Week Two, Philly may not be able to contain the Chiefs this Sunday, despite their lack of receiver depth with Rashee Rice’s suspension. It is possible that if Carter is suspended for Week Two, the defense may lean on their rookie, Ty Robinson, who had a decent 100+ snaps in the preseason. Rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell made a huge impact last week, and his focus will be critical this week to track Kelce across the middle and contain the rushing game out of the pocket.
For the Chiefs' defense, their main priority is likely to stop Hurts from running the ball. His legs won the game in Week One as he led the team in rushing yards and scored two touchdowns on the ground himself. However, Saquon Barkley, a versatile rusher and pass-catcher, could cause the Chiefs a lot of trouble if they overcommit to the QB run. Barkley will be a test for the linebackers and the safeties as his explosive ability to break tackles will require early reads and balanced coverage. Kansas City’s pass rush and a stellar game from Chris Jones are critical to secure their first win of the season.
For Week Two, expect the Eagles to lean on some short passes with a balanced attack to inch up the field. It is likely they will mix in Barkley to set up a play action, requiring tight coverage on the perimeter and QB pressure to slow Hurts and an offense built on his mobility. As for the Chiefs, expect Mahomes to spread the field and test the secondary with deep passes and quick throws to Kelce in the middle to exploit the young defense. Whichever team finds their rhythm first has the potential to control the game and set the tone for the rest of their season, as early momentum may swing confidence for both sides. With revenge on the line for Kansas City and an ambitious roster out of Philadelphia, this game has the potential to flip in a single play.
