Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Players to Watch in Week 3 Matchup

Things will be a little different in Philadelphia for the Sept. 19 prime-time Thursday night matchup between the Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Andy Reid will still be on the sidelines, but instead of coaching the home side, he will be wearing red across the field.

The presence of the former Eagles coach will assuredly increase the anticipation for the game, although there are a number of players to also keep an eye on.

These 10 players could all have a major impact on the game in one way or another, so make sure you watch out for them on Thursday night.

All stats courtesy of NFL.com.

Justin Houston

While Justin Houston is overshadowed by Tamba Hali, he was one of the NFL's best pass-rushers last year. A 2011 third-round selection, Houston could be a breakout star this season.

He has been plagued by inconsistencies, but his athletic talent is outstanding.

Houston opened his 2013 season with a bang, shredding the Jaguars to the tune of five tackles and three sacks. After adding five more tackles during the Dallas game, everyone will be monitoring his progression.

LeSean McCoy

LeSean McCoy had a disappointing 2012 season, failing to hit the 1000-yard rushing mark with 840, but things are looking up for Shady with Chip Kelly calling the shots.

In addition to his 119 receiving yards, McCoy currently leads the NFL in rushing with 237 yards through two games and has clearly become a focal point in Kelly's uptempo offense.

Kelly will continue to give McCoy a lot of chances, so look for the running back to try to evade linebackers Justin Houston, Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson on Thursday.

Eric Fisher

No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher made his NFL debut at right tackle in Week 1 and outdueled Luke Joeckel, the offensive tackle selected right after him.

Through two games, Fisher and the rest of KC's offensive line has guided the Chiefs' running game to an average of 117 yards per game. That ranks eighth in the NFL.

Fisher will see a whole new beast in Philadelphia, however, as he faces off against some great defensive linemen in Fletcher Cox, Trent Cole and Brandon Graham.

He will be tested by an Eagles defense which has four sacks and four forced fumbles through the season's first two games.

Mychal Kendricks

Rich Hoffman of the Philadelphia Daily News believes that linebacker Mychal Kendricks might be Philadelphia's most interesting defensive player, and it is difficult to disagree with that sentiment.

With a rookie line of 75 tackles and nine passes defended in 15 games, it's quite obvious he's a versatile talent. With 18 tackles through his first two games, Kendricks is already off to a productive 2013.

Seeing as the 2012 second-round pick is extremely athletic and reliable in coverage for an interior linebacker, expect him to be responsible for containing Jamaal Charles on Thursday.

Dwayne Bowe

After signing a big contract to stay in Kansas City this offseason, Dwayne Bowe needs to step up and elevate his level of play.

Although his 2013 has started off slowly with eight catches, 86 yards and a single touchdown through two games, he hauled in a huge go-ahead TD midway through the third quarter in Sunday's game vs. Dallas.

With Andy Reid and Alex Smith at the helm, things are definitely different for Bowe, but he needs to catch on to an offense that has been playing efficiently.

Look to see if he takes advantage of a very average Philadelphia secondary.

Cary Williams

Cary Williams made headlines for pushing a referee in Super Bowl XLVII and then had a widely publicized altercation with Riley Cooper right before the Eagles' season opener.

Needless to say, Williams is a bit of a lightning rod who commands attention whenever he is on the field.

Despite all the nonsense, Williams is a talented and effective corner who will be a factor Thursday. He's already managed eight tackles and three passes defended through two games after knocking down 17 and 18 balls in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Knile Davis

Jamaal Charles suffered a minor leg injury in the season opener and there could be some additional carries available for the backs behind him if he gets shaky at all.

The Chiefs may try to limit Charles' carries early in the season so that he'll be strong down the stretch.

A first-team All-SEC player in 2010 with 1,282 rushing yards and 13 TDs, Knile Davis is a talented rookie running back out of Arkansas who may be in position for an increased workload this Thursday.

Make sure you pay extra attention when No. 34 in red and white steps on the field.

Zach Ertz

All rookies go through ups and downs, and Zach Ertz is no exception. However, the talented second-round pick had high expectations coming into his rookie season and could break out at any time.

In 2012, Ertz was a consensus All-American, a finalist for the Mackey Award and an All-Pac-12 first team selection, so it's clear he's flush with talent.

Head coach Chip Kelly likes athletic tight ends who can move around the field, and Ertz fits that description perfectly. Watch Ertz to see if he finds seams up the field and exploits Kansas City's linebackers and safeties.

Dontari Poe

After a solid but unspectacular rookie season, Dontari Poe is looking to take a major step forward in his sophomore campaign. 

Poe mixes an amazing blend of size and quickness at the nose guard position in Kansas City's 3-4 base defense.

Poe is off to a blazing start in 2013, racking up 10 tackles and 3.5 sacks in his team's first two games. After collecting a meager 34 tackles and no sacks in 2012, the light has clearly started to come on. 

Last year's first-round selection should be a major factor in Thursday's game against a Philadelphia team that will be looking to establish the run early and often. 

Jason Kelce

After winning the starting job as a sixth-round pick in 2011, Jason Kelce was penciled in as the team's center in 2012. Expectations were high, but Kelce tore his MCL and ACL in the second game of the season.

Kelce is back for 2013 as the anchor of Philadelphia's interior line and has helped the Eagles rack up some huge offensive numbers. The Eagles offense currently sits at third in the league in points per game and second in total yards. 

Not only will he have his hands full against Dontari Poe, he'll also be fighting for bragging rights against his little brother—Kansas City's rookie tight end Travis Kelce.