Super Bowl rematch against Eagles a meaningful test for Chiefs defense

The Athletic has live coverage of Eagles vs Chiefs in Monday Night Football action.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In almost every challenge it has faced this season, the Kansas City Chiefs defense has succeeded.

Without its best defender, superstar pass rusher Chris Jones, the unit surrendered just two touchdowns in the season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions. In the Chiefs’ first win, they held the Jacksonville Jaguars without a touchdown. The Kansas City secondary, a group led by cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie, has limited the production of some of the NFL’s best receivers, including Garrett Wilson (New York Jets), Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) and Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins).

Advertisement

Two weeks ago in Frankfurt, Germany, the Chiefs defense generated the game-winning turnover and touchdown against the Dolphins, who at the time had the NFL’s top-scoring offense, averaging 33.9 points per game.

Monday’s prime-time matchup at home against the Philadelphia Eagles — a highly anticipated rematch of Super Bowl LVII — will present the next test for the Chiefs, who are allowing just 15.9 points per game, tied for the fewest in the league. Offensively, the Eagles average 28.0 points per game, tied for the league’s third-highest mark.

GO DEEPER

Vic's Picks, Week 11: Chiefs have edge on Eagles in Super Bowl rematch

Every member of the Chiefs defense knows which team was the last opponent to score 30 or more points against them: the Eagles.

“This is a big opportunity for us to go out and show our personality against one of the most high-powered offenses in the game,” safety Justin Reid said. “They’ve got two high-powered receivers, and we’ve got two high-powered corners. It’s a matchup everybody is going to want to see.

“This is going to be one of the most competitive games in the entire NFL season. There’s going to be chippiness. We want to go out and prove that we’re the best team in the league.”

Let's keep the good times rollin' 😁 pic.twitter.com/faFfao9B71

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 17, 2023

Once again, the Chiefs (7-2) and Eagles (8-1) sit atop their respective conferences. Similar to the last meeting, the Chiefs will counter the Eagles’ star receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, with Sneed and McDuffie.

A major reason the Eagles scored 35 points was that superstar quarterback Jalen Hurts connected on two 45-yard passes, one each to Brown and Smith. This season, the two have combined for 25 receptions of 20 yards or more.

Steve Spagnuolo, the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, is optimistic that Sneed, who will often be assigned to Brown, and McDuffie, who will follow Smith, will be able to limit the Eagles’ explosive highlights.

Advertisement

“It was a challenge when we played them (nine) months ago, and it hasn’t gotten any easier,” Spagnuolo said. “It all begins with the quarterback. I’ve got a lot of respect for Jalen. He’s one of those quarterbacks that can beat you with his brain, his legs and his arm. That’s pretty dynamic. He’s faster than you think he is.”

In the Super Bowl, Hurts’ scrambling ability and effectiveness on designed runs resulted in the Eagles having just seven third-down plays where they needed 6 or more yards. Hurts finished with 70 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

The first priority Spagnuolo communicated to his players this week was that their success on first down will have a significant impact on whether the Eagles can run the ball on third down.

“If we’re able to limit how many yards (Hurts) gets per carry, then I think we’re doing something good,” Jones said. “They’ve got such a good offensive line that’s done really, really well so far this year, so we have to come up with schemes and everything to affect Jalen.”

.@JalenHurts with the QB sneak!@Eagles on the board first! #FlyEaglesFly

📺: #SBLVII on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/d8gBDzRt2m pic.twitter.com/jfgnU4xfS8

— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2023

If the Eagles need just a yard or 2 on third or fourth down, the Chiefs know the exact personnel package the Eagles will use: their tush-push group.

The Eagles lead the league this season with 17 tush pushes. Just twice has the play been stopped short of a first down or touchdown. Last season, the Eagles had a 95.3 percent success rate. The Eagles succeeded each of the six times they ran the play in the Super Bowl, converting four first downs and scoring two touchdowns.

“I think there’s a way to stop it, but they have the right personnel for it,” Reid said. “They’ve really perfected it. Those front-line guys get really low. One of the best things we can do is not let them get in that yardage in the first place so that we don’t give them a chance to run it.

Advertisement

“I’m sure we’re going to see it more than once. It’s about how many times you can stop it, not just selling out on one. You see what they did with (the) Washington (Commanders last month). They (did) the trick play off of it. You have to cover all your bases.”

BROTHERLY SWEEP 😏 pic.twitter.com/VwiE9hNsVn

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 29, 2023

Just one opponent this season, the Denver Broncos, has scored more than 21 points against the Chiefs defense. One large factor for the Broncos in their Week 8 victory over the Chiefs is that 17 of their points came after a turnover.

A perfect scenario Monday for the Chiefs defense, McDuffie shared Tuesday on the “The Adam Schefter Podcast,” is the unit surrendering fewer than 28 points to the Eagles in a victory.

“I know this year’s defense, we’re like, ‘None of that,’” McDuffie said of the Eagles’ 35 points in February. “Even though we won, that wasn’t our best defense. We still have something to prove. They’re a great offense. They’re efficient, they’ve got Jalen Hurts, they’ve got the tush push, they’ve got A.J. Brown. It’s going to be a matchup.

“But one thing, I know with this defense, is we love games like these. You’ve got to love a ‘Monday Night Football’ game against the No. 1 team in the NFC. This is a showdown. This is why we’re in the NFL. It’s games like this.”

GO DEEPER

Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce meet again: How have the brothers fared vs. each other in games?

Injury update: Friday, for the second consecutive day, every player on the Chiefs’ active roster was a full participant during practice.

(Photo of Bryan Cook and Justin Reid: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

“The Football 100,” the definitive ranking of the NFL’s best 100 players of all time, is on sale now. Order it here.

ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57lGlua25pbnxzfJFsZmppX2aFcK%2FHopyfq12ZsqexzaycZp2RnLmmv4ysrKmdomKvsMPLZqmepZGpsKl7