Kansas City @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2010 ) Philadelphia 20, Kansas City 17

Andy Reid returns to the city where he thrived - and eventually nosedived - when he guides the Kansas City Chiefs into a Thursday night matchup with the host Philadelphia Eagles. Reid enjoyed a spectacular run during his 14-year tenure with the Eagles, bringing the team to five conference championship games and one Super Bowl appearance. Philadelphia flamed out in Reid's final two seasons, leading to his dismissal and the offseason hiring of Oregon coach Chip Kelly.

Reid has the Chiefs off to a surprising 2-0 start to match their win total from last season that locked up the No. 1 overall pick for Kansas City in the NFL Draft. Kelly, whose fast-break offense is the talk of the league after Philadelphia rolled up 63 points in splitting its first two games, said he is not concerned about the emotional impact of Reid's homecoming. “I think they’re locked in,” Kelly said. “We met and we talked about the Kansas City Chiefs, so that’s not a concern."

TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network. LINE: Eagles -3. O/U: 50.5.

ABOUT THE CHIEFS (2-0): Reid was castigated during his time in Philly for a tendency to abandon the running game so quickly, and Jamaal Charles - a 1,500-yard rusher last season - is averaging 66 yards on 16 carries in each of the first two games. Charles does have 11 catches in the West Coast offense run by quarterback Alex Smith, who has been quietly efficient with four touchdowns and zero turnovers - a welcome change for a team that tied the Eagles and New York Jets for the most giveaways with 37 in 2012. Kansas City's defense has been integral to the early success, allowing 18 points and only one touchdown.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (1-1): Kelly's rapid-fire offense has been a boon for quarterback Michael Vick, who is enjoying a renaissance after throwing for a career-high 428 yards in Sunday's 33-30 loss to San Diego. Wideout DeSean Jackson, a malcontent for most of the previous two seasons, tops the league with 297 yards receiving while running back LeSean McCoy has piled up an NFL-high 237 yards rushing. Philadelphia's defense could not slow Washington in the second half of the season opener and was carved up by San Diego's Philip Rivers in a loss that was compounded by Kelly's clock mismanagement in the final minutes.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Chiefs and Eagles were each a league-worst minus-24 in turnover differential last season.

2. Vick is tied with Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers for the most yards (10.3) per passing attempt.

3. The Eagles have won the last three matchups, including a 34-14 home win in September 2009.

PREDICTION: Eagles 30, Chiefs 23