The Kansas City Chiefs are staring down a must-win situation as they head into Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants, aiming to avoid an 0-3 start for the first time in over a decade.
The nine-time defending AFC West champions have dropped their first two games — a 23-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and a narrow 20-17 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles — leaving them in unfamiliar territory.
Since 2012, the Chiefs haven’t finished a season with a losing record, but history suggests their playoff hopes hang in the balance: only 12.2% of teams that start 0-2 have reached the postseason.
The Giants also urgently need a victory
The Giants, meanwhile, are also 0-2 after falling in a 40-37 overtime thriller to the Dallas Cowboys. While few were surprised by New York’s struggles, Kansas City’s stumble has raised eyebrows across the league.
Sunday’s matchup carries extra intrigue thanks to one unusual stat: the Chiefs have never beaten the Giants on their home field. They’re 0-1 at MetLife Stadium and 0-7 all-time on the road against the Giants, despite having beaten the Jets in the same venue. Overall, Kansas City is just 4-11 against New York since 1974.
Still, the Chiefs have recent momentum in the series, having won the last two meetings, including a 20-17 victory in 2021. Now, they’ll need to rewrite history if they want to claw back into playoff contention.
Kelce is chasing a record
As always, all eyes will be on Travis Kelce, who is chasing history of his own. The star tight end needs just two touchdowns to tie Priest Holmes for the most in Chiefs franchise history (83) and 33 receiving yards to tie Dante Hall (12,356).
With both teams desperate for their first win, Sunday night could mark a turning point — or another devastating setback.
Patrick Mahomes rush for a loss of 1 yard to the NYG48.
Patrick Mahomes rush for a loss of 1 yard to the NYG47.
The Chiefs got their first win of the season, but what they showed on the field doesn’t give their fans much hope. The team rode on the back of their defense and Mahomes’ flashes of brilliance. That doesn’t seem like enough for a fourth consecutive Super Bowl run.
Patrick Mahomes rush for a loss of 1 yard to the NYG46.
Russell Wilson rush to the middle for 2 yards to the NYG45.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the right intended for Wan’Dale Robinson.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the left intended for Cam Skattebo.
With two minutes left, the Giants take the field once again, attempting a miracle. Although everything seems to indicate that the most they could achieve is a slightly more decent score.
Two Minute Warning.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Malik Nabers for 9 yards to the NYG43.
Penalty: False Start on Giants (Jon Runyan Jr.) -5 yards.
Matt Araiza punts for 52 yards to NYG32. Gunner Olszewski return for 7 yards to NYG39.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the left intended for Hollywood Brown.
Giants timeout.
Kareem Hunt rush to the left for no gain to the KC16.
Giants timeout.
Kareem Hunt rush to the middle for 6 yards to the KC16.
Once again, the Chiefs’ defense is closing the door on Wilson & Co. Once the final whistle blows, it will be a time for serious reflection for the Giants’ front office.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the middle intended for Theo Johnson.
Boos are starting to be heard for Russell Wilson.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the middle intended for Theo Johnson.
Russell Wilson rush to the middle for 4 yards to the KC10.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the left.
Russell Wilson pass to the middle to Wan’Dale Robinson for 26 yards to the KC4.
Unless something truly extraordinary happens, the Chiefs have a victory in the bag and will owe it all to Thornton and his defense.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the left intended for Malik Nabers.
Devin Singletary rush to the right for 4 yards to the KC30.
Russell Wilson pass to the right to Daniel Bellinger for 6 yards to the KC34.
Penalty: Illegal Shift on Giants (Darius Slayton) -5 yards.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Darius Slayton for 14 yards to the KC35.
Russell Wilson sacked at KC49 for a loss of 4 yards.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Cam Skattebo for 9 yards to the KC45.
Cam Skattebo rush to the middle for 9 yards to the NYG46.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the NYG5. Devin Singletary return for 32 yards to NYG37.
