KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City had plenty of chances in a Super Bowl LIX rematch Sunday against the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Harrison Butker missed a long field goal in the first quarter; Jake Elliott hit from the exact same spot as time expired in the second quarter.
When the Eagles got the goal line in the fourth quarter, they Tush Pushed their way into the end zone; Patrick Mahomes’ pass to Travis Kelce at the goal line was tipped and intercepted.
With four minutes left, Tyquan Thornton got behind the Eagles’ secondary and was running free with no one near him. Mahomes sailed the throw well over his head.
The two connected on a deep post a minute later. The 49-yard touchdown pulled the Chiefs within 20-17, but with no timeouts and less time on the clock, it proved little more than cosmetic.
“That's stuff I gotta continue to get better, hitting those deep shots early,” Mahomes said. “Even though we hit the touchdown later, if you hit that touchdown with maybe two more minutes on the clock, you might have a chance to get the football back. That’s something that I'll look at, learn from and try to be better the next time.”
Butker’s ensuing onside kick never had a realistic chance of being recovered, and Philadelphia ran out the clock from there.
“I’ll take full responsibility for that game," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "I probably stayed too aggressive on that. That’s my responsibility. I thought my guys played their tails off and played hard, aggressive football.”
The Eagles’ 20-17 victory sent the Chiefs to their first 0-2 start since 2014, Reid’s second season in Kansas City.
The loss also marks the first three-game losing streak of Mahomes’ career.
GAMBLING MAN
Andy Reid rolled the dice on the opening drive of the second half and crapped out.
Facing fourth-and-inches at their own 36-yard line, the Chiefs lined up with a loaded backfield and handed the ball to Kareem Hunt, who tried to find a soft spot to the right of the formation.
Instead, Nolan Smith met him in the backfield and forced a fumble, which Hunt recovered for a 1-yard loss and a turnover on downs.
Ultimately, the gamble cost Kansas City three points as the defense stiffened after the sudden change, allowing Philadelphia only two yards before Elliott’s 51-yard field goal put the Chiefs in a 13-10 hole.
Elliott had made a 58-yard kick to end the first half from the same spot Butker missed in the first quarter.
Butker’s wayward try, which went wide right, set up the Eagles with a short field. Eight plays and 52 yards later, Saquon Barkley scored untouched on a 13-yard run for the game’s opening points.
“You hate having bad misses,” Butker said. “And I would definitely say it's a bad miss, because as it comes off your foot, you're like, ‘That's no good. I didn't even give it a chance,’ so that's very unfortunate.”
Butker later connected on a 56-yard field goal for Kansas City’s first points early in the second quarter.
GAMBLING MAN II
Fortunately, the failed conversion didn’t leave Reid too shaken.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs faced another fourth-and-short, this time at the Eagles' 13-yard line.
Kansas City could have tied the game with a chip-shot field goal, but Reid wanted more — and with good reason.
The Chiefs’ offense had only managed 13 yards on seven plays across their first two drives in the second half.
“They were going to stay aggressive likewise,” Reid said. “I think it’s important against that crew that you stay aggressive. I probably could dial up some different things there, but I think against them you’ve got to do that.”
After Kareem Hunt slammed his way for three yards and a first down, it seemed inevitable Kansas City would go in front.
But two plays later, Travis Kelce didn’t get his head around in time to get a read on Mahomes’ quick-slant throw. He reacted to the low throw at the goal but only enough to tip the ball into Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba’s chest for an interception.
RUNNING MAN
Nearly six quarters into the season, a span of more than 87 minutes of game time, the Chiefs had yet to enjoy a lead at any point during the 2025 season.
Mahomes was determined to change that on Kansas City’s final drive of the first half. He finished the drive himself with a 6-yard scramble on third-and-5, which included a mano-a-mano challenge against Philadelphia linebacker Zack Baun to power through for the first down.
“He’ll probably tell you the same thing, but he trains that way,” Reid said. “He goes after it, and he’s not going to not take an opportunity if it’s given."
The next play, Mahomes scampered down the home sideline for a 13-yard touchdown and a 10-7 lead.
"Obviously, he wasn’t accounted for on some of those plays, and he took advantage of it," Reid said. "I don’t want to see him get the big hits, but he’s a pretty competitive guy.”
Mahomes finished the drive with five carries for 60 yards and a touchdown.
“I usually don't try to run over big guys,” Mahomes said. “... I think I do a good job of protecting myself, and you have to be smart in those situations, and I’ve just learned from experience.”
At that point in the game, Barkley had five carries for only 24 yards and a TD.
Mahomes finished with 66 yards rushing on seven carries. He also went 16 of 29 for 187 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
“They came out and played a little bit more man coverage there early in the game, and you saw I was able to use my feet because the guys were covering guys down the field, so it just kind of has happened,” Mahomes said. “But at the end of the day, I’m just a competitor. I'm trying to win. So, whatever it takes, I'll do, and it's been running a few times this early this season.”
Isaiah Pacheco and Hunt combined to total 53 yards rushing on 18 carries.
Barkley finished with 22 carries for 88 yards. Jalen Hurts didn't exactly torch Kansas City, finishing 15 of 22 for 101 yards — though he did score a touchdown on the Tush Push, finishing with nine carries for 15 yards on the ground.
“Defensively, we played really solid football,” Reid said. “We had short fields at times, and the guys took care of business there.”
Mahomes also led Kansas City in rushing during the season-opening loss to the Chargers, totaling six carries for 57 yards and the Chiefs' lone rushing TD.
Pacheco and Hunt combined for 10 carries for 41 yards in São Paulo.
INJURY REPORT
Two veteran Chiefs defensive players exited Sunday’s game in the first quarter.
Defensive end Mike Danna (left quad) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) left the game and didn’t return.
Danna, who has totaled 20 1/2 sacks in six seasons in Kansas City, was in good spirits after the game. He said the injury wasn’t too serious in the locker room after the game.
WAS TAYLOR SWIFT AT THE GAME?
Apparently, Taylor Swift was at Sunday’s Chiefs-Eagles game — but her entrance and attendance were kept quite discreet, according to E! News.
Taylor Swift stuns at Chiefs game. pic.twitter.com/zKvISJf1YT
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 14, 2025
It makes sense, given that Swift grew up near Philadelphia.
Kansas City dropped to 19-5 when Swift was at the game and has lost two straight, both to the Eagles after Super Bowl LIX last February and Sunday’s game, after a 14-game win streak when she was in the building.
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