The Kansas City Chiefs played better than many may have expected, but still dropped a 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in their home opener on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, beginning the season 0-2 for the first time since 2014.
First quarter
The Eagles would start at their own 31 after wideout John Metchie III returned Harrison Butker’s kickoff from in front of the end zone. George Karlaftis brought Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts down in the backfield on first down, causing a fumble. The Eagles landed
on the ball and lost three yards. The Chiefs then wasted a chance to get the Eagles off the field early with an offsides penalty on Chris Jones paired with a seven-yard pass to wide receiver AJ Brown on third-and-8. The Eagles converted on the patented “tush push,” though the first down was actually given by penalty. The next set of downs would be more productive for the Chiefs defense. Star running back Saquan Barkley lost a yard on first down, and the Eagles would only advance six yards to midfield on the next two plays. Punter Braden Mann’s kick went out of bounds at the Kansas City nine-yard line, where Patrick Mahomes and company would take over.
The Chiefs would go three-and-out after a promising seven-yard run from Isiah Pacheco on first down. Punting from his own 16-yard line, Matt Araiza boomed the kick to the Eagles 22-yard line, where wide receiver Jahan Dotson called for a fair catch.
The Chiefs quickly again got the Eagles into a third-and-long after Hurts was incomplete on first down and Barkley lost a yard on a second down reception. On third down, Hurts was incomplete to Brown. Mann’s punt went to Nikko Remigio at the 17-yard line. He returned it 18 yards to start the Chiefs offense at their own 35-yard line.
Mahomes scrambled for 11 yards on the drive’s first play. The Chiefs would advance to the Philadelphia 37-yard line over the next five plays. Unfortunately, a false start penalty on Kareem Hunt pushed the Chiefs back outside the 40-yard line. Hunt only gained three of the yards back on third-and-16. Butker came on for a 57-yard field goal, but the attempt sailed to the right and was no good. The Eagles took over at their own 48-yard line.
The Eagles moved the chains to the Chiefs 42 on the next three plays. On the next set of downs, the Eagles executed perfect blocking on a screen to Devonte Smith to the 24-yard line. After backup running back AJ Dillon gained 11 yards on the next two carriers, Barkley finished the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run. Jake Elliot’s extra point opened the scoring at Eagles 7, Chiefs 0.
Running back Brashard Smith returned the kickoff to the Chiefs’ 32-yard line. Pacheco gained two yards on first down, and the first quarter expired.
Second quarter
Mahomes opened the second frame with a pass to Kelce near midfield. Two plays later, Mahomes took advantage of ample open space to scramble inside the Philadelphia 30-yard line. The drive would stall after two unproductive runs, and Mahomes took a third-down sack at the 38-yard line. Butker was good a yard closer than his earlier missed kick, and his 56-yarder trimmed the deficit to Eagles 7, Chiefs 3.
Metchie advanced to the 24-yard line on the kickoff return. Aided by two Philadelpha penalties, the Chiefs defense managed a three-and-out. Remigio fielded a 67-yard punt inside the Kansas City 10-yard line, but a 25-yard return would start Kansas City at their own 31.
Mahomes was complete to Hollywood Brown on first down to move the sticks, and Hunt rumble into Eagle territory on the next snap for 11 yards. The Chiefs appeared to stall, setting up fourth-and-4 from the 42 yard line. Kelce narrowly grabbled a Mahomes pass only inches from the turf for a reception, and he ran to the 24-yard line. Three plays later, another third-down Mahomes sack appeared to again stall the drive. The Chiefs got another third-and-5 from the 19-yard line. Mahomes scrambled for the first down, and one play later, the league’s biggest star ran for a 13-yard touchdown. Butker’s extra point flipped the lead to Chiefs 10, Eagles 7.
Metchie could only return the kickoff to 23-yard line to start the drive. After the Chiefs gave up a first down via penalty, the first half reached the two-minute warning with Hurts scrambling for 11 yards to the Philadelphia 45. The Eagles appeared set to move deep into Chiefs territory via a pass interferance penalty, but the flag was picked up, setting up second-and-10. Two plays later, Brown made a spectacular third-down catch with Hurts escaping a zero blitz to move the chains. The Chiefs were able to hold the Eagles in check the next two plays, and a third down throw saw Brown tackled a yard behind the chains. The Eagles let the clock run to two seconds before sending the field goal team on. A false start penalty then moved Elliott’s attempt from 53 yards to 58 yards. The extra distance did not matter, and the teams headed to the locker rooms tied 10-10.
Third quarter
Reimigio’s kick return started the Chiefs at their own 27-yard line. Two short Mahomes completions quickly put them at third-and-1, and Brown was narrowly unable to cross the first down line. The Chiefs made a risky fourth down attempt, and Hunt was unable to get the needed yard. The Eagles took over at the Kansas City 35-yard line.