Harrison Butker extra point is NO GOOD.
Penalty: Unsports. Conduct on Chiefs (Kareem Hunt) -15 yards.
Kareem Hunt gave the Chiefs what appears to be a definitive lead. What the Giants have shown throughout this game doesn’t seem enough to close the gap to a 13-point deficit.
Kareem Hunt rush to the right for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
Thornton is becoming the Chiefs’ MVP this game.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the left to Tyquan Thornton for 33 yards to the NYG1.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the left intended for Tyquan Thornton.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the right for no gain to the NYG34.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the middle to Hollywood Brown for 10 yards to the NYG34.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to Brashard Smith for 8 yards to the NYG44.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the left to Tyquan Thornton for 21 yards to the KC48.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the right intended for Noah Gray.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the left for 4 yards to the KC27.
Jamie Gillan kicks off to the KC5. Nikko Remigio return for 18 yards to KC23.
The Chiefs’ defense closed in at just the right moment. Karlaftis’ relentless pressure took its toll on Wilson, keeping the Chiefs within a touchdown.
Graham Gano 25 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
Russell Wilson rush to the right for a loss of 1 yard to the KC7.
Russell Wilson pass to the right to Darius Slayton for 3 yards to the KC6.
Just in time, the Giants’ offense is responding. If the team manages to win this game, it will be entirely thanks to Skattebo.
Cam Skattebo rush to the right for 3 yards to the KC9.
Cam Skattebo rush to the right for 9 yards to the KC12.
Russell Wilson pass to the right to Chris Manhertz for 7 yards to the KC21.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Cam Skattebo for 12 yards to the KC28.
Penalty: Pass Interference on Chiefs (Trent McDuffie) 5 yards.
If the Giants want to come back, their offense needs to start being more than just Skattebo’s legs. Wilson must start connecting with his receivers, or they’ll be stuck with the dreaded 0-3 record.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the middle intended for Malik Nabers.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Malik Nabers for 4 yards to the KC45.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the right intended for Wan’Dale Robinson. Penalty: Illegal Touch on Giants (Wan’Dale Robinson) 0 yards.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Theo Johnson for 10 yards to the KC49.
Russell Wilson pass to the right to Cam Skattebo for 21 yards to the NYG41.
The Giants’ defense bought Daboll and Wilson some time. With the third quarter in its final seconds, this was the team’s moment to react.
Matt Araiza punts for 43 yards to NYG11. Gunner Olszewski return for 9 yards to NYG20.
Giants timeout.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the right intended for Tyquan Thornton.
Kareem Hunt rush to the left for 6 yards to the KC46.
Kareem Hunt rush to the right for 3 yards to the KC40.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to Noah Gray for 10 yards to the KC37.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to Tyquan Thornton for 5 yards to the KC27.
Kareem Hunt rush to the right for 3 yards to the KC22.
The Chiefs’ defense has already done its job, containing Wilson & Co. Now it’s the offense’s turn to reciprocate the effort, putting points on the board that will give their defense room to maneuver.
Jamie Gillan punts for 33 yards to KC15. Nikko Remigio return for 4 yards to KC19.
Russell Wilson rush to the middle for 8 yards to the KC48.
Just as he’d promised, Daboll had a package prepared for Jaxson Dart. Although the move didn’t go as planned, the rookie was able to make his debut in front of his home crowd.
Russell Wilson sacked at NYG44 for a loss of 5 yards by Chris Jones.
Jaxson Dart rush to the left for 3 yards to the NYG49.
Russell Wilson rush to the middle for 14 yards to the NYG46.
Cam Skattebo rush to the left for no gain to the NYG32.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the NYG5. Devin Singletary return for 27 yards to NYG32.
For a moment, it looked like the Giants’ defense could do it. However, you can’t give Mahomes that much time to find a receiver because he’ll pick you apart. In a game this close, a ten-point deficit can be too much for the Giants.
