Ex-NFL QB Throws Patrick Mahomes’ Offense Under the Bus as Andy Reid Loses 3 Key Starts

Kurt Warner chuckled, leaning back in his chair on The Rich Eisen Show, as the Hall of Famer revisited his 1999 Sports Illustrated cover—the one that famously asked, “Who is this guy?” “I liked it,” Warner grinned, his Midwestern charm dialed to 11. “That was the story—some nobody stocking groceries in Iowa suddenly slinging touchdowns? C’mon, that’s straight outta Rocky.”

Fast-forward 25 years, and Warner’s still answering questions—this time about why Patrick Mahomes looked more lost than Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister during Super Bowl LIX. Let’s rewind to Sunday night. Philly’s defense treated Mahomes like a piñata, racking up 6 sacks and forcing 3 turnovers, including rookie Cooper DeJean’s 38-yard pick-six that had Chiefs fans muttering, “Cool.” (shoutout Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

The Eagles’ feast

Talking about the Chiefs offense in the SB LIX, Warner mused, “Well, I think it was very early in the game. Just kind of watching the approach that they had and looking at Patrick—he didn’t look to be on his game. He was missing things that he normally hits. And then, in the back of my mind, I felt like it could go this way to some degree.”  If you’re Pat, you’re thinking, ‘This is easy mode!’ But KC’s game plan? Awful. No quick throws, and no screens. Just Mahomes running for his life like Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible. The result? A 40-22 Eagles win—Philly’s second ring—with Jalen Hurts snagging MVP honors (17/22, 221 yards, 2 TDs, 72 rush yards, 1 TD).

Kurt Warner didn’t stop there. Explaining the Eagles’ approach, he added, “Well, it shouldn’t mess with them at all. I mean, if that happens, especially with what Philly likes to do—you know, they like to play what we call “quarters coverage” or Cover 4, four deep, three under, and then rush four guys—going into this game, I would’ve been licking my chops, thinking, “I love playing against Cover 4.”

But Warner, the ultimate underdog-turned-analyst, couldn’t hide his bafflement.  “There are so many ways to attack it. But, when I came out and saw the Chiefs’ game plan, assuming the Eagles would play a lot of Cover 4, I wasn’t a big fan of that.” Mahomes, despite scrambling like a TikTok trend, managed 3 TDs but threw 2 INTs and took enough hits to make a WWE wrestler wince. “Philly’s front four were relentless. But this loss? It’s on KC’s coaches. You don’t get out schemed that badly unless you’re trying to reinvent the wheel,” Warner added.

The chat pivoted when Eisen name-dropped Oelwein, Iowa (pop: 9,855), home of Eagles rookie DeJean. “No clue where that is,” Warner laughed, “but shoutout to Iowa—we grow QBs and corn!” DeJean’s pick-six wasn’t just a highlight; it was a mic drop. “Kid’s got it,” Warner nodded. “Philly’s defense? They’re the new ’85 Bears—if the ’85 Bears had TikTok dances.”

Reflectin’ on his own journey from stocking groceries in Iowa to gracin’ SI covers, Warner’s narrative is as inspirational as it is candid. “That was the story I got to tell throughout that whole first season—who I was, what I was all about,” now even as the Eagles clinched a 40-22 win—with Jalen Hurts throwin’ 17/22 for 221 yards, 2 TDs, and rushin’ for 72 yards and a TD.

Warner’s insights cut through the postgame fog like a crisp Midwest breeze. “I always welcome the blitz because, while it’s feast or famine, if a team plays basic Cover 4 most of the game, I’m not worried. I’d be thinking, “This is going to be awesome.” We’ll have a chance for a lot of success against this team, even though they’ve got a really good front four. There’s a lot of ways to neutralize that by attacking the underneath zones of the field.” but to our dismay, it wasn’t very awesome for Mahomes and the Chiefs.

He sums it up: the Chiefs’ failure to mix up their offensive plays and counter the relentless Philly front was the crux of their woes. “They didn’t attack the defense the right way,” he notes, his words carrying both the sting of disappointment and the wisdom of a seasoned vet. This ain’t just a recap—it’s a story of grit, strategy, and the unpredictable nature of the NFL.

Rebuilding the Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs’ kingdom

Meanwhile, over in Kansas City, Coach Andy Reid’s empire—boasting an impressive 301-163 record (130-93-1 with Philly and 143-53 with KC in the regular season, plus postseason wins tallying 10-9 and 18-7 respectively, and crowned by 3 SB rings including the epic 25-22 OT win in SB LVIII)—faces a fresh challenge. After a rough SB loss that left him confessin’, “This one’s gonna hurt. Today was a rough day. We didn’t really play well in any of the phases. I didn’t coach good enough. They did a nice job,”

Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offseason blues. After the confetti settled, Andy Reid’s empire started shedding bricks. Perhaps, three depth players—CB Nic Jones (Giants), WR Montrell Washington (Giants), and LB Swayze Bozeman (Bears)—bounced. One insider shrugged, “These guys were practice squad heroes.”  Jones? 4 tackles in 9 games. Washington? A 7.6-yard punt return avg. Bozeman? 3 tackles in 3 games. Reid’s response? “Let it hurt. Then get better.” Classic Coach Speak.

“…I’m proud of our guys,” Reid insisted. Hence splitting his longer rallying cry to emphasize that, even at 300 wins, every setback is a chance to evolve. In true Reid fashion, with his signature walrus ‘stache and unwavering passion, he’s ready to rally the troops. Because in the NFL, even a near-kingdom gets rebuilt one play at a time. As Warner said “They got great pressure. But, again, they weren’t attacking the defense the right way. That’s what really surprised me. If you had told me a team was going to play Cover 4 all day long, I could think of 10 plays right now that I would run numerous times in the game—quick, underneath throws to neutralize their front. It just didn’t happen in this game.”

And losing even benchwarmers stings when you’re chasing history. Warner joked, “This isn’t Remember the Titans. It’s a reload, not a rebuild.” Still, with Patrick Mahomes under center and Reid’s walrus ‘stache calling shots, KC’s throne isn’t crumbling—yet. As Warner would say: “The road to dreams has detours.” Even if one’s paved with Philly cheesesteaks.