Time For Chiefs To Panic After 0–2 Start? Breaking Down Kansas City’s Loss To The Eagles

The Kansas City Chiefs are in uncharted territory. For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, they’ve started a season 0–2. Sunday night’s 20–17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles wasn’t just a rematch of Super Bowl LVII—it was a game that exposed issues on offense, execution, and depth. Chiefs Kingdom is asking the question: should we panic? Let’s break down what went wrong, what it means, and why there’s still reason for optimism.

Unforced Errors Cost Kansas City The Game

The Chiefs didn’t just lose to Philadelphia; they lost to themselves. The biggest moment came in the third quarter when Mahomes hit Travis Kelce in the chest near the end zone. Nine times out of ten, that’s an automatic touchdown. Instead, the ball bounced off Kelce’s hands, was intercepted, and turned into an Eagles touchdown on the next drive. That’s a 14-point swing in a game decided by just three.

It wasn’t the only missed opportunity. Mahomes missed multiple deep connections with Tyquan Thornton, overthrowing him at least three times. On deep passes, the golden rule is simple: don’t overthrow. An underthrow can draw a flag or allow a receiver to adjust. Overthrows eliminate the chance entirely. Those misses could have been the difference.

Then came the shocker—Harrison Butker’s missed field goal. Butker has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league, but his early miss added to the frustration. Between Kelce’s drop, the missed field goal, and Mahomes’ overthrows, the Chiefs left at least 17 points on the field. In a game they lost by three, that’s brutal.

Running Game Woes Continue

Patrick Mahomes has been Kansas City’s best rusher through two weeks. That’s a problem. Against Philadelphia, Mahomes ran seven times for 66 yards, averaging 9.4 yards per carry. He kept drives alive with his legs, but it’s dangerous to rely on your franchise quarterback to carry the run game.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ running backs combined for just 55 yards on 19 carries—an abysmal 2.8 yards per attempt. Isaiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and Deneric Prince have all failed to provide consistency. The lack of a ground game has made the offense predictable and placed even more pressure on Mahomes.

Protection Breakdowns And Coaching Missteps

The Eagles’ defensive front deserves credit, but Kansas City’s offensive plan made life even harder. Philadelphia blitzed Mahomes on nearly 40% of his dropbacks, a huge jump from their Super Bowl strategy. Vic Fangio broke tendency, bringing pressure in ways the Chiefs clearly weren’t prepared for.

Mahomes was pressured on about half of his passing attempts, sacked twice, and hurried 16 times. That kind of constant heat disrupts even the best quarterbacks. But the bigger issue? Kansas City failed to adapt. Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy kept calling long-developing routes instead of shifting to quick-game concepts. The result was a quarterback constantly under siege with no easy outlets.

Chemistry Issues With Receivers

Hollywood Brown said it best after the game: “It takes all 11 every single play. We’ve got to get on the same page.” Right now, Mahomes and his receivers aren’t close. With Rashee Rice suspended and both Xavier Worthy and Jaylen Royals sidelined by injury, Mahomes is working with players further down the depth chart. Thornton has speed but little chemistry with Mahomes, while role players like Mecole Hardman and Justyn Ross can’t consistently win one-on-one.

The lack of continuity is glaring. Missed deep shots, mistimed routes, and drops are all symptoms of a unit still searching for rhythm. Until Worthy, Royals, and Rice return, it may remain that way.

The Defensive Bright Spot

Lost in the offensive struggles was a strong defensive performance. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo adjusted as the game went on, dialing up creative blitzes that forced Jalen Hurts into quick decisions. After looking shaky in Week 1 against the Chargers, the defense showed resilience, holding Philadelphia to just 20 points and keeping Kansas City within striking distance.

If the defense can maintain this form, it will give Mahomes and the offense breathing room to work through early-season struggles.

The Missing Pieces

Xavier Worthy: The rookie speedster avoided surgery and has already returned to practice with a brace. His ability to stretch defenses vertically is exactly what Kansas City needs to open up space for Kelce.
Jaylen Royals: The timeline is less clear. He’s been sidelined with knee tendinitis and has yet to practice, raising concerns about when he’ll return.
Rashee Rice: The most frustrating absence. Suspended for six games due to off-field issues, Rice’s absence is glaring. He was expected to be Mahomes’ top target outside of Kelce, and the Chiefs’ offense looks entirely different without him.

Is It Time To Panic?

The short answer: no. Not yet.

History shows the Chiefs thrive under adversity. In 2021, they started 3–4 before rallying to win the division. In 2015, they began 1–5 and still reached the playoffs. Mahomes himself has never folded under pressure, and Andy Reid’s September playbook remains one of the deepest in football.

This year’s 0–2 start feels painful because it’s new. But it’s also important to keep perspective: both losses came to tough opponents, and both were winnable despite Kansas City’s mistakes. The defense is improving, and reinforcements on offense are on the way.

If the Chiefs were 0–2 against weaker competition, alarm bells might be ringing louder. But with Mahomes, Reid, and Kelce still leading the way, panic is premature.

Conclusion

The Chiefs’ 0–2 start is disappointing, but it’s not a disaster. They’ve beaten themselves more than their opponents have beaten them. Clean up the unforced errors, get healthier at wide receiver, and lean on the defense until Rice returns, and Kansas City will still be in the mix come December.

So, Chiefs Kingdom: it’s not time to panic—it’s time to refocus.