NFL Week 2: Inactives, Updates, and Live Coverage as Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts Clash in Super Bowl Rematch

The Week 2 late afternoon slate of NFL games is shaping up to be both exciting and pivotal, featuring just three matchups on the schedule. The headliner of this intimate lineup is a rematch of Super Bowl LIX, as the Kansas City Chiefs look to exact revenge on the Philadelphia Eagles at the loud and proud Arrowhead Stadium. Complementing this marquee matchup are the Denver Broncos visiting the Indianapolis Colts, as well as the Arizona Cardinals hosting the Carolina Panthers.

As these teams prepare to renew their rivalry, the Eagles and Chiefs have faced each other four times since 2023, with two of those meetings culminating in Super Bowl glory, split between the two teams. Their most recent clash left Chiefs fans eager for redemption given the Eagles’ 38-35 victory in Super Bowl LIX. During that game, Philadelphia’s defense put up a stellar performance by sacking star quarterback Patrick Mahomes six times, making it a long evening for the usually dynamic signal-caller. On the flip side, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts cemented his status as a dual-threat playmaker, rushing for critical gains and ultimately taking home the Super Bowl MVP award.

In light of their opening week performance, the Chiefs will be looking to bounce back after suffering a 27-21 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers. This marked a shocking start, especially considering they’ve never begun a season 0-2 during the Mahomes era. Kansas City’s offense needs to regain their rhythm, particularly in the ground game. In their last outing, it was Mahomes leading the charge with 57 rushing yards, while running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt combined for just 41 yards; a concerning statistic if they wish to prevail against the formidable Eagles defense. Without a reliable run game, the Chiefs could find themselves in deeper trouble against Philadelphia, who’ll be eager to assert their dominance once again.

Speaking of the Eagles, they have been on a bit of a break since their narrow 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener, allowing them extra time to prepare for this high-stakes rematch. Hurts had a quiet passing performance in that game, only managing 152 yards, but he made up for it with his impressive rushing skills – recording 62 yards on the ground along with two rushing touchdowns. This dual-threat capability makes Hurts an evergreen challenge for opposing defenses, particularly the Chiefs, who will need to strategize how best to contain him.

On the defensive side, the Eagles did face some hurdles in their last game, allowing more total yards than they gained, a statistic that would make any coach uneasy. Adding to the challenge, star defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected early for unsportsmanlike conduct and subsequently missed the rest of the game. However, he’ll rejoin the lineup this week, and his presence will be crucial against a Chiefs team looking to establish a productive ground attack. Additionally, discipline will be a focal point for the Eagles, who amassed nine penalties for 110 yards against Dallas, a situation they will aim to rectify moving forward.