The Kansas City Chiefs entered the 2025 season with high hopes and lofty expectations. Led by their generational quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and a defense that had solidified itself as one of the league’s most dependable units, the Chiefs were expected to continue their dominance.

But after a disappointing 17-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch, fans are left questioning if this team has what it takes to reclaim their spot at the top.

This loss marks an unfamiliar territory for the Chiefs, who are now 0-2 for the first time in the Mahomes era. While the Eagles have emerged as formidable opponents, this game was winnable for Kansas City. So, what went wrong?

The Good: Defensive Resilience

The Chiefs’ defense stood strong despite the loss, limiting the Eagles to just 101 passing yards and holding Saquon Barkley to just 88 rushing yards. Jalen Hurts, who had led his team to a Super Bowl win earlier this year, was kept in check, throwing for just 101 yards with zero passing touchdowns. Even on third downs, the Chiefs’ defense played solidly, forcing the Eagles into a 5-for-14 performance.

Notable performances came from rookie cornerback, Null Williams, who impressed with a pass breakup on a third-and-eight against Devonte Smith, and Omar Norman Lot, who recorded his first career sack in his NFL debut. Despite some missed tackles and a few key plays, the Chiefs defense showed promise in a tough matchup, especially with key players like Mike Dana and Christian Fulton leaving early due to injury.

The most significant concern, however, was the pass rush. George Karlaftis, the Chiefs’ defensive leader, only generated a 7.7% win rate on his pass rush, and the defense had difficulty applying consistent pressure when only rushing four. The team’s highest blitz rate under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo (64%) was a clear attempt to compensate for the lack of pressure, but it wasn’t enough to stop Hurts and the Eagles.

The Bad: Missed Opportunities and Offensive Struggles

While the defense showed resilience, the offense had a number of missed opportunities that ultimately cost the Chiefs the game. Patrick Mahomes, as usual, carried much of the load, leading the team in rushing for the second consecutive week, racking up 60 yards and a rushing touchdown. But even with Mahomes playing at a high level, there were multiple missed opportunities that could have swung the game in the Chiefs’ favor.

One of the most glaring mistakes came from Travis Kelce, who had a chance to give the Chiefs the lead late in the game. On a crucial red-zone play, Mahomes targeted Kelce for what should have been a touchdown, but the ball bounced off Kelce’s hands and was intercepted by the Eagles, leading to a 41-yard return and a touchdown that pushed the Eagles’ lead to 10 points. This moment epitomized the struggles the Chiefs faced on offense—despite moving the ball well at times, they couldn’t capitalize on key moments.

Mahomes also missed multiple throws to wide-open receivers, including a badly overthrown pass to Taekwon Thornton that would have been a walk-in touchdown. These missed opportunities put the Chiefs in a position where they had to grind out every drive, but they couldn’t execute in the clutch.

The lack of a reliable running game was another major issue. Without Rashi Rice and Worthy, the Chiefs struggled to establish a consistent running attack. Isiah Pacheco averaged just 3.1 yards per carry, and while the offensive line has struggled with run blocking (ranked 28th in the league according to PFF), the lack of explosive plays from the running backs was evident. Mahomes, despite his best efforts, couldn’t do it all on his own. The Chiefs need to address this issue—whether by finding another running back or improving their blocking scheme—before it derails their season.

The Ugly: Coaching Decisions and Special Teams Failures

The Chiefs’ coaching staff also came under fire after a questionable decision by Andy Reid to go for it on a fourth down deep in their own territory. The play call resulted in a turnover on downs, and while the defense stood strong, it gifted the Eagles easy points and shifted the momentum in their favor. It was an aggressive call, but with the Chiefs’ defense playing well, it was a puzzling decision to take such a risk.

Harrison Butker, the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, also struggled with consistency. He missed a 58-yard field goal and an extra point earlier in the game, leaving six points on the table. In a game as close as this, those missed opportunities proved costly, and Butker will need to regain his form to help the Chiefs in future tight contests.

The Road Ahead: Can the Chiefs Bounce Back?

With the loss to the Eagles, the Chiefs are now 0-2, which is a shock to fans who have grown accustomed to seeing their team thrive. Historically, only 12.2% of teams that start 0-2 since 1990 have made the playoffs, and while the Chiefs are certainly capable of turning things around, the margin for error is thin. The Chiefs will need to address their offensive inconsistencies, bolster their pass rush, and make better decisions on special teams if they want to avoid another early playoff exit.

The upcoming games against the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Detroit Lions will be crucial. They need to get healthy, execute better, and avoid the costly mistakes that have plagued them so far. Despite their challenges, the Chiefs still have the talent and leadership to turn the season around, but time is running out.

With Worthy and Rice potentially returning soon, the Chiefs have a chance to regroup. But they must improve quickly, or they risk falling too far behind in a competitive AFC. As always, the Chiefs’ true test will come in the postseason, but only if they can fix these growing concerns now.