The Chiefs defense made a valiant stand, seeing Barkley gain only two yards before Hurts and Smith could not connect on third down. After Smith was helped from the field, Elliott was good from 51 yards to put Philadelphia back in front at Eagles 13, Chiefs 10.
Remigio started the Chiefs at the 29. The Chiefs would then go three-and-out with Mahomes missing a deep sideline throw to Tyquan Thornton on third down. Dotson called for a fair catch on Araiza’s punt at the 19-yard line, but a holding call would move the Eagles back ten yards to start at their own nine-yard line.
Barkley put Philadelphia near the location of the fair catch with an eight-yard run on first down before seeing the star move the chains on the next down. The Eagles continued to test a tired defense that was barely off the field with punishing Barkley runs. But the Chiefs defense was able to rebound after the Eagles were called for a false start on second-and-8 from the Eagles 38-yard line. Rookie Omarr Norman-Lott sacked Hurts with a move that looked more made for WWE than the NFL to set up third-and-16. The Eagles handed the ball off and settled for a punt. Mann’s punt then sailed to the end zone, starting the Chiefs at their own 20.
The drive started with a short pass to Pacheco before he move the chains on a second down run. Two plays later, Mahomes found Kelce for 23 yards to the Philadelphia 44. Two short gains set up another third-and-1, but this time Hunt was able to angrily run for two key yards. Mahomes connected with Brown on first down for 11 yards. Pacheco lost two yards on first down, but the Mahomes was able to connect for ten yards on second down with Thornton as the third quarter expired.
Fourth quarter
Pacheco was not able to convert the final two yards. This time, Hunt did convert on a fourth-and-1 for three yards to set up a new set of downs ten yards from the end zone. Disaster happened two plays later, however, as a Mahomes pass bounced off of Kelce’s hands into the hands of safety Andrew Mukuba in the end zone for an interception. Mukuba would likely have scored a defensive touchdown had he not been forced out of bounds at the Philadelphia 41-yard line by Josh Simmons.
The Chiefs defense started the drive by giving Philadelphia 15 free yards on a facemask call by Charles Omenihu that was mistakenly attributed to Leo Chenal. The Chiefs had a chance to get the Eagles off the field with a third-and-10 from the 31-yard line before Hurts launched a ball under heavy pressure that Smith found at the three-yard line for first-and-goal. Barkley lost two yards before gaining four to set up a “tush push” at the goal line on third down. The Chiefs were able to barely hold Hurts out of the end zone, with the play surviving a coach’s challenge. Hurts gained the final two inches on fourth down for the touchdown. Elliot’s extra point extended the lead to Eagles 20, Chiefs 10.
Smith took the kickoff in the end zone and advanced to the 26-yard line. The Chiefs, unfortunately, went three-and-out with Mahomes incomplete on two passes. Dotson fielded Araiza’s punt at the one-yard line and advanced to the Philadelphia 16 to start the drive.
With the clock becoming Kansas City’s enemy, the Eagles handed off to Barkley twice for nine yards before Hurts gained the needed yard on a tush push. The Chiefs held Barkley in check on the next set of downs, but had to use all three timeouts to preserve the clock. Remigio fielded Mann’s punt at the 28-yard line.
The drive started with a disastrous sack before Mahomes missed on his next two throws. A roughing the passer call then moved the drive to the Kansas City 40. Mahomes found Remigio for a 21-yard pass to move into Eagle territory. After a holding call on Jawaan Taylor moved the Chiefs back near midfield, Mahomes finally connected deep with Thornton for a 49-yard touchdown. Butker’s extra point narrowed the score to Philadelphia 20, Chiefs 17.
The Chiefs were unsuccessful on an onside kick attempt, and Philadelphia took over at the Kansas City 41. Barkley all but sealed the Eagle victory with a nine-yard run on first down. The game reached with the two minute warning with the NFL’s new virtual measurement marking the Eagles just short on second down. Immediately out of the break, Philadelphia converted the third down to allow to kneel downs to end the game, securing their 2-0 start — and sending the Chiefs to 0-2 for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Injuries
Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna left the game in the first quarter. He was announced as questionable to return with a hip injury. Danna was downgraded to out in the second quarter.
Cornerback Kristian Fulton was seen getting his ankle taped in the first quarter, but his status was announced as doubtful to return to the game. Fulton was downgraded to out in the second quarter.
Left tackle Josh Simmons was seen getting attention on the sideline early in the second quarter while Kansas City’s offense was on the field. He returned on the Chiefs’ next offensive drive.
Hollywood Brown limped off of the field in the second quarter. He returned to the field two plays later.
