Eagles at Chiefs predictions for Week 2 of the NFL season
The Eagles (1-0) will travel to Kanas City to face the Chiefs (0-1) in a rematch of Super Bowl LIX.
Let’s get to the predictions:
Reuben Frank (1-0)
I’m not sure the Chiefs are quite the Chiefs anymore, and I’m not sure Patrick Mahomes is quite Patrick Mahomes anymore. They’re still a very good team, and Mahomes is still a very good quarterback, but they’re no longer the standard in the AFC. Out of 33 quarterbacks who’ve thrown 500 passes since opening day 2023, Mahomes ranks 24th in yards per attempt, 25th in yards per completion and 20th in passer rating. He doesn’t have elite weapons around him and we just saw seven months ago that Vic Fangio knows how to slow him down. What makes the Chiefs special is when Mahomes is special, and while he’s still clutch in the playoffs – other than Super Bowl LIX – I see a beatable team, even at Arrowhead. The Eagles have to do a lot of things better than they did in the opener vs. the Cowboys – run the ball more efficiently, protect Jalen Hurts better, get A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith far more involved and make a few more big plays on defense. But I expect them to do all those things and get out of Missouri with another win over Big Red and the Chiefs – a close one this time.
Eagles 27, Chiefs 24
Dave Zangaro (1-0)
When the Eagles’ schedule first came out and we were playing the wins-losses game, I had this game in Week 2 as a loss. Because as talented as the Eagles are, they’re not going to go 17-0 and you’re trying to find games they might lose. But now that we’re here, I don’t think they’re going to lose. The Eagles were clearly the better team in February and they’re still the better team in September. That doesn’t mean the Eagles are going to run away with this one like they did with their 40-22 win in Super Bowl LIX. But I think they will still be able to win. Patrick Mahomes has done a lot without great weapons at times but without Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs just don’t have enough firepower in this game. I also think the Eagles will be able to pass the ball against their secondary enough — especially if the Chiefs sell out to stop the run — to pull out a W and move to 2-0 on the season.
Eagles 28, Chiefs 23
Barrett Brooks (1-0)
This is a pretty important game for the Birds this weekend. I won’t say it is a must-win, but I feel like it will tell me where the Eagles are and how they compare with the rest of the league. I honestly think they are one of the elite teams in the NFL. Player for player, there is no more talented team. Jalen Hurts is ready to take the leap into the top tier of quarterbacks. There are so many ways the Eagles’ offense can make any DC be wrong in their play calling. If you stack the box to stop the run, they have elite receivers on the outside. Pick your poison: Get beat up in the run or embarrassed all over the field in the passing game.
Yes, on defense, they lost some key players in free agency and retirement. But Howie Roseman replenished the troops with very capable draft picks. The third cornerback will be an issue this year, but eventually pass rush will be the great equalizer to help the secondary. DC Vic Fangio is one of the best teachers in a defense he developed. Whenever you can get the young core learning the whys and whats in the defensive concepts, players will fly around more freely because they understand it conceptually. The Eagles are the more dominant team with not only players, but now coaching. Nick Sirianni has to be mentioned as one of the top coaches in the NFL.
Eagles 24, Chiefs 17
Mike Mulhern (1-0)
Jalen Hurts has become Steve Spagnuolo’s kryptonite. The Chiefs’ defensive coordinator has thrown everything he has at the Eagles’ quarterback in their two Super Bowl matchups and come away with very few answers. Hurts’ mobility has given Kansas City fits, consistently breaking both the pocket and their spirit. Spags focused on stopping Saquon Barkley back in February and held him in check. If the Chiefs pick that poison once again, expect A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to take advantage of opportunities on the outside. Even without Dallas Goedert, I don’t think the Chiefs defense has the horses left to match up.
In their first 12 possessions in Super Bowl LIX, Patrick Mahomes was sacked six times, turned it over three times, and managed just six points. Vic Fangio’s defense put forth one of the most dominant performances ever, especially given the stakes. After the Eagles Week 1 effort against the Cowboys, it’s hard to expect similar results. But Jalen Carter will be back on Sunday and Xavier Worthy likely won’t be for Kansas City. Mahomes is special but he’s without his top two receivers and still playing behind an offensive line that’s looking to gel. Expect Carter to take over, especially if matched up against left guard Kingsley Suamatia.
The Chiefs will surely be motivated after the Super Bowl embarrassment and a loss to start this season. They’re underdogs at home, and rightfully so. The Eagles are the better team and will prove it once again.
Eagles 27, Chiefs 23
Ashlyn Sullivan (1-0)
The big topic this week has been about the Chiefs’ run defense… are they going to be able to hold Saquon Barkley to only 57 rushing yards again like they did in the Super Bowl? I think Saquon is going to be productive this week and the Chiefs won’t be able to limit him to that extent again. The Chiefs’ defense did limit the Chargers to only 90 rushing yards Week 1, so it is something to keep an eye on. For the Eagles to go to Kansas City and beat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, their pass rush is going to have to be better than the Cowboys game. If Mahomes has his way and escapes the pocket, he will expose the weakness in the secondary pretty easily. Because of this, I think the Chiefs win this game based off what I saw from the Eagles’ defense Week 1. I don’t think the secondary is in sync enough right now to be able to handle the Chiefs’ offense on the road.
Chiefs 24, Eagles 21
Eagles at Chiefs predictions for Week 2 of the NFL season
