The bright lights of Sunday Night Football will shine on two desperate teams this week, as the Kansas City Chiefs visit the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Both franchises enter at 0-2, a start that has turned Week 3 into a must-win battle neither side expected.
The Chiefs’ stumble out of the gate is startling. Patrick Mahomes and company now sit in the same column as the Browns and Jets, a far cry from the juggernaut standard Kansas City has set in recent years. For the Giants, this is all too familiar — seven times in the last nine seasons they have opened 0-2. History offers little comfort: since 1990, just 12% of teams to start 0-2 reached the playoffs, though three managed to climb the mountain and hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Patrick Mahomes “make it work”
Mahomes faces Russell Wilson, who is in his first year wearing Giants blue. Wilson turned back the clock against Dallas last week with 450 passing yards, showing flashes of the “old Russ,” but an untimely interception swung the game away. On Thursday, NBC News chief news and sports analyst Steve Kornacki joined TODAY and said Wilson looked like his old self — and not in a good way.
“It was the old Russell Wilson,” Kornacki said. “There was an ill-timed interception, and they just couldn’t get that done.” [Timestamp – 2:00]
Kansas City’s issues, meanwhile, cut deeper. Their offense has looked slow and unimaginative, forcing Mahomes to lead the team in rushing in both games. Wideouts aren’t winning one-on-ones, the run game is stuck in neutral, and play-action — their most effective weapon — has been used sparingly. As ESPN insider and former wide receiver Harry Douglas put it, the offense is relying too much on Mahomes to “save the day.”
“We give the Chiefs a lot of grace, and rightfully so, because they played in five of the last six Super Bowls,” Douglas said. “But what my eyes are telling me is that their offensive identity is Patrick Mahomes, go save us and make it work.” [Timestamp – 8:33]
For the Giants, Pride Hangs in the Balance
Wilson connected on six passes of 30 yards or more against Dallas, the most by any QB in over a decade, powered by rookie standout Malik Nabers and shifty slot threat Wan’Dale Robinson. Add in a defensive front stacked with Dexter Lawrence II and Brian Burns, and the Giants have the muscle to cause headaches.
“Just got to find more ways to be effective if I’m always to get my guys around me going, once I get those guys going, they can free me up, and I’m able to win them one on one,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said this week.
Mahomes was listed with a sore right wrist but practiced fully, easing concerns.
“Yeah, he couldn’t even tell you what play it was, but it swole up a little bit, and overnight, then they got it down,” coach Andy Reid said. “So, yeah, but he did, he practiced the whole week, yeah, looked good.”
WR Rashee Rice is expected back, while rookie Xavier Worthy’s status remains up in the air (recovering from a shoulder issue).
Las Vegas oddsmakers still give Kansas City the edge, but analysts like Harry Douglas note the Giants’ pass rush could tilt the field.
“I’m going to go 25%,” he said, pointing to their ability to collapse pockets.
The stakes couldn’t be clearer: Kansas City has never won a road game against the Giants, standing 0-7 all-time in New York. For the Giants, jobs and pride hang in the balance. For the Chiefs, a third straight loss would be uncharted waters. Come Sunday night, someone’s season will be hanging by a thread — and someone might just keep hope alive.