Harrison Butker extra point is GOOD.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the middle to Tyquan Thornton for 5 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 3 yards to the NYG5.
Andy Reid finally found a way to counter Brian Daboll’s game plan. Using his less-talented players, he has the Chiefs knocking on the Giants’ door.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the middle for 4 yards to the NYG8.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the left for 10 yards to the NYG12.
Brashard Smith rush to the left for 5 yards to the NYG22.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to Hollywood Brown for 7 yards to the NYG27.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to Travis Kelce for 13 yards to the NYG34.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the right for a loss of 1 yard to the NYG47.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the middle for 8 yards to the NYG46.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to Hollywood Brown for 17 yards to the KC46.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the left for 3 yards to the KC29.
Jamie Gillan kicks off to the KC3. Nikko Remigio return for 23 yards to KC26.
Butker redeems himself after his previous error. The field goal not only gives the Chiefs the lead at halftime, but also lifts the team’s spirits in a game in which they haven’t been themselves.
Harrison Butker 28 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the right intended for Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs are unrecognizable. Mistake after mistake, rookie penalties, lapses in concentration. They are not, by any means, the team that won three Super Bowls in four years.
Penalty: Pass Interference on Giants (Dru Phillips) 52 yards.
Penalty: Illegal Contact on Giants (Dru Phillips) 5 yards.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the middle intended for Tyquan Thornton.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the right.
Chiefs timeout.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the left for 3 yards to the KC32.
Chiefs timeout.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the middle to Travis Kelce for 9 yards to the KC29.
Mistakes have doomed the Giants. A Wilson interception ruined their chance to make a potentially game-winning splash before halftime.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the left intended for Travis Kelce.
Russell Wilson pass intended for Malik Nabers INTERCEPTED by Jaylen Watson. No return. Touchback.
Chiefs timeout.
Devin Singletary rush to the middle for 4 yards to the KC22.
Penalty: Face Mask on Chiefs (Nohl Williams) 15 yards.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the middle intended for Theo Johnson.
Matt Araiza punts for 41 yards to NYG46. No return. Penalty: FC Interference on Chiefs (Joshua Williams) 15 yards.
Giants timeout.
Kareem Hunt rush to the middle for 6 yards to the KC13.
Mahomes is becoming desperate. It’s the second illegally delayed pass he’s thrown this game. The Giants’ coverage is getting the better of the three-time Super Bowl winner.
Giants timeout.
Patrick Mahomes sacked at KC7 for a loss of 15 yards. FUMBLE, recovered by KC (Patrick Mahomes).
The Chiefs are dominating the statistics, but a strong Giants drive was enough to tie the score. They might miss that extra point later, but for now, it’s a clean slate for Daboll and his team.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the left intended for Noah Gray.
Jamie Gillan kicks off to the KC0. Brashard Smith return for 22 yards to KC22.
Jamie Gillan extra point Is BLOCKED.
Cam Skattebo rush to the right for 13 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Penalty: Holding on Chiefs (Chris Jones) 5 yards.
Penalty: Roughing Passer on Chiefs (George Karlaftis) 15 yards.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the right intended for Cam Skattebo.
Two Minute Warning.
Devin Singletary rush to the left for 1 yard to the KC33.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Cam Skattebo for 16 yards to the KC34.
Cam Skattebo rush to the middle for a loss of 2 yards to the NYG50.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Darius Slayton for 4 yards to the KC48.
Cam Skattebo rush to the left for 11 yards to the NYG48.
Cam Skattebo rush to the left for 7 yards to the NYG37.
The Giants’ defense responds to the challenge and forces the Chiefs to settle for Butker’s third field goal. Will Kansas City regret all the points it’s given up?
