Chiefs Enter Week 2 as Rare Home Underdogs with Patrick Mahomes Leading the Charge
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has only twice in his home career entered a game as an underdog, with the upcoming matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles marking just the second time. The Chiefs are 1.5-point underdogs at home this Sunday, a significant deviation from their usual favored status under Mahomes.
Mahomes has started 68 home games for the Chiefs, and prior to this week, he was an underdog just once. That previous instance came during Week 6 of the 2022 season when the Chiefs were 2.5-point home underdogs to the Buffalo Bills and lost 24-20. Since Mahomes became the franchise cornerstone, Kansas City has consistently been among the NFL’s elite teams, regularly favored to win at home, which makes this rare underdog placement notable.
The recent history between these two teams further explains the odds. The Eagles decisively defeated the Chiefs in the previous season’s Super Bowl with a commanding 40-22 score and also topped Kansas City in their opening week matchup. The Chiefs, coming off an opening game loss, find themselves in a challenging position where a second loss would mark the first time Mahomes begins a season 0-2 as a starter.
Despite the Eagles’ favored status and their strong defensive unit, many experts remain confident in Mahomes’ ability to lead the Chiefs to an upset. Senior NFL analyst Frank Schwab emphasized that historically, questioning Mahomes at tough moments rarely pays off, noting the Chiefs’ offense may be banged up but is still led by one of the game’s greatest talents. The Eagles, while fielding an aggressive defense and enjoying an extra day of rest, have experienced roster changes including the departure of key defensive players since the Super Bowl.
The betting trends also reflect the anomaly; the Chiefs are 6-2-1 against the spread (ATS) in games where Mahomes starts, yet this is only the second time they’ve been a home underdog during his tenure. This matchup is highly anticipated, as it represents both a test of resilience for the Chiefs and a deeper challenge to the Eagles’ superiority established last season.
Sunday’s game kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FOX and WDAF Channel 4, providing fans nationwide a chance to watch a potentially pivotal moment in the Chiefs’ 2025 season.