Hanging tough

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) gets a push from behind from Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra (81) agains the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

While last Sunday’s win against the Kansas City Chiefs won’t make anyone forget Super Bowl LIX, the Philadelphia Eagles did what they needed to do.

By Chris Murray

For the Philadelphia Sunday SUN

As the Philadelphia Eagles ready themselves for yet another rematch from last year’s postseason when they take on Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, I have to talk about the toughness I saw from the team in their Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Still smarting from the 40-22 shellacking they took at the hands of the Birds in Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs had all the psychological advantages to exact revenge against the Eagles in their 2025 home opener.

On defense, the Chiefs threw every blitz at Jalen Hurts and just about the entire defense at running back Saquon Barkley.

On the one hand, they had some success.

The Chiefs defense sacked Hurts twice and kept Barkley to under 100 yards the way they did in the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes had a rushing touchdown and a fourth quarter touchdown pass. He connected with tight end Travis Kelce four times for 61 yards.

But, for all the loud noise from the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium and Steve Spagnola’s blitzes, the result was the same as last February — an Eagles victory.

The Birds 20-17 win wasn’t as dominant as their performance in New Orleans, but it showed the Eagles resilience and toughness in the face of hostile environment and a team hell-bent on revenge.

“I think that the most important thing is finding a way to win,” Hurts said after last Sunday’s win over the Chiefs. “I think as a team, we showed up when we needed to the most.”’’

While Hurts and Barkley didn’t put up big numbers, they both made plays when the Eagles needed them. Barkley gained 88 yards, including a 13-yard run to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. But, it was a nine-yard on first down on the Birds’ last possession that made it easier for Hurts to use a one-yard “tush-push” run to run out the clock.

In the passing game, Hurts completed 15-of-22 passes for 101 yards. While the passing numbers aren’t glamorous, Hurts did make one big play in the passing game that was a crucial to the outcome of the game.

On the ensuing drive after an Eagles interception, Hurts and the Birds faced a third and 10 from the Kansas City 31. In the face of another ferocious Chief’s blitz, Hurts hit wide receiver Devonta Smith for a 28-yard gain to Kansas City three-yard line. Two plays later, Hurts scored on a one-yard touchdown, courtesy of the “tush-push.”

That Eagles touchdown drive was set up by Andrew Mukuba’s interception in the end zone. Mahomes found a wide-open Kelce in the end zone, but the ball caromed off his hands and into Mukuba’s, who then returned the ball to the Eagles 41-yard line.

“It was a changing point of the game, but that’s what we needed as a team to finish the game out,” Mukuba said.

It was a turning point of the game for the Birds because it set up the drive that gave the Eagles a 10-point lead that put them ahead for good. After the Chiefs cut the lead down to three points on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to wide receiver Tyquan Thornton with three minutes left in the game, the Birds offense got the ball back and ran out the clock.

Wearing the crown as the defending Super Bowl champs is not going to be an easy thing for the Eagles, because every team on their schedule are going to give them a hard way to go. In the first two games of this season, the Birds have managed to find a way to win, despite the best efforts of both the Chiefs and the Dallas.

“You submit yourself to team football and whatever it takes. That’s the mindset that we have,” Barkley said. “We always talking to each other. Defense making plays, saying we got you. Defense (gives up a big play), we know we gotta have one. Special teams coming big. We do it in all three phases.”

But that’s what champions do.

The Rams will challenge the Eagles ability to do whatever it takes to keep winning when they come to the Linc on Sunday at 1. You can catch the game on Fox 29.