40 yard field goal attempt by Harrison Butker is NO GOOD.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the middle intended for JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Kelce finally arrived at MetLife Stadium. Although it was only a three-yard reception, it could be enough to rekindle his old magic with Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the left to Travis Kelce for a loss of 2 yards to the NYG22.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the right intended for Brashard Smith.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to Travis Kelce for 6 yards to the NYG20.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the left for 6 yards to the NYG26.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the left to Tyquan Thornton for 7 yards to the NYG32.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the middle for 8 yards to the NYG39.
What had been a clean game by Russell Wilson turned into a potential disaster for the Giants. The interception left Mahomes and the Chiefs with unbeatable field position. It seems unlikely the Giants will emerge unscathed from this mistake.
Russell Wilson pass intended for Wan’Dale Robinson INTERCEPTED by Chris Roland-Wallace and returned for 23 yards.
Devin Singletary rush to the left for 3 yards to the NYG29.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the right intended for Malik Nabers.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the NYG7. Devin Singletary return for 19 yards to NYG26.
Butker doubles the Chiefs’ lead with a 48-yard field goal. The Giants still have time to catch their opponent.
Harrison Butker 48 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
It was a bumpy drive for the Chiefs, filled with errors and penalties that forced them to settle for another field goal.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the middle to Noah Gray for 10 yards to the NYG30.
Penalty: Illegal Formation on Chiefs (Jawaan Taylor) -5 yards.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to Noah Gray for a loss of 3 yards to the NYG35.
Patrick Mahomes rush to the right for 1 yard to the NYG32.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 27 yards to the NYG33.
The Giants blew their best chance to stop the Chiefs with an illegal contact penalty.
Nikko Remigio rush to the right for 11 yards to the KC40.
Penalty: Illegal Contact on Giants (Dru Phillips) 5 yards.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the left intended for Isiah Pacheco.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the left to Kareem Hunt for 10 yards to the KC32.
Kareem Hunt rush to the right for 3 yards to the KC22.
Neither Wilson nor Skattebo can get the Giants’ offense moving. For the second consecutive drive, the Chiefs stopped them before midfield. Brian Daboll will have to adjust quickly if he doesn’t want the Chiefs to wake up and take the game away from him in front of their home crowd.
Jamie Gillan punts for 28 yards to KC19. No return.
Penalty: Delay of Game on Giants -5 yards.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Cam Skattebo for a loss of 1 yard to the KC47.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Tyrone Tracy Jr. for 3 yards to the KC46.
The Chiefs’ defense is playing with renewed intensity. But it needs more support from the offense, or it could run out of gas before the game is over.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. rush to the left for 2 yards to the KC49.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. rush to the left for 4 yards to the NYG49.
Russell Wilson pass to the left to Darius Slayton for 9 yards to the NYG45.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the NYG3. Devin Singletary return for 33 yards to NYG36.
Harrison Butker 54 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
The Chiefs take a 3-0 lead on Butker’s 54-yard field goal.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the right intended for Hollywood Brown.
Mahomes and Kelce’s magic isn’t working on this first drive. Patrick has twice looked for Travis, but they haven’t been able to connect.
Giants timeout.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the left intended for Travis Kelce.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the left intended for Travis Kelce.
Kareem Hunt rush to the left for 3 yards to the NYG36.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the left to Hollywood Brown for 8 yards to the NYG39.
The Chiefs’ passing attack started the game on fire. Mahomes is in great sync with his receivers, moving the Chiefs’ offense slowly but steady.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the right intended for Tyquan Thornton.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 18 yards to the NYG47.
Penalty: Holding on Chiefs (Josh Simmons) -10 yards.
Kareem Hunt rush to the left for 3 yards to the KC45.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the left to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 7 yards to the KC42.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the left to Isiah Pacheco for 3 yards to the KC35.
Patrick Mahomes rush to the left for 4 yards to the KC32.
Brian Daboll gave the ball to rookie RB Cam Skattebo to start the game, to no avail.
Russell Wilson incomplete pass to the right intended for Tyrone Tracy Jr..
