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In Week 11’s “Monday Night Football” matchup, the (7-2) Kansas City Chiefs fell to the (8-1) Philadelphia Eagles 21-17 during a rainy, sloppy night on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, dropping their season record to 7-3.
First quarter
The Eagles won the coin toss and deferred, putting the Chiefs’ offense on the field first in the Super Bowl rematch. Jake Elliott’s kick sailed through the end zone, beginning the possession at the Kansas City 25-yard line.
Patrick Mahomes’ first pass to tight end Noah Gray fell incomplete. On second down, Mahomes was sacked by Haason Reddick for a nine-yard loss. A third-down throw to running back Jerick McKinnon could only advance to the 20-yard line, forcing a three-and-out. Tommy Townsend’s punt took a very Philadelphia-friendly bounce to start the Eagles at their own 43-yard line.
The first two downs saw short carries by D’Andre Swift to set up third-and-6 from the Philadelphia 47-yard line. The Chiefs defense responded to the Eagles’ early sack with one of their own as cornerback Trent McDuffie — amidst a crowd of Chiefs in the backfield — brought quarterback Jalen Hurts down for a seven-yard loss. Braden Mann’s punt was downed at the Kansas City 20.
Isiah Pacheco began Kansas City’s second drive with a three-yard carry. Mahomes immediately went back to the second-year back, and Pacheco delivered with a 24-yard carry to the Chiefs’ 47. Wide receiver Kadarius Toney took the next handoff for 14 yards. A five-yard pass to Mecole Hardman and then a two-yard loss on a Pacheco carry set up third-and-7 from the 36-yard line. A catch by Toney made the line to gain by the narrowest of margins. A neutral zone infraction penalty then moved the Chiefs to first-and-5 from their own 24. Rookie receiver Rashee Rice then set up first-and-goal from the 10-yard line with a 14-yard reception. A Pacheco carry on second down moved the ball to the three-yard mark. On third down, a scrambling Mahomes found Justin Watson in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. Butker’s extra point opened the scoring at 7-0 Chiefs.
A touchback started the Eagles’ second drive at their own 25-yard line. Hurts immediately found DeVonta Smith on the run for a 20-yard gain. Swift then took the ball into Chiefs’ territory with a seven-yard rush before a quarterback draw by Hurts set up a first down at the Kansas City 42-yard line, where the Chiefs called their first timeout of the half.
After the pause, Swift was stopped after a three-yard carry. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed was penalized for hands to the face on the next play, giving the Eagles a first down at the 34. Swift gained two yards on first down. Hurts then found Smith for 11 yards to the 21-yard line. Under heavy pressure, Hurts threw the ball away on first down. Swift then took a delayed handoff 18 yards to set up first-and-goal from the four-yard line, before taking the ball into the end zone on the next snap. Elliott’s extra point evened the score at 7-7.
With 31 seconds remaining in the quarter, the Chiefs began their third drive at the 25-yard line. Pacheco took the first down carry for no gain, bringing the quarter to a close.
Second quarter
On second down, Pacheco gained a single yard to set up a long third down attempt. Mahomes scrambled for only two yards, ending the drive with a three-and-out. Townsend’s second punt was returned to the Philadelphia 40-yard line to set up the Eagles’ next drive.
AJ Brown’s first reception of the game went for eight yards, bringing the ball near midfield. A handoff to Boston Scott moved the ball four yards to set up a first down in Chiefs’ territory. Willie Gay stopped running back Kenneth Gainwell for a one-yard gain. On the next play, Sneed intercepted Hurts at the Kansas City 30-yard line, where the Chiefs took possession.
Mahomes scrambled for three yards on each of the first two downs to set up third-and-4, where Mahomes found Watson for a 13-yard gain. Pacheco then burst for nine yards on first down, before moving the chains on the next snap. Travis Kelce then made his first catch of the night for an eight-yard gain. Mahomes then rushed for seven yards to set up another first down at the Philadelphia 26-yard line. Clyde Edwards-Helaire moved the Chiefs into the red zone with a 12-yard carry. The Chiefs called their second timeout of the half with 6:51 remaining.
Mahomes’ pass after the timeout was intercepted in the end zone by safety Kevin Byard, giving the Eagles the ball at their own 20-yard line.
