Eagles survive ugly offensive performance in Super Bowl rematch against Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – While a Super Bowl was not on the line in Monday night’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the LVII rematch had a similar script, only this time the Chiefs were the ones that blew a 10-point halftime lead as the Eagles used a fourth-quarter “Brotherly Shove” to take their only lead to win 21-17.

BUY EAGLES TICKETS: VIVID SEATS

They needed some good fortune to improve to 9-1 as it nearly ended with more Patrick Mahomes heroics. The Chiefs got the ball back with 2:49 left, and Mahomes moved them to the Kansas City 49 when he launched a deep ball and would-be touchdown that Marquez Valdes-Scantling dropped on second-and-10 with less than 2 minutes remaining.

The Eagles could thank their defense for keeping the game close and fueling the win, the first against former coach Andy Reid in five tries since he was fired by Philadelphia and landed in Kansas City. Entering the second half down 17-7, the defense pitched a shutout. It allowed 336 yards, but kept Mahomes from being a difference maker in completing 24 of 43 passes for 177 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

The offense looked sluggish: it finished with 238 yards and 16 first downs and went 3 of 11 on third downs as Jalen Hurts had issues throwing the ball in the rainy and windy conditions. He acknowledged on the ESPN broadcast that they “didn’t play good offensively.” He had two rushing touchdowns, but none through the air, as he went 14 of 22 for 150 yards and an interception.

“That’s a complete team win. We found a way,” Hurts said on the ESPN broadcast.

After the Chiefs opened up the scoring with a 10-play, 80-yard drive, the Eagles answered on the ensuing drive, marching 70 yards down the field on nine plays, with running back D’Andre Swift shouldering the load, first running 17 yards and following it up with a 4-yard touchdown run.

After the touchdown, the Eagles’ offense stalled, with the next five possessions resulting in an interception and four straight punts. Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones wreaked havoc on the line, finishing with two sacks and four tackles for loss. For a time, the Eagles’ offensive play calls were limited to wide receiver screens, running back screens and Hurts scrambles.

But amid their issues, the Eagles relied on the familiar formula of keeping the ball on the ground to finish with 114 net rushing yards. The Eagles used the combination of Swift, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell to rush between the 20s, and went to Hurts for a 10-yard TD run with 4:05 left in the third quarter. Swift had 76 yards rushing on 12 attempts.

The Eagles were able to make big plays late, a big difference between last year’s game and Monday. When the Chiefs were driving with 13:21 left in the fourth quarter, tight end Travis Kelce caught a pass and was close to the goal line, but cornerback Bradley Roby punched out the ball, keeping the game within a field goal. Later in the quarter, Hurts took a chance downfield, finding wide receiver DeVonta Smith on a 41-yard gain and leading to Hurts’ second touchdown.

The Eagles also had a bit of luck on their side. Roby was beaten with 1:42 left in the game by Valdez-Scantling with a clear break to the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. However, Valdez-Scantling dropped the ball, and the Eagles were able to survive.

The Eagles will look to get their 10th win of the season and maintain their lead in the NFC on a short week when they face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.

MORE STORIES: How relationship of Eagles’ top 2 WRs has evolved on and off the fieldHow Eagles are preparing for Chiefs without an ‘elite’ teammate