It’s been over 200 days since that Super Bowl gut punch, but here we are. Chiefs vs. Eagles, Round 2 is almost here. Only this time, it’s at Arrowhead. And if we keep it real, it’s not just another Week 2 game. Now, it all reliably comes down to plays and execution. The all-time series? Dead even at 6-6. Super Bowls? Also split, with KC edging Philly 38-35 back in 2023, and then taking that tough 40-22 loss in February.

So yes, this one’s about bragging rights as much as it’s about standings. Patrick Mahomes vs. the Eagles? He’s been good, not godlike. Two games, 455 yards, 7 TDs, and a passer rating of over 103. Respectable, but Philly’s defense has made him work. Those six sacks in Super Bowl LIX still sting. And Travis Kelce? The veteran has 29 receptions for 290 yards and 3 TDs in five games. Productive, sure, but not the usual takeover mode we’re used to seeing.

But heading into Week 2, of course, the expectations for the Chiefs to take a lead are palpable, and so is an elite performance from Mahomes and Kelce. The real concern, though? Andy Reid’s got bigger headaches to solve. The same ones that cost the Chiefs their season opener against the Chargers in Brazil. Three big concerns, to be exact. And that’s exactly where the conversation of whether the Chiefs could take the lead or not starts.

Can the Chiefs’ front four bring the heat this time?

In Week 1, the Chargers’ offensive line against the Chiefs wasn’t supposed to be that good. We’re talking about an O-line without Rashawn Slater. But the biggest problem for the Chiefs turned out to be the pass rush. The defensive line couldn’t get pressure with just four men, which gave Justin Herbert way too much time to spend in the pocket and pick apart the secondary. KC ended up with three sacks, which looks OK on the box score.

But pressure rate and sustained disruption tell a different story. The analysts noted that the Chiefs were not consistently generating pressure and were caught off guard by the Chargers’ game plan (shout-out to Joe Alt protecting Herbert’s blindside). The result? He finished with 25-34 for 318 yards and 3 TDs. The quarterback also complemented the run game, as he rushed for 32 yards on 7 carries. Now think about the Eagles’ O-line. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the best in the league.

The thing is, the Eagles’ offense is kind of like the Chargers. Think of run-heavy with explosive deep shots with an updated version. That’s Philly. And at the center of it? It’s the reigning Super Bowl MVP, Jalen Hurts. The quarterback throws more deep go balls compared to Herbert’s over-the-middle style. Even against the Cowboys, he threw for 19-of-23 for 152 yards. But the real damage came from the ground. Hurts led the rushing game with 62 yards on 14 carries.

The silver line, though? The Chiefs are hosting the Eagles at Arrowhead. Unlike Brazil, it should give the defense some extra juice. Plus, Chris Jones wasn’t up to the mark in the season opener. But he never had back-to-back bad games. So, we can bet he’s coming in hot this week. But it’s just the only concern we talked about. There are a few more left.

Can Andy Reid’s team manage the benefits and risks of blitz?

While we expect an improved pass rush against the Eagles, the pass rush alone probably won’t be enough to beat Philly’s offensive line. Nobody dominates them. The writing is on the wall: Steve Spagnuolo will need to blitz to create more pressure on Hurts. But it won’t come with a sacrifice. Blitizing has its own benefits and drawbacks. It will eventually leave the secondary in man-to-man coverage. Take the Chiefs vs. Chargers, for instance.

Blitzing helped the defense get stops, but it also allowed some big plays because the Chiefs’ secondary—comprising Chamarri Conner, Kristian Fulton, and the safeties—got exposed one-on-one. Now take that and apply it to the Eagles. Instead of Chargers wideouts, we’re talking about A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, two of the best in the league at beating man coverage. And Hurts is one of the best deep-ball throwers. If the blitz doesn’t get home quickly, it’s bombs away.

Which naturally makes you wonder: Can the Chiefs play man coverage well enough to blitz? There is, however, a silver lining. Trent McDuffie can match up with Smith, and the Chiefs could use double coverage on Brown. That’s probably the safest bet. Bottom line: It’s a risky business we’re talking about. But who said the Week 2 clash was going to be an easy one? If they pull that off, the defense can keep it close. If not? It could be another long night.

Will the Chiefs target the Eagles’ weak link outside?

Probably the one thing that Andy Reid and the Chiefs have in their favor is that Darius Slay’s departure from the Eagles has left a hole at the outside corner. And to make it worse, Philly hasn’t really replaced him with the same level of talent, which turned out to be one of their weaknesses against the Cowboys on the opening night. Of course, they tried Adoree’ Jackson.

But he went down with a concussion, which eventually forced Jakorian Bennett to step in. Which raises a question: If the Chiefs can use this weak link in their favor, why would it be a concern for Andy Reid? Well, it’s because of the Chiefs’ receiving corps. It’s limping at the moment. Rashee Rice won’t come until Week 7. Xavier Worthy went down with a shoulder injury, thanks to a collision with Kelce.

Long story short: the Chiefs lack a wideout to line up outside and win one-on-one all game long. So the big question is: Who can Mahomes trust on the outside? That’s the third concern for Reid. If the Chiefs figure that out, they’ll be able to move the ball. If they don’t? We’ll come back with the same concern next week.