KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 22 – NEW YORK GIANTS 9…
The New York Giants remain winless, predictably losing 22-9 to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. The Giants are now 0-3.
The overall team stats were surprisingly close. The Chiefs held slight advantages in first downs (22 to 19), total net yards (306 to 281), net passing yards (201 to 151), and time of possession (31:50 to 28:10). The Giants actually out-rushed the Chiefs 130 to 105.
However, the Giants lost the all-important turnover battle 2-0. And while the Chiefs were 8-of-15 on third down (53.3 percent), the Giants were a terrible 1-of-10 (10 percent). The Giants were also 1-of-4 (25 percent) on fourth down. Giants red-zone issues continued as well (1-of-3 in the red zone).
An ominous sign came before the game began as it was announced place kicker Graham Gano injured his groin in pre-game warm-ups. Eerily similar to the Week 2 loss against the Washington Commanders last year, Gano’s injury immediately impacted the contest.
The Giants received the ball, gained 41 yards and three first downs. But with Gano ailing, Head Coach Brian Daboll eschewed the field goal attempt from the 28-yard line for a 4th-and-3 conversion attempt that failed with an incomplete pass from quarterback Russell Wilson. The Chiefs responded with a 12-play drive that only gained 36 yards but resulted in a 54-yard field goal. With most of the first quarter over, the Chiefs led 3-0.
The Giants gained one first down and punted on their second possession. The Chiefs drove 51 yards in nine plays to set up another field goal, this one from 48 yards out. They now led 6-0.
On 3rd-and-7 on the ensuing possession, Wilson threw a deep pass that was intercepted and returned 23 yards to the New York 47-yard line. However, the Giants dodged a bullet when when place kicker Harrison Butler missed a 40-yard field goal.
The Giants first and only touchdown drive came on their fourth possession, as they drove 70 yards in eight plays. The drive was aided by a 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty on a 3rd-and-9 incomplete pass. After another Kansas City defensive penalty, running back Cam Skattebo scored from 13 yards out. The extra point by punter Jamie Gillan was blocked and the game was tied 6-6.
The final 1:49 of the first half went poorly for the Giants. The Chiefs botched their ensuing possession with a fumble that lost 15 yards. The Giants called two timeouts and got the ball back with 1:11 remaining at the Kansas City 41-yard after kick catch interference penalty. A face-mask penalty on the Chiefs moved the Giants to the 26-yard line, but two plays later, Wilson threw an interception in the end zone with 49 seconds left.
Worse, the Chiefs were able to drive most of the field in that little time to set up a 28-yard field goal as time expired. This was made possible by a 52-yard pass interference penalty on cornerback Andru Phillips.
At the half, the Chiefs led 9-6.
Matters got immediately worse for New York after the break. The Chiefs drove 74 yards in 11 plays to set up a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, making the score 16-6.
After both teams picked up one first down and punted, the Giants began a drive at the end of the 3rd quarter that reached the Kansas City 6-yard line. But as has been the case for the Giants through three games, the offense stalled in the red zone and the Giants settled for a 25-yard field goal by the gimpy Gano. The Chiefs now led 16-9 with just over 10 minutes to play.
Kansas City pretty much put the game away on their ensuing possession with a 9-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown. The Chiefs converted on 3rd-and-6 with a 21-yard pass and on 3rd-and-10 with a 33-yard pass. With six minutes to go, the Giants were losing 22-9.
New York imploded on another red-zone opportunity after reaching the Kansas City 4-yard line, turning the ball over on downs after four plays. After a three-and-out by the Chiefs, the Giants got the ball back with 2:04 remaining but turned the ball over on downs again. Ball game.
Wilson finished 18-of-32 for 160 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. He was sacked twice. His leading target was Skattebo, who caught six passes for 61 yards. Wide receiver Malik Nabers was held to two catches for 13 yards. Skattebo led the team with 60 yards on 10 carries, and had the only touchdown.
The defense once again did not force a turnover. Outside Brian Burns had a sack.
GAME VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS are available on YouTube.
ROSTER MOVES, PRACTICE SQUAD ELEVATIONS, INACTIVES, AND INJURY REPORT…
On Saturday, the Giants signed OLB Tomon Fox to the 53-man roster from the Practice Squad. To make room for Fox, the Giants waived WR Xavier Gipson.
In addition, the Giants activated (standard elevation) DT Elijah Garcia and ILB Neville Hewitt from the Practice Squad.
Inactive for the game were DT Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (foot), DL/OLB Chauncey Golston (ankle), ILB Darius Muasau (concussion/eye), ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf), QB Jameis Winston (3rd QB), OG Evan Neal, and TE Thomas Fidone.
PK Matt Gano suffered a groin injury during pre-game warm-ups. RB Tyrone Tracy (shoulder) left the game near the end of the first half and did not return.
POST-GAME REACTION…
Transcripts and video clips of post-game media sessions with Head Coach Brian Daboll and the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:
- Head Coach Brian Daboll (Video)
- QB Russell Wilson (Video)
- QB Jaxson Dart (Video)
- RB Cam Skattebo (Video)
- WR Darius Slayton (Video)
- LT Andrew Thomas (Video)
- PK Graham Gano (Video)
WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Head Coach Brian Daboll will address the media on Monday.