The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20-17 in a Super Bowl rematch, capitalizing on a critical Travis Kelce drop that led to a fourth-quarter interception.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs’ season got off to a rocky start Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium, falling 20-17 to the Philadelphia Eagles in a dramatic rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.

The loss dropped the Chiefs to 0-2 for the first time since 2014, sending shockwaves through a fan base still celebrating the team’s past successes.

Travis Kelce’s costly drop late in the fourth quarter, which led to an interception by Eagles defensive back Andrew Mukuba, proved to be the pivotal moment. Among the crowd watching was Kelce’s fiancée, pop superstar Taylor Swift, who quietly witnessed the setback.

Philadelphia, who won Super Bowl LVIII against the Chiefs just over seven months ago, demonstrated once again that their combination of opportunistic defense and timely offense can frustrate even the league’s most dynamic teams.

Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley each had critical touchdown runs, while Andrew Mukuba’s fourth-quarter interception sealed the win.

“Our job, especially early in the season, is to find a way to win,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said after the game.

“Take pride in winning any way you possibly can, work to get better throughout the week, and repeat. Coming off a season like last year, there’s an expectation you’re going to pick up where you left off. There are steps to this.”

The Eagles (2-0) appear well on their way to sustaining that momentum. They have now won seven straight games and are 17-1 in their last 18 matchups.

The team also extended its regular-season dominance over Kansas City, winning three straight against the Chiefs following last year’s Super Bowl defeat.

Hurts had a modest 101 passing yards but showed poise in key moments, while Barkley was held to 88 yards on the ground by the Chiefs’ defense.

The Eagles’ defense, however, limited Kansas City to 294 total yards, recorded a critical stop on fourth down, and capitalized on the only turnover of the game at a crucial juncture.

“Take pride in winning, one, and take pride in what is required of you, two,” Hurts said. “The team defensively played lights-out. Offensively we played well when we needed to. We just need to continue to build.”

For the Chiefs, the absence of wide receivers Rashee Rice (suspended) and Xavier Worthy (injured) was acutely felt.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes managed 187 yards passing and a rushing touchdown, but the lack of reliable targets left him struggling to move the chains consistently.

“It’s on me,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid admitted. “I’ll take full responsibility for that game.” The 0-2 start mirrors the early struggles of Reid’s second season in Kansas City, the last time the Chiefs missed the playoffs.

The game itself saw early action from both sides. Barkley struck first with a 13-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. Harrison Butker, redeeming an earlier missed field goal, added three points for the Chiefs.

Kansas City regained momentum when Mahomes, demonstrating his trademark improvisation, bulldozed through a pair of defenders and scrambled 13 yards for a touchdown to briefly take the lead.

Philadelphia kicker Jake Elliott tied the game with a 58-yard field goal before halftime, adding another 51-yarder early in the third quarter after Kansas City failed on a critical fourth-and-1 conversion attempt with Kareem Hunt.

The game remained tight at 13-10 until the fourth quarter.

After Hunt successfully converted a fourth-and-1 at the Eagles’ 13-yard line, Mahomes threw a pass to Kelce that bounced off the star tight end’s hands, landing in Mukuba’s possession for an interception. Swift, attending the game, witnessed the heartbreaking moment firsthand.

“I threw it a tad too early,” Mahomes said afterward. “If I could put it on his body, he can catch it, take the hit, and get into the end zone.” The Eagles, taking advantage, marched 59 yards in ten plays, with Hurts powering across on a fourth-and-goal “tush push” to make it 20-10.

Kansas City’s late attempt to rally included a 49-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to Tyquan Thornton with just over three minutes remaining, but the Chiefs were unable to recover the onside kick, and Philadelphia ran out the clock.

The loss marked the Chiefs’ first home defeat since Dec. 25, 2023, adding pressure to an offense that now must regroup quickly.

Off the field, the game drew attention for Swift’s presence. The pop icon has been a consistent figure at Chiefs games since 2023, and her engagement to Kelce, announced in August 2025, added a high-profile dimension to the matchup.

In a pregame interview with Fox, Kelce had spoken about how Swift has positively influenced his life, calling her “a big reason I’ve grown as a person.”

Meanwhile, social media and fans buzzed over former NFL star Rob Gronkowski’s candid critique of the Chiefs, remarking, “They’re gonna fold” after the loss.

While harsh, the commentary highlights the pressure building around a team with Super Bowl aspirations but now facing early-season adversity.

Sunday’s game also underscored the significance of Super Bowl rematches during the regular season. This was the 11th such rematch, with the defending champion winning eight times.

Philadelphia’s continued dominance over Kansas City in these high-profile encounters raises questions about the Chiefs’ ability to adjust to teams that already have their number.

Hurts emphasized the importance of focus and patience. “That’s a really good team. We have a ton of respect for them. You have to come in with a sense of focus.

Stay patient with yourself. Stay patient with your team. And as a team, we showed up when we needed to the most,” he said.

For the Chiefs, the road ahead is now even more critical. With injuries and suspensions limiting their offensive weapons, Mahomes and Kelce will need to find chemistry quickly to prevent an early-season slump from defining the rest of their campaign.

The 0-2 start may be a setback, but if history is any guide, Kansas City’s resilience under Reid can never be counted out — though Sunday proved that even elite teams can stumble, sometimes spectacularly, when key plays slip through their fingers.

As the season progresses, all eyes will remain on Arrowhead Stadium — and the stands will no doubt continue to include some very high-profile fans.