Kansas City Chiefs Get More BAD News After Loss to Philadelphia Eagles

It’s not the start Chiefs Kingdom hoped for. After a painful 20–7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs now find themselves 0–2. For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, they’ve dropped the first two games of the season. To make matters worse, they’re heading into Week 3 with mounting frustrations on offense and a sense of urgency to turn things around.

Offensive Struggles: The Same Old Story

Despite the heroic efforts of Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ offense continues to disappoint. For the third straight year, Kansas City’s offensive game plan looks stale, predictable, and out of sync. Patrick Mahomes was once again the only player who seemed capable of making things happen, yet even he couldn’t overcome the lack of support from his teammates.

Mahomes ended the game 16 of 29 for 187 yards and one touchdown. While his numbers weren’t terrible, they weren’t enough to win the game. He also threw an interception, which was a result of a disastrous drop by Travis Kelce in the end zone. With the ball bouncing off Kelce’s hands, it was intercepted by the Eagles, turning a potential touchdown into a game-changing turnover. The Eagles capitalized on the mistake and scored on the following drive, extending their lead to 20–10. That was a 14-point swing, and it proved to be the difference in the game.

Missed Opportunities: Wasted Chances

The Chiefs’ offense left plenty of points on the field. Aside from Kelce’s costly drop, Mahomes and Taekwon Thornton struggled to connect on deep balls. These missed opportunities could have easily been the difference between a win and a loss. Mahomes overthrew Thornton multiple times on long throws, and each time, the play slipped away. In a game this tight, those missed opportunities are hard to ignore.

Additionally, Harrison Butker missed a field goal early in the game. A successful kick would’ve kept the game within a one-possession margin, but instead, the Chiefs gave away crucial points.

When you add up all the errors—dropped passes, overthrown deep balls, and missed field goals—it’s clear that the offense beat itself. These are mistakes that a team like Kansas City, with playoff aspirations, cannot afford to make.

Running Game: A Complete Non-Factor

The Chiefs’ running game continues to be a liability. For the second consecutive week, Mahomes was the team’s leading rusher. He finished with 66 yards on seven carries, an impressive 9.4 yards per carry. However, relying on your quarterback to carry the ball this much is not sustainable.

Isaiah Pacheco, the starting running back, managed just 22 yards on 10 carries, averaging 2.2 yards per carry. This performance is unacceptable for a team that expects to contend for a Super Bowl. The Chiefs didn’t get any significant contributions from their other backs either, with Kareem Hunt finishing with 31 yards on eight carries.

The rushing attack was stagnant, and it has been for much of the past season. Pacheco’s struggles have been evident, and without any support from the running back position, the Chiefs’ offense becomes one-dimensional. The offensive line is also partly to blame, as they were unable to open up running lanes against a strong Eagles defensive front.

Poor Offensive Line Play and Inadequate Adjustments

The Eagles’ defense did exactly what the Chiefs’ offense couldn’t handle: they pressured Mahomes relentlessly. Philadelphia blitzed Mahomes more than expected, sending extra defenders on nearly 40% of his dropbacks. In contrast, the Eagles barely blitzed in their Super Bowl win over the Chiefs.

While Mahomes was under constant pressure, the Chiefs’ offensive line failed to make the necessary adjustments. Mahomes took multiple hits, including a sack, and faced pressure on half of his dropbacks. Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t do enough to adjust to the blitzes, continuing to call deep concepts that required too much time to develop. The lack of quick throws and screens only played into the Eagles’ hands.

Chemistry Issues: A Lack of Sync Between Mahomes and His Receivers

One of the most glaring issues in the Chiefs’ offense is the lack of chemistry between Mahomes and his receivers. As mentioned earlier, Mahomes and Taekwon Thornton missed several deep shots. This has been an ongoing issue, and the deep ball remains one of the Chiefs’ most dangerous weapons.

But it’s not just Thornton who’s been off. The Chiefs are also missing Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, two of Mahomes’ key targets. Without these two on the field, Mahomes has had to rely on a rotating cast of wide receivers, none of whom have been able to consistently make plays. The lack of continuity is hurting the offense, and it’s unclear when these missing pieces will return.

Is It Time to Panic?

Despite the Chiefs’ poor start, panic should not be the immediate reaction. Kansas City has faced adversity before and come out on top. In 2021, the Chiefs started 3–4 and still won the AFC West. In 2015, they began 1–5 and made the playoffs. This team is built to weather storms, and Patrick Mahomes has proven time and again that he can lead the team to victory, even in difficult circumstances.

That being said, the offense’s continued struggles are concerning. The Chiefs can’t keep relying on Mahomes to play hero ball every week. The lack of support from the running backs, the inconsistency at wide receiver, and the inability to execute on offense are all issues that need to be addressed.

The defense, on the other hand, has shown improvement. Steve Spagnuolo’s unit did enough to keep the game close, and they’ll continue to be a strength for the team. But ultimately, the offense needs to step up if the Chiefs want to get back on track.

Conclusion

The Chiefs’ 0–2 start is a wake-up call, but it’s not time to panic just yet. The season is long, and Kansas City has the talent to turn things around. However, there are serious issues on offense that need to be addressed. The Chiefs must find a way to establish a running game, improve chemistry between Mahomes and his receivers, and make adjustments when facing pressure. If they don’t, their hopes for a deep playoff run could be in jeopardy.

For now, Chiefs Kingdom must stay patient and trust in the coaching staff and Mahomes to figure it out. But the margin for error is shrinking.