Five things the KC Chiefs must do to beat the Philadelphia Eagles

3. Give Patrick Mahomes time

Like every quarterback in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes is better when he doesn't have pressure in his face. The Eagles, similar to last year, have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL and it is a well-rounded unit that can generate pressure consistently from the interior and off the edge. Jalen Carter is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL even as a rookie, Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat are a great duo off the edge, and Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox still have juice despite being well into their 30s.

When Mahomes is kept clean, his passer rating skyrockets from 55.8 to 114.7 and his turnover-worthy play rate decreases from 5.5% to 2.0%, according to Pro Football Focus ($). He and the Kansas City offense are much better when he's not under pressure.

Although the Eagles' pass rush is awesome, so is the Chiefs' offensive line. The tackles can be shaky at times but have been very good over the past couple of games. Part of ensuring that Mahomes isn't pressured is the receivers getting separation to prevent him from being forced to hold the ball. If Patrick Mahomes is not under constant duress, that will allow him more time to sit in the pocket and dice up an underwhelming Philadelphia secondary.

Speaking of the Eagles secondary...