‘MNF’ preview: Can Eagles avenge Super Bowl loss in Kansas City?

The Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) intention to avenge their Tremendous Bowl LVII loss as they face the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (7-2) on “Monday Night time Soccer” in a matchup that might decide who wins this season’s MVP award.

The tv broadcast will certainly give us a glimpse of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s parents meeting each other, however here is what to look at for when Philadelphia and Kansas Metropolis are on offense. 

When the Eagles are on offense 

QB Jalen Hurts’s MVP case: In response to oddschecker, Hurts, the runner-up for final season’s MVP, is listed because the slight favourite to take residence the award this time round (+280). By means of 9 video games, Hurts has amassed 2,663 yards of whole offense and 22 touchdowns however has gained most of his yards via the air fairly than speeding on non-QB sneaks.

Nonetheless, contemplating how efficient Hurts was on the bottom in Tremendous Bowl LVII (70 yards and three touchdowns), maybe OC Brian Johnson could have his quarterback use his legs extra in opposition to the Chiefs. 

Can the Chiefs secondary maintain WR A.J. Brown in verify?: The most important cause why Hurts is on observe to set a career-high in passing yards per sport (260.5) has been the distinctive efficiency of Brown. The 2-time Professional Bowler has elevated his sport to a different degree in his second season with the Eagles, rating fourth in receiving yards (1,005) and ninth in receptions (67).

Final month, Brown broke Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Calvin Johnson’s NFL report for consecutive video games with 125-plus receiving yards (six), and is searching for the same outing on Monday after his streak snapped in his final sport. Even so, the Chiefs protection might current one of many hardest matchups of the season for Brown, because the unit permits the third-fewest passing yards within the NFL (1,757). 

Will the Chiefs stand up to the “Brotherly Shove”?: Stopping Brown will not be simple, however shutting down Philadelphia’s progressive rugby-style model of the quarterback sneak might show to be a fair larger problem. The “tush push” or “Brotherly Shove” has prompted fairly a stir because the Eagles carried out it into their playbook final season. Philadelphia has gotten a primary down or scored a landing on roughly 90% of its makes an attempt because the play’s inception whereas a number of different groups have struggled to execute it.

Regardless of the play’s excessive success price, Chiefs defensive deal with Chris Jones revealed he is been given recommendations on find out how to counter it throughout an look on “The Wealthy Eisen Present” final week. 

“We received a plan for it,” Jones stated, through Sports activities Illustrated. “We’re going to look at just a few rugby video games. I received a rugby good friend, I can’t disclose his identify, however I received a rugby good friend who’s been telling me just a few little tips on what I might do to cease this.”

This battle could possibly be determined within the trenches: Finally, this matchup could possibly be settled by how the stout Eagles offensive line, which ranks second in Professional Soccer Focus’s pass-blocking effectivity metric (90.3), handles the stress the Chiefs will often carry. Coming into Week 11, Steve Spagnuolo’s protection is second in stress price (28.2%), third in sacks (31) and sixth in blitz share (33.7%). 

When the Chiefs are on offense 

QB Patrick Mahomes’ MVP case: The 2-time Tremendous Bowl champion is making a compelling case to win his second consecutive MVP Award and turn into the seventh participant in NFL historical past to obtain the honour thrice. Mahomes, who has the second-shortest odds for MVP (+330), is averaging the sixth-most passing yards per sport this season (271.3) and eighth in landing passes (17).

The previous two video games have been disappointing for Mahomes, which is among the the reason why he is not at the moment the MVP front-runner. Over that stretch he has thrown for 425 yards and two touchdowns whereas turning the ball over 4 occasions. With a extra favorable matchup on deck, Mahomes is well-positioned to rebound and doubtlessly take the lead within the MVP race. 

TE Travis Kelce’s stunning splits: It is unclear whether or not Swift will accompany her dad and mom to Arrowhead Stadium, but when the worldwide celebrity is in attendance, it could bode effectively for Kelce. The 34-year-old is averaging 8.5 receptions and 108 yards throughout the 4 video games Swift has attended this season as in comparison with 3.5 receptions and 41.3 yards over the video games she has missed. 

Eagles run protection: Whereas Philadelphia does not have as imposing a cross rush as final season, its run protection is among the finest within the league, largely as a result of emergence of DTs Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. The rookie Carter has been significantly dominant to begin his profession, as he’s rated because the second-best inside defender within the NFL (90.6), per PFF. The Eagles have allowed the fewest speeding yards (597) and the third-fewest yards per carry this season (3.7), which might recommend the Chiefs will not be counting on their floor sport an excessive amount of.

Lackluster receiving corps vs. subpar secondary: Final season, Philadelphia boasted one of many prime secondaries within the NFL, permitting solely 3,548 passing yards, the fifth-fewest within the league, and whereas most of its items have returned this season, the outcomes have been drastically totally different. Accidents piled up for the protection early on, however the Eagles have nonetheless been weak within the passing sport. Solely the Los Angeles Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers permit extra passing yards per sport than the Eagles (279).

If Philadelphia can comprise Kelce, the could possibly be in luck given how questionable the Chiefs’ weapons are exterior of their future Corridor of Fame tight finish. Rookie second-round choose Rashee Rice is the crew’s second-leading receiver this season (378 yards), and no Chief, apart from him and Kelce, has amassed even 280 receiving yards this season.