Eagles-Chiefs scouting report

Recent history: The Eagles defeated the Chiefs, 37-31, on Oct. 2, 2005. They lead the series, 3-2.

Eagles: 365 yards a game (10th)

Chiefs: 298.5 yards a game (25th)

Eagles: With a bye week coming up, it's likely Andy Reid will give Donovan McNabb's fractured rib another week to heal and start Kevin Kolb. While he made some costly mistakes vs. the Saints, he also averaged 7.7 yards per attempt. With Michael Vick expected to be activated, look for another heavy dose of the Wildcat.

Chiefs: Matt Cassel is better suited to be a backup than a take-you-where-you-want-to-go starter. He has good size and a strong arm, but is indecisive and holds on to the ball too long. He was sacked an NFL-worst once every 11 attempts last year after replacing Tom Brady in New England.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: With Brian Westbrook nursing a sore ankle, rookie LeSean McCoy's touches likely will be increased. McCoy has many of the same skill sets as Westbrook, but needs to focus better on ball security. Westbrook has yet to regain his explosiveness. Just four of his 26 carries have been for more than 5 yards.

Chiefs: Larry Johnson has lost some weight, but isn't any quicker. He's still a north-south power runner who gains most of his yards because of his strength. He seldom is on the field on third down because he's not a very good blocker and no better than an adequate receiver.

PICK: EVEN

Eagles: With defenses forced to double-team or bracket WR DeSean Jackson on the outside, it's opened up things for TE Brent Celek and slot receiver Jason Avant. The pair combined for 22 catches in the first two games. Jackson is averaging 18.3 yards per catch and 9.6 yards per carry.

Chiefs: WR Dwayne Bowe is big, strong and athletic. He'll drop some balls, but also will make big plays. He has scored two of the Chiefs' three offensive TDs. Rest of the wideouts are just average. Offseason trade of TE Tony Gonzalez has left a huge void in the offense that no one is capable of filling.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: With RG Stacy Andrews battling post-ACL-surgery leg fatigue, this unit now finds itself without three of what was supposed to be its five starters. Complicating matters this week will be the never-easy challenge of going up against a 3-4 scheme. C Jamaal Jackson will be tested by Chiefs NT Tank Tyler.

Chiefs: Guards Brian Waters and Mike Goff both are at the tail ends of their careers. Waters has a little bit more left than Goff, who is toast. Second-year LT Branden Albert isn't playing nearly as well as he did as a rookie. He had two false starts and a holding penalty in last week's loss to the Raiders.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: 295 yards a game (8th)

Chiefs: 333.5 yards a game (18th)

Eagles: Unlike Drew Brees, Chiefs QB Matt Cassel doesn't get the ball out very quickly, which should increase this unit's sack chances. DTs Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson will play major roles in clogging the middle and not allowing power-running Larry Johnson to get a head of steam.

Chiefs: DE Tyson Jackson was a reach with the third overall pick in the draft and isn't really suited for a 3-4 scheme. He has one tackle in two games. The other two d-linemen, though – DE Glenn Dorsey and NT Tank Tyler - have taken to it seamlessly. Tyler had eight tackles vs. Oakland and has great size and strength.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: Matt Cassel doesn't throw much to his TE (two catches in the first 2 games) but does like to throw underneath to his RBs and WRs. The d-line needs to do a better job of limiting yards-after-the-catch than it did vs. Saints. WLB Akeem Jordan already has 2 interceptions.

Chiefs: OLB Tamba Hali has been productive as a standup rusher, but still is learning how to play the position as far as coverage and playing the run. Mike Vrabel makes plays on savvy and experience, but his age (34) shows vs. good skill players. ILBs Corey Mays and Demorrio Williams are basically special-teams guys.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: Matt Cassel doesn't present anywhere near the challenge to the back end of the defense that Drew Brees did last week, and neither does the Chiefs' receiving corps. If the Eagles can put Cassel in obvious passing situations, this unit should get interception opportunities.

Chiefs: Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr and nickel man Maurice Legette are three good, young corners. All are instinctive and football smart. FS Jarrad Page is an inconsistent tackler in space, but is good to the ball. Cutting hard-hitting SS Bernard Pollard and replacing him with over-the-hill Mike Brown made no sense.

PICK: EAGLES

Eagles: Eagles committed five special-teams penalties last week. That was largely responsible for the Eagles' frequent poor field position. Coverage units have done a pretty good job so far. KR Ellis Hobbs is averaging 24.9 yards per attempt, but had a costly fumble last week that set up a Saints touchdown.

Chiefs: Chiefs' coverage teams have been one of the few bright spots in an 0-2 start. They haven't allowed a PR longer than 7 yards or a KR longer than 25. PK Ryan Succop has a strong leg, but wasn't very accurate at South Carolina. P Dustin Colquitt is one of the league's top punters. He's averaging 46.4 yards.

PICK: EAGLES

Hot:

Eagles: TE Brent Celek. Has 14 catches in the first two games and 33 in his last five.

Chiefs: WR Dwayne Bowe. Has nine catches and two of his team's three offensive touchdowns.

Not:

Eagles: FB Leonard Weaver. Has just two touches in two games and dropped a potential touchdown pass vs. Saints.

Chiefs: RB Larry Johnson. Is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry and has zero touchdowns.

1. Eagles C Jamaal Jackson vs. Chiefs NT Tank Tyler: Tyler has made a smooth transition from 4-3 DT to 3-4 NT. His size and strength are going to be problematic for Jackson. EDGE: CHIEFS

2. Eagles DTs Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson vs. Chiefs RB Larry Johnson: Johnson is a straight-ahead power runner. Bunkley and Patterson have developed into a solid interior run-stopping tandem. EDGE: EAGLES

3. Eagles RDE Trent Cole vs. Chiefs LT Branden Albert: Cole has had a sack in each of the first two games. Albert, an 2008 first-round pick, seems to have regressed in his development. EDGE: EAGLES

Eagles 24, Chiefs 10