Chiefs vs. Jaguars: Key matchups to watch for Week 2

The Kansas City Chiefs will be making their first road trip of the season. A familiar AFC opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars, are hosting the defending Super Bowl champions for what is expected to be an exciting AFC playoff rematch Sunday at 12:00 pm CT.

The Chiefs are bringing a sense of urgency after falling in the season opener. Jacksonville wants to prove that they are ready to make another leap toward being a contender.

Here are a few key matchups that will determine who is triumphant in this Week 2 showdown.

1. Andy Reid vs Doug Pederson

Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid and Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson have been connected to each other since 1996 in the NFL. Reid was an assistant coach for the Green Bay Packers. Pederson was a quarterback at the time for Green Bay behind Brett Favre. That same year the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI. Their relationship grew as Reid became the Packers quarterbacks coach. When Andy Reid got his first head coaching opportunity with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999, Doug Pederson joined as the starting quarterback until Donovan McNabb became the eventual starter. 

Pederson got his first NFL coaching experience in Philadelphia under Reid in 2009. Andy Reid brought Doug Pederson to Kansas City in 2013 as his offensive coordinator. Pederson then got his own head coaching opportunity in 2016. Since departing from Andy Reid’s tutelage, Pederson has been on the losing side (0-3) each time their teams have met. The latest matchup was in the 2022 playoffs when Kansas City defeated the Jaguars 27-20. 

Both of these head coaches and their philosophies have the same nucleus. Reid is still the Jedi Master and Pederson is the Padawan. Each of them is a Super Bowl-winning head coach in the NFL. The Jaguars have added offensive firepower and have a young, talented quarterback who operates Pederson’s system exceptionally well. 

Can Andy Reid’s Chiefs remain undefeated when coaching against Doug Pederson?