Chiefs Vs Eagles Preview: Avoiding Three Game Skid

It is one thing to be coming off of two consecutive losses. However, no one expected the Kansas City Chiefs to be in last place of the AFC West entering Week Four of the 2021 season. The two time defending AFC champions now have their backs against the wall, just as quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. This adversity may be just what the Chiefs needed while it is still early in the season.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to silence many doubters. They are in the beginning stages of a new era. Jalen Hurts is getting his first chance to attempt to lead this team at quarterback. There have been both positive steps and negative setbacks alike from first time head coach Nick Sirianni. Most of all, the same old issues remain for the Philadelphia defense. The sack numbers are low, while the secondary continues to be inconsistent.

What are the top five headlines to watch for entering Sunday afternoon’s game? Plus, we will list keys to victory for both the Chiefs and the Eagles. Let’s kick it off.

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Top Five Headlines

Andy Reid Returns To Philly

It is hard to believe this is already the third meeting between Andy Reid’s old team and his current team since becoming Chiefs head coach. The Chiefs have won both previous meetings over the Eagles with Reid. This will be the second time that this meeting will take place in Reid’s old stomping ground of Philadelphia since he became Kansas City head coach.

Entering this game after two straight losses, Coach Reid is highly motivated. He is “on a mission” as he stated earlier this week. In order to get the ship turned back around, that aggressive side in him as a play caller may need to be unleashed heavily. Will he come out hot? Or, will Reid try to balance things out offensively when facing the Eagles defense?

Can Chiefs Defense Build Off Of Last Week?

It obviously was not a perfect showing by the Kansas City defense last week. But, they held their own up front against the opposing offensive line. Gap assignments and tackle attempts were more buttoned up. This matchup against the Eagles allows the Chiefs the opportunity to build off of that performance.

Philadelphia will be missing a couple of key offensive linemen in Jordan Mailata and Isaac Seumalo because of injuries. Winning and resetting the line of scrimmage will be key. The linebackers must carry over that disciplined nature into Sunday. Finally, will the Chiefs secondary come in more motivated after giving up chunk play after chunk play?

Don’t Sleep On Hurts?

Inconsistent is the word that describes Hurts’ career start to this point. In some games, he is pushing the ball down the field. The pass attempts are extremely basic when he is not doing that, however. His ability to read and feel the pocket is generally strong. Though, there is a certain hesitancy within Hurts’ game.

The key for Kansas City will be to not let Hurts get going early. Keep his mobility to a minimum and force him to throw deep. He has obviously appeared in many big games in his career against major opponents. This dates back to his Alabama and Oklahoma days in college. Playing the two time defending AFC champions will only motivate Hurts, especially when the Chiefs are needing to get a victory.

Prime Opportunity For Kansas City Pass Catchers

Other than Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, there has been no comfortability or reliability for the Chiefs when watching the other pass catchers. This is a prime matchup for guys like Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle or Demarcus Robinson to get going. Philadelphia’s defensive backs bring an interesting mix of physicality and ball skills to the table. Yet, their coverage ability and instincts remain a question week to week.

The Chiefs pass catchers have the speed to keep them guessing and on their heels. Meanwhile, Kansas City may have no better chance to push it deep than against this Eagles team. Secondary receivers need to come through, especially with Josh Gordon waiting in the wings and eventually stepping in.

The Turnover Battle

Both of these teams are in the red when it comes to their current turnover differential. The Eagles are -1 and the Chiefs are -2 in that category. Kansas City has been more successful at creating takeaways compared to Philadelphia. They have four to the Eagles’ one.

Nonetheless, the Chiefs offensive turnovers are occurring at an uncharacteristic rate and in areas of the field we usually do not see them in. As good as the Mahomes-led offense can be, multiple turnovers force you to be nearly perfect throughout the rest of the contest. That happened last week. If it happens again, Philly could pull off an upset.

Keys To Victory

Kansas City

Let It Fly

The Eagles defensive backs can get lost in space deep down the field. Kansas City has the advantage with the speed. Get Mahomes back into a comfortable environment, and allow him to be aggressive coming off of a two interception game. You cannot come out conservative. If so, it will allow Philadelphia to remain comfortable with their offensive attack on the other end.

Win The Trenches

On both sides of the ball, the Chiefs have to continue to be as nasty and tenacious as they have been for the most part in the trenches. Defensively, they have a prime opportunity to get their pass rush going. They have been relentless with blitzing. The sack results have not materialized. Meanwhile, the tough nature of the Kansas City offensive line could certainly be matched by Philadelphia’s defensive line.

Nickel And Dime Them

Running man coverage on defense has not been completely kind to the Chiefs defensive backs so far. A lack of patience when the ball is in the air, while also getting caught watching the quarterback and not the receiver, has hurt Kansas City. They had a lot of success when mixing zone coverages last year. This allowed them to get more speed on the field for the defense. This may not just help the Chiefs, but it could also place more difficulties on the Eagles passing game.

Philadelphia

Feed Colonel Sanders

Through the first three games of the season, the Eagles have not fed running back Miles Sanders enough. The most carries he had in a single game was 15. And the running back only ran twice last week. His home run hitting speed, elusiveness and field vision gives the Chiefs run defense a difficult matchup. They could be more prone to missed tackles against a shiftier ball carrier like this.

Push It Deep

This key is very similar to Kansas City’s of letting it fly. The Chiefs defensive backs thrive more when they can keep the ball in front of them and fly downhill. Carrying deep routes up the field has produced more confusion for the Chiefs and more open space for the opposition. If the Eagles push the ball vertically, Philadelphia could make Kansas City’s secondary become panicked.

Increase The Blitz

The Eagles blitz at the lowest rate in the NFL, currently at 14 percent. Simply rushing out of their base 4-3 defense will not be effective enough. If they continue to do that, Kansas City has the chance to score quickly and in bunches. Bringing extra rushers may be a necessity on Sunday against Mahomes and his blockers.

Statistical Notes

Here are Mahomes’ career numbers in the regular season following a loss, in which he finished the game (eight games): 2,147 passing yards (268.3 passing yards per game), 22 passing touchdowns, six interceptions, 63.3 completion percentage.
Both teams have struggled to sack the quarterback. The Chiefs are tied for the second lowest amount in the league with four sacks. The Eagles are tied for the fifth lowest amount in the league with seven sacks.
In scoring offense, Kansas City ranks 5th and Philadelphia ranks 23rd in the NFL.
In scoring defense, Kansas City ranks 31st and Philadelphia ranks 10th in the NFL.

Be on the lookout for our game recap following Sunday’s contest. Follow us on Twitter here for live coverage during the game. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.