It’s been back-to-back ugly weeks for Kansas City. Following their one-point
loss to Baltimore, the Chiefs dropped their second game in a row to the Los
Angeles Chargers for the first time since 2018. With the hopes of avoiding a three-game
losing streak, which hasn’t happened since 2015, here’s how Kansas City gets back in
the win column on Sunday in Philadelphia.
By Jack Johnson, Sports Radio 810
1. No early turnovers
The outcome of last Sunday’s game vs. Los Angeles could’ve been much different if it
wasn’t for three disastrous drives. It just so happened that all three drives came on the
Chiefs’ first three possessions. Two of those turnovers turned into 14 points on the other
end.
Fortunately for Kansas City, the Eagles don’t possess an offense like the Chargers do.
They rank 23rd in points per game and 16th in yards per game. On the other side of the
ball, Philadelphia’s defense is coming off a performance in which they surrendered 41
points on the road in Dallas.
For the Eagles to win this game, turnovers will be key. Jalen Hurts isn’t going toe-to-toe
with Patrick Mahomes in a shootout. If the Chiefs have a clean first half, you won’t need
to be biting your fingernails in the fourth quarter.
2. Find Tyreek Hill
Since his 197-yard performance against the Browns in Week 1, it’s been relatively quiet
for the 27-year-old out of West Alabama. In his last two games, he’s been targeted 11
times and hauled in eight passes for 70 yards.
Hill will have his work cut out for him in facing Darius Slay — the fourth-highest paid
cornerback in the NFL. It’s possible Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jonathan
Gannon takes a page out of the Chargers’ defensive playbook and doubles Hill too.
However, you can only do so much when Travis Kelce is another weapon to focus on.
Hill’s going to be targeted a lot on Sunday. In fact, I’m predicting he’ll lead the Chiefs in
that category. It’s not a matter of if he gets thrown at, but when.
3. Stop the run
Running the ball is something the Eagles do very well. They’re top five in rushing yards
per game (129.3) and most of that is attributed to having a mobile quarterback in Hurts.
After Sunday, the Chiefs defense will have faced the No. 1, 2, 5, and rushing teams in
the NFL. It should be noted that if the Chiefs build an early lead, there won’t be many
opportunities for the Eagles to run the ball down Kansas City’s throat. Instead, they’ll
have to rely on Hurts airing it out.
The Chiefs have reinforcements coming this week — most notably Willie Gay, who
missed the first three games with a turf toe injury. Frank Clark’s availability is up in the
air — though we’ll know more as the week goes on. Both of those options give Kansas
City a leg up in slowing down the Eagles’ ground game and moving back to .500.