Chiefs vs. Eagles, Week 11 preview
The Super Bowl 57 rematch is here! Check our notes and picks for the week.
This Monday night, the AFC’s best team — the Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) — takes on the NFC’s best team — the Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) — in a rematch of the most recent Super Bowl. Has there ever been a more anticipated Monday Night Football game in history?
Key game details
Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
Date: Monday, Nov. 20
Time: 7:15 p.m. CT
Network/streaming: ABC, ESPN, ESPN+
Radio: 106.5 The Wolf, Chiefs mobile app
Broadcasters: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Referee: Shawn Smith
Betting line via DraftKings: Chiefs -3 (-102), ML -148
Weather: Approx. 45°, cloudy, 15 mph winds, chance of rain 37%
Injury reports from Thursday
Chiefs
Did not practice: None
Limited participants: None
Full participants: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness), WR Richie James (knee), RB Jerick McKinnon (groin), S Justin Reid (calf), CB L'Jarius Sneed (knee), WR Kadarius Toney (ankle), P Tommy Townsend (wrist), LB Drue Tranquill (shoulder), WR Justin Watson (elbow)
Game designations: Will release Saturday afternoon
The Chiefs were able to get healthy during the Week 10 bye, with the whole team practicing in full capacity Thursday. The game designations won’t be released until Saturday this week, but it’s looking like the Chiefs won’t have any, barring any setbacks.
Eagles
Did not practice: TE Dallas Goedert (forearm)
Limited participants: S Justin Evans (knee)
Full participants: TE Grant Calcaterra (concussion), OG Cam Jurgens (foot), CB Bradley Roby (shoulder)
Game designations: Will release Saturday afternoon
Goedert isn’t expected to play in Week 11 after having surgery on his injured forearm. That’s a sizable blow for the Eagles’ offense which has relied on Goedert to be one of their most consistent playmakers for the last six seasons.
Notable Chiefs storylines for Week 11
Super Bowl rematch
Of course, the rematch of Super Bowl 57 is the biggest storyline heading into this game. The Chiefs’ 38-35 win over Philadelphia in February was a classic, even if a sector of fans (wrongfully) question a holding call near the end of the game. Maybe this game is a chance for the Chiefs to prove themselves and show that their Super Bowl win wasn’t a fluke.
Kelce vs. Kelce (again), plus Swift in the house
We love a good matchup between the Kelce Bros. — Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Eagles center Jason Kelce. Mama (Donna) and Papa (Ed) Kelce will surely be in the house, as will megastar Taylor Swift, which means a wholesome family gathering is in store for fans who eat up that sort of thing.
WR Kadarius Toney’s workload
Coach Andy Reid recently noted that receiver Kadarius Toney has been on sort of a pitch count this season due to his nagging injuries: “I just want to remind everyone that he did have knee surgery,” Reid said. “So we’re taking it easy with him up to this point.” One could choose to read too far into the “up to this point” comment and wonder whether Toney will receive more of a workload now that we’re in the back half of the Chiefs’ (rather tough) schedule.
Chiefs-Eagles best bets
Two weeks ago, Charles hit on the Chiefs’ moneyline against the Miami Dolphins. However, he unfortunately missed on the Tyreek Hill anytime touchdown and the Travis Kelce over 78.5 receiving yards bets. Those seemed like no-brainers at the time, so it just shows how volatile these bets can be.
TE Travis Kelce anytime TD (-120)
Kelce only has one touchdown in his last four games, but this feels like one of those old-school, water-cooler “he’s due” bets. If you need a football reason to make this bet, consider that Kelce had a good game vs. the Eagles in the Super Bowl with 81 yards and a score, and that he tends to show up big during pivotal games like this one. Plus, the Eagles have allowed five touchdowns to tight ends this year, tied for third with multiple teams.
WR A.J. Brown anytime TD (+135)
Getting plus odds on this seems like a steal. Brown has four scores in his last three games and is overwhelmingly QB Jalen Hurts’ favorite target — he has 32 more targets than the next guy (WR DeVonta Smith) on their team. Hurts will continue to lean on Brown heavily this week.
WR Rashee Rice over 42.5 receiving yards (-115)
I know I’ve been smashing the Rice overs lately, but it’s for good reason. Rice is Mahomes’ top target not named Kelce and is going against an Eagles defense allowing the fifth-most receiving yards per game. They’re also susceptible to receivers in the slot where Rice plays often and thrives. 43 yards seems doable for Rice, who has hit that mark in three of his last four games.
Dark horse bet: RB Isiah Pacheco first TD scorer (+650)
This one is a long shot, but running back Isiah Pacheco has scored the game’s first touchdown in two of nine contests this season, or 22.2 percent. That doesn’t seem high, but he’s the only player on either team to have multiple first TDs this season. For those not feeling this risky bet, there’s always the Pacheco anytime TD at +110.
Chiefs-Eagles matchup history
The Chiefs lead the all-time series over the Eagles 6-4 dating back to 1972. Kansas City has won four straight games against Philly, with all four wins coming during the Andy Reid era in K.C. Needless to say, Reid always brings the goods against his former squad.
The last time the Chiefs and Eagles played…
Was, of course, Super Bowl 57 on Feb. 12, 2023. The Chiefs won 38-35 in an entertaining offensive affair. K.C. trailed 24-14 at halftime, but a second-half effort that saw WRs Skyy Moore and Toney each score touchdowns helped the Chiefs take the lead. A 27-yard field goal by Harrison Butker iced the game for K.C. in the fourth quarter.
The best Chiefs-Eagles game ever was…
Well, the Super Bowl, duh. There have been some good ones outside of that, too. One of the more memorable games was actually a tough one to swallow for Chiefs fans — an Andy Reid-coached Eagles team came back down 17-0 against the Dick Vermeil-coached Chiefs and ended up winning 37-31 on Oct. 2, 2005.
Pro Football Hall of Fame WR Terrell Owens absolutely shredded the Chiefs’ defense that day with 171 yards and a score. It was a shame the Chiefs lost because it was a great game for Chiefs great WR Eddie Kennison who had 109 yards and a touchdown, plus Chiefs Hall of Fame returner Dante Hall earned a kickoff return touchdown.
Chiefs-Eagles prediction, picks
I’ve gone back and forth with this game, which has been tough to predict. I don’t think the Eagles’ defense is as good as it was in the Super Bowl — especially its passing defense — which is great news for the Chiefs. However, the Chiefs’ offense is clearly not as good either, which evens the playing field.
Will the Chiefs beat the Eagles?
Ultimately, I do think the Chiefs will win, but this time it will be because of their defense which definitely has a score to settle. The Eagles scored at will on the K.C. defense in February. Things will be different in this matchup, which should have less scoring than the last bout.
Will the Chiefs cover the spread?
The three-point spread isn’t a big one, but I have the Chiefs winning by three so I think it’ll be a push. It’s worth noting that the Chiefs are 6-3 against the spread this season while Philly is 5-2-2.
Wes’ pick: Chiefs 24, Eagles 21