Swift’s first down carry went for 10 yards and a new set of downs. Chris Jones then dropped Hurts for a seven-yard loss. Tight end Jack Stoll caught a three-yard pass to set up third-and-14 from the Eagles’ 26. Jones brought him down once again to force a punt. The Eagles momentarily likely experienced a terrible case of déjà vu as Toney returned the punt 21 yards to start the Chiefs at the Eagles’ 45-yard line.
Pacheco gained three yards, followed by a Mahomes incompletion intended for Watson. On third-and-7, Mahomes was incomplete deep to Kelce, but an offsides penalty set up another chance five yards closer. Pacheco then ran 12 yards to the 25-yard line. Mahomes broke free from an almost certain sack to run 14 yards for a first down at the 11-yard line, bringing the first half to the two-minute warning.
Another Pacheco carry advanced three yards. Hoping to salvage another first-half possession, the Eagles began using their timeouts. Pacheco then gained four more yards to set up third-and-3 from the five-yard line. Mahomes then found Kelce for the go ahead score. Butker’s extra point put the Chiefs back in front at 14-7.
With 1:45 remaining in the half, the Eagles started at their own 25. McDuffie sacked Hurts for a nine-yard loss that saw the quarterback falling on a fumble. Gainwell was forced out of bounds on second down after a four-yard gain. George Karlaftis brought Hurts down at the line of scrimmage on third down. The Chiefs called their final timeout ahead of the ensuing punt with 54 seconds remaining. Toney returned the punt 16 yards to the Eagles’ 46-yard line.
A false start brought the ball five yards back to the Chiefs’ 49. Mahomes threw the ball away on first down under pressure. Watson then dropped a ball on second down. The receiver redeemed himself with a 17-yard catch on third down. An encroachment was called as the Chiefs spiked the ball, moving them five yards closer. A pass to Jerick McKinnon gained four yards, and Mahomes spiked the ball to set up a 43-yard attempt by Butker, who kept his perfect streak to start the season alive, giving the Chiefs a 17-7 halftime lead.
Third quarter
The Eagles started the third quarter again at their own 25. Scott took a first down carry for four yards. Swift then lost a yard on second down. Hurts attempted to rush the ball on third-and-7, but Jones brought him down for another two-yard loss. Toney took Mann’s punt at the Chiefs 11-yard line and returned it 10 yards to start the offense at their own 21-yard line.
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Pacheco started the Chiefs’ second half with a 15-yard carry to the 36. A five yard carry on the next play was nullified by a Trey Smith holding penalty, setting up first-and-20 at the 26-yard line. Edwards-Helaire gained eight yards on first down. Mahomes then scrambled to the 43-yard line to set up third-and-3. Mahomes broke a tackle, but was unable to find Kelce down the field. Townsend’s punt netted only 29 yards, starting the Eagles at their own 28-yard line.
Brown could not stay in bounds on a deep sideline throw on first down. Swift set up a third-and-1 with a nine yard catch. With the world expecting the Eagles’ patented ‘Brotherly Shove” quarterback sneak, Swift was stopped in the backfield to force a punt. A five-yard Toney punt return would start the Chiefs’ next drive at their own 30-yard line.
Pacheco’s first down carry went for no gain. An eight-yard pass to Kelce set up a short third-and-2, but a false start on Jawaan Taylor brought the ball five yards back. On third-and-7, Mahomes overthrew Watson deep to end the drive with a three-and-out. A strong 27-yard punt return by Britain Covey started the Eagles at their own 39-yard line.
Hurts was incomplete low for Smith on first down, before the wide receiver gained nine yards on second down. The Hurts sneak again proved unstoppable as the Eagles moved the chains to midfield and a new set of downs. Swift then burst for a 35-yard run to the Chiefs’ 15-yard line. Hurts was incomplete to Brown in the end zone on first down. A short pass to Smith on second down went for five yards. On third-and-five, Hurts ran through the Chiefs defense for a ten-yard touchdown run. Elliott’s extra point narrowed Kansas City’s lead to 17-14.
Again starting from the Chiefs’ 25-yard line, Mahomes found Rice for a 17-yard gain. A six-yard Pacheco gain was negated by a holding call on Kelce, forcing a first-and-20 from the Chiefs’ 32. Mahomes went back to Rice for a six-yard gain. Mahomes was incomplete to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on second down, but a pass interference against Philadelphia gave the Chiefs a first down at the Eagles’ 46-yard line. Pacheco gained two yards on first down, and Mahomes was incomplete deep to Valdes=Scantling on second down. On third-and-8, Mahomes was incomplete to Toney, but an illegal contact call gave the Chiefs a new set of downs at the Philadelphia 39. Skyy Moore could not get a tipped Mahomes pass on first down. A seven-yard reception by Hardman on second down set up third-and-3 at the 32-yard line. McKinnon carried the ball for seven yards to the 25-yard line. The third quarter came to an end with Pacheco stopped for no gain, setting up a second-and-10 from the Eagles’ 25-yard line to start the final quarter.
