The NFL Week 2 slate features a Super Bowl 59 rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs at 4:25 p.m. ET in Kansas City.
The Eagles dominated the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much for expectations in this matchup. Despite that lopsided outcome, the Chiefs were the early favorite when betting odds for this game first came out.
After the Eagles beat the Cowboys and the Chiefs lost to the Chargers in Week 1, the Eagles are now small favorites. They are -1.5 against the spread at some sportsbooks like FanDuel and -1 at several other sportsbooks, including BetMGM.
The over/under for this game is one of the higher totals of Week 2. The total is 46.5 or 47 points at most of the best PA sportsbooks.
Let’s break down the matchup and discuss some Eagles vs. Chiefs predictions and best bets. If you want to place any bets on this game, be sure to claim one of the best PA sportsbook promos before doing so
Eagles vs. Chiefs predictions and best bets
Eagles -1 (-105 at DraftKings)
A.J. Brown 70+ receiving yards (+112 at BetRivers)
NOTE: Odds are based on the best value our experts find while writing; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.
Everything points to the Eagles winning this game. They dominated the Chiefs in the Super Bowl and looked better than the Chiefs in Week 1. They are also getting star defensive tackle Jalen Carter back, while Kansas City will be missing its two top wide receivers in Xavier Worthy (shoulder injury) and Rashee Rice (suspension).
There is also some historical precedent favoring the Eagles. There have been 10 Super Bowl rematches in the following regular season, and the Super Bowl winner is 7-3 in those games.
The main hesitation with picking the Eagles, besides the game being played at Arrowhead Stadium, is the magical allure of Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. That combination has never started 0-2 in nine seasons together.
They have also been excellent whenever they have been underdogs, which is not often. The Chiefs have only been underdogs 15 times with Patrick Mahomes as the starting QB, and they are 11-4 straight up and 12-2-1 against the spread in those games.
This feels like exactly the type of situation where Mahomes and Reid silence the narrative that they are destined for a down season. But I don’t like betting on feelings. The Eagles are the better, healthier team, and they will win a much closer game this time.
Part of the reason for that is the vulnerability in the Chiefs’ secondary. Justin Herbert lit them up for 318 yards and three TDs on 73.5% passing last week. Two of their receivers (Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey) had 70+ receiving yards, and Keenan Allen had 68.
The Eagles’ receiving duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith is significantly more dangerous than the Chargers’ pass-catching weapons. I like Brown to have a nice game this week after he received only one target in Week 1.
Brown has racked up at least 70 yards in more than half of his games in all three seasons with the Eagles, and in 28 of 48 regular-season games in Philadelphia. He’ll right the ship after a slow start and top that mark again this week.
Eagles vs. Chiefs moneyline odds analysis
I may have picked the Eagles as my best bet, but in a game with a spread of -1.5, this is anyone’s game. Here’s the case for either team getting the win.
How the Eagles could win as the favorite
Best odds:-115 at BetMGM
The Eagles beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl mainly on the strength of their defense, which locked up Kansas City’s pass catchers and wreaked havoc on Mahomes. That unit lost more than half of its starters, but is still one of the best defenses in the league on paper, especially after adding Za’Darius Smith this week to bolster its edge-rushing depth.
The biggest weakness on the Eagles’ defense is the second cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell. Adoree’ Jackson is expected to start again despite allowing more receiving yards when targeted than any other player in Week 1.
Fortunately for the Eagles, that weakness is mitigated by the Chiefs’ injuries at wide receiver. After Hollywood Brown, the Chiefs’ most dangerous receiver is JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is not nearly as dangerous as the Cowboys’ receivers, who consistently got open against Jackson last week.
The Eagles don’t have many other weaknesses for the Chiefs to exploit, and they don’t need to be nearly as dominant as they were in the Super Bowl to get another win in the rematch.
How the Chiefs could win as the underdog
Best odds:+105 at DraftKings
Two words: Patrick Mahomes.
Two more words: Andy Reid.
As noted above, that combination has never started 0-2. They have also never lost three straight games, which would change if they lose this game after dropping the Super Bowl and their Week 1 game.
It’s not quite as simple as just trusting Mahomes and Reid to find a way to avoid falling to 0-2, but that’s not exactly crazy. Another good reason to like the Chiefs in this game is All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones.
The Chiefs’ best defensive player will be matched up with the Eagles’ worst offensive lineman, right guard Tyler Steen. The Eagles’ other starting guard, Pro Bowler Landon Dickerson, is also dealing with knee and back injuries that caused him to miss some snaps in Week 1, and could limit his effectiveness this week.
Jones can be a game wrecker, and he could be lined up against a first-time starter and an injured lineman (or his backup) for most of this game. In what should be a more competitive game, Jones making one or two impact plays could be all it takes to swing this Super Bowl rematch in the Chiefs’ favor.
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