Tyrone Tracy Jr. rush to the left for 4 yards to the KC28.
Russell Wilson pass to the middle to Cam Skattebo for 4 yards to the KC32.
Cam Skattebo rush to the left for a loss of 1 yard to the KC36.
Cam Skattebo rush to the left for 11 yards to the KC35.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. rush to the left for 1 yard to the KC46.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. rush to the right for 7 yards to the KC47.
Russell Wilson pass to the middle to Tyrone Tracy Jr. for 4 yards to the NYG46.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. rush to the right for 10 yards to the NYG42.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. rush to the left for 1 yard to the NYG32.
Kickoff! Singletary returns. The Giants will begin their first drive from the 31-yard line.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the NYG8. Devin Singletary return for 23 yards to NYG31.
Good evening. Welcome to this play-by-play coverage of the Chiefs-Giants game. We hope you enjoy it and stay with us until the end.
What to watch for in the Giants
The Giants’ contrasting offense. After amassing just 231 yards and converting only 4 of 16 third downs against Washington, New York put on a stunning offensive display against Dallas in Week 2, scoring 37 points and racking up 506 yards, 450 of which came from Russell Wilson.
Although they lost both games, fans are now waiting to see which version of the Giants they’ll see. If they want to beat Mahomes and the Chiefs, it better be the second one.
What to watch for in the Chiefs
The running game has been the Chiefs’ weak link to start the season. In their first two games, QB Patrick Mahomes has been the team’s best runner, and that’s something no head coach wants to see.
To win their first road game against the Giants, the Chiefs need Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt to get into a rhythm, opening up the field and giving Mahomes a break.
Player to watch in New York
Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson will be the Giants’ key player in this matchup. With running back Cam Skattebo still acclimating to the NFL, it’s been Wilson’s job to keep New York’s offense afloat. If the Chiefs want to win the game, they’ll have to stop or at least slow down Wilson, and that won’t be an easy task.
Player to watch in Kansas City
Fans and media will be watching Travis Kelce to see if he breaks Priest Holmes’ or Dante Hall’s records, but rookie receiver Jalen Royals is one to keep an eye on. While star wide receiver Xavier Worthy recovers from injury, Royals will be responsible for running the long routes so Patrick Mahomes can spread the field.
Where to watch the Chiefs vs. Giants game on TV
NBC will broadcast the game live with Mike Tirico providing play-by-play commentary, Cris Collinsworth providing analysis, Tom Brady providing color commentary, and Melissa Stark reporting from the field.
The game will be available online via the NBC app, Peacock, and DAZN.
Kickoff from MetLife Stadium and odds
The game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET (7:20 p.m. CT/5:20 p.m. PT) at MetLife Stadium with the Chiefs as 6.5-point favorites on a -275 moneyline, while the Giants are offered at +225. The over/under is at 44.5 points.
Mahomes and Kelce give Chiefs a crucial edge over winless Giants in Week 3 showdown
The Kansas City Chiefs are banking on their superstar duo of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce to finally put them in the win column when they face the New York Giants in Week 3. With both teams entering the primetime clash winless, only one will avoid the dreaded 0-3 start.
For the Chiefs, the pressure couldn’t be higher. Despite being the favorites on paper, Kansas City knows that in the AFC West, a third straight loss could send their season spiraling. Mahomes, now in his ninth year with the team, remains the ultimate X-factor.
The quarterback has already cemented his legacy as the youngest player to win both a league MVP and a Super Bowl, and his numbers back it up: in 114 career games, he’s thrown for 32,797 yards, 247 touchdowns, and rushed for 2,366 yards with 16 scores on the ground.
Kelce is the heart of the Chiefs’ offense
His most trusted weapon, Kelce, continues to make game-changing plays. Through just two games this season, the veteran tight end has already racked up 108 receiving yards, a touchdown, and two explosive gains of over 20 yards. With his ability to extend drives and break tackles, he remