The Kansas City Chiefs on Monday were shut out in the second half for the third consecutive game, this time by the Philadelphia Eagles in their highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch, allowing Jalen Hurts’ team to rally from a 10-point deficit for a 21-17 victory at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs have scored an NFL-worst 53 points in the second half of games this season, which equates to just over five per game, and they sure could have used that measly total against the Eagles.
Instead, they got none.
Photo: Denny Medley-USA TODAY
Whether it was penalties, red-zone turnovers or two dropped passes in the closing minutes, the Chiefs (7-3) made the kind of mistakes on offense that have been rare since Andy Reid — who had never lost in four attempts against his former team — took over as their coach in 2013 and Patrick Mahomes began his prolific career as their starting quarterback in 2018.
“All season long we haven’t played good football in the second half,” Mahomes said. “We’ve got to continue to work. Obviously, we had a pretty good first half running the football, but we’ve got to find ways to finish games offensively.”
Mahomes was held to 177 yards with two touchdowns and a pick in the end zone. Travis Kelce was his top target, catching seven passes for 44 yards and a score, but he likewise turned the ball over in the red zone with a fourth-quarter fumble.
“Just not playing up to the level I have in the past,” Kelce said afterward. “I’ve got to be better.”
Had he held onto the ball, the Chiefs could have turned a 17-14 lead into a two-possession game. Instead, the Eagles went 80 yards the other way and Hurts tush-pushed his way for the go-ahead touchdown with about six minutes to go.
The Chiefs had one last chance with the ball at their own 9-yard line and 2 minutes, 49 seconds left, but Mahomes’ ball to Marquez Valdes-Scantling went right through the wide receiver’s hands.
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