The Kansas City Chiefs moved to 1-2 on the season after defeating the New York Giants on Sunday night.
Like in the previous two games, it was another rough outing on offense for the Chiefs, but their defense was dominant for the second consecutive week. Here are five winners and three losers we identified from Kansas City’s Week 3 win over the Giants.
Winner: DE George Karlaftis
Karlaftis was on fire against New York, recording 10 total tackles (three for loss), one sack, one pass defensed, and a whopping seven quarterback pressures.
Per Pro Football Focus, he had a pass-rush win rate of 26.5 percent, good for a 90.4 grade in that department. Whether it was against the pass or the run, Karlaftis was in the Giants’ backfield all night, and the Chiefs need that out of him consistently moving forward.
Loser: The Patrick Mahomes-Travis Kelce connection
Mahomes and Kelce did connect on four passes Sunday night, but for a total of just 26 yards. During the Chiefs’ opening drive, Mahomes missed a wide open Kelce despite it being a very short throw.
The two failed to connect on a deep throw down the left sideline on the very next play. Whether its Mahomes missing him or Kelce dropping the ball, the usually dynamic duo has been very out of synch this season.
Winner: CB Chris Roland-Wallace
Roland-Wallace is perhaps the Chiefs’ best kept secret on defense. He saw his first significant action of the season against the Giants, recording four total tackles, one pass defensed, and one interception.
On a third down play during the second quarter, quarterback Russell Wilson took a deep shot down the middle to wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, but Roland-Wallace sniffed it out and picked off the pass. Roland-Wallace’s PFF grade of 91.4 was the highest among all K.C. defenders.
Loser: K Harrison Butker
Whether it’s been a field goal attempt or an extra point, Butker has missed a kick in every game so far this season. On Sunday night against the Giants, he missed one of each.
To his credit, Butker did connect on three other field goal attempts, including one from 54 yards. One has to wonder if changes to his technique after an injury-riddled 2024 season has negatively impacted him. Whatever the case may be, there is cause for concern about Butker moving forward.
Winner: WR Tyquan Thornton
Thornton led the Chiefs in receptions (5), yards (71), and touchdowns (1) on Sunday night. For the third consecutive week, he caught a pass that traveled at least 30 yards.
Thornton has by far been K.C.’s most dynamic playmaker in 2025. He is averaging an incredible 19 yards per catch, and is the only Chiefs pass catcher with multiple TDs on the season. Even if Xavier Worthy returns this week, Thornton needs to be receiving more targets.
Loser: RB Isiah Pacheco
Pacheco had 11 more rushing yards on the same amount of carries than his counterpart Kareem Hunt against New York, but expectations for Pacheco should be much higher. While Hunt doesn’t have a great yards per carry average, he still provides value as a short yardage back, as he proved by his one-yard TD rush.
A well-designed 10-yard run in the third quarter made what was another abysmal performance from Pacheco passible. At this point, the Chiefs have to consider getting rookie Brashard Smith or veteran Elijah Mitchell, who has been inactive up to this point, more involved.
Winner: CB Jaylen Watson
Watson was an unsung hero on Sunday night, recording seven total tackles, two passes defense, and one interception. His pick off of Wilson came in the endzone, preventing not only a TD, but a potential field goal to follow.
Watson was matched up against Giants star WR Malik Nabers numerous times throughout the game, but clamped him down. Nabers posted just two receptions for 13 yards on the evening. Watson gets overshadowed by All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie, but is a very solid player in his own right.
Jaylen Watson picks off Russ! Second @Chiefs pick of the night
KCvsNYG on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/T4W2L9zTZh— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2025
