Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who has his team rolling with a 2-0 start, returns to Philadelphia Thursday night as he faces the Eagles months after being fired by the organization.
Reid went 4-12 with the Philadelphia Eagles last season and was fired after 14 years with the franchise. Reid won 130 regular-season games (most in franchise history) during his tenure with the Eagles and guided them to nine playoff appearances that included five NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl appearance. He was replaced over the summer with former University of Oregon coach Chip Kelly.
"It means a lot, so I hope we go out there and play for our coach," said Kansas City RB Jamaal Charles to ESPN. "You know what I'm saying? I know he has a lot of love for his Eagles; he worked there a lot of years and he probably wishes he was still coaching there."
Reid has helped turn Kansas City around with the help of Charles and the resurgence of Alex Smith, who the team acquired via trade from the San Francisco during the off-season. Smith has been a prefect fit for Reid's version of the West Coast Offense - completing 60 percent of his passes (42-for-70) for 396 yards four touchdowns and zero interceptions.
"Great locker room guy," said coach Reid to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. "Understands the game, has the physical tools. He's won and he has a certain mentality. But he also has been through tough times and good times and hasn't changed. He has the work ethic and presence."
Kelly, who brought with him his frenetic-paced offense that earned him three PAC-12 titles, has the Eagles at 1-1 and averaging 477 yards per game, second to only the Green Bay Packers in the NFL, and third in the league in points per average, putting up 31.5 points a game.
"I think we can go a little faster," said Eagles' RB LeSean McCoy. "I think we can convert a little better. I think sometimes we get those phases in the game no matter if it's earlier or late, where we kind of move the ball but then don't get any points. Once we get past that, I think we'll be fine."
One of the biggest adjustments that Kelly has had to make is working on short schedules, compared to college football - prepping for a Thursday night game after having played on Sunday.
"We obviously had to make an adjustment this week," said Kelly. "When you play a game on Sunday and then you have to come back and play a game on Thursday, that's the one that really adjusts your schedule just because you've really only got three training days - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - and then you've got to go play a game."
Live Television Coverage
The Kansas City Chiefs-Philadelphia Eagles Week 3 Thursday Night Football game can be seen on NFL Network, 8:25 p.m. EST.
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Live Stream (Radio)
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