Fourth quarter
Kelce caught a five-yard pass to set up third down. Toney caught a pass just short of the line to gain. On fourth-and-1, the Chiefs finally turned to Pacheco in short yardage and were rewarded with a first down at the 14-yard line. Kelce caught a five-yard pass, but fumbled the ball for the Chiefs’ second red zone turnover. The Eagles took possession at their own 10-yard line.
Sneed blew up a play on first down before Julio Jones caught a pass on second down for no gain. On third-and-10, Hurts could only advance to the 15-line to end the gift possession with a three-and-out. Toney advanced to the Chiefs’ 37-yard line to start Kansas City’s next possession.
Pacheco gained only a yard on first down before Mahomes was incomplete to Rice on the next play. On third-and-9, Mahomes finally connected on a deep pass to Watson for 17 yards and a first down at the Philadelphia 45-yard line. Short plays to Pacheco and Moore set up third-and-4, where Mahomes could not find Watson. A Townsend punt rolled into the end zone, giving Philadelphia the ball at their own 20-yard line.
Hurts’ first down pass was batted, but Swift broke a 20-yard run on second down. Jones gained five yards on first down, but Hurts was incomplete on the next play. On third-and-5 from the Eagles’ 45-yard line, Hurts found Smith for a 13-yard gain to the Kansas City 42. The two connected again on second down for 41-yard completion to the one-yard line. Philadelphia’s short-yardage invincibility showed again as Hurts was pushed in for the go ahead score. Elliot’s extra point gave the Eagles their first lead of the game at 21-17.
After another touchback, Pacheco gained three yards on first down. Mahomes could not connect with Valdes-Scantling on second down. A false start then moved the third down five yards further back. A scrambling Mahomes could not find McKinnon, ending the drive with another three-and-out. Covey returned Townsend’s punt to the 45-yard line to start Philadelphia’s next drive.
Hurts scrambled for nine yards on first down with the fourth quarter clock ticking away. Another push on Hurts moved the chains. Swift was then stopped for a two-yard loss. An offensive holding call then set up second-and-22 at the Philadelphia 43-yard line. Hurts was stopped for a one-yard loss. The Chiefs then took their first timeout to preserve the clock with third-and-23 looming.
After the timeout, Swift was stopped after a two-yard gain. The Chiefs called their second timeout with 2:56 remaining in the game. Toney fielded the punt at the Chiefs’ nine-yard line before being stopped for no gain.
Mahomes found Rice for a six-yard gain on first down. Watson picked up two yards on second down and ran out of bounds to stop the clock. Mahomes’ third down throw went through Kelce’s hands to set up fourth down. The future Hall of Fame selection was true on fourth down. Just before the two-minute warning, Mahomes found his tight end again for a 13-yard play. A roughing the passer call then added 15 yards to the play, setting up first-and-10 from the Chiefs’ 49-yard line after the two-minute warning.
With 1:56 remaining, Mahomes had to throw away a pass on first down. Valdes-Scantling then dropped a perfect Mahomes pass that would have scored a potential game-winning touchdown. On the next play, Mahomes was flagged for intentional grounding, setting up a desperate fourth-and-25 from the Chiefs’ 34-yard line. The pass went through Watson’s hands, giving the Eagles the ball.
Three kneel downs by the Eagles sealed their victory in the Super Bowl rematch, sending them to a league best 9-1 record and putting the 7-3 Chiefs a half game behind the 8-3 Baltimore Ravens in the AFC standings.
Injuries
During the first quarter, the Chiefs announced that wide receiver Mecole Hardman was questionable to return with a thumb injury. He returned in the second quarter.
Kadarius Toney appeared to injure his hand on a third quarter punt return. He was on the field for the next offensive series.
Special Teams
Kadarius Toney had punt returns of 21 and 16 yards in the first half to start Kansas City drives in Eagles’ territory.
Harrison Butker kicked a 43-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half to extend Kansas City’s halftime lead to 17-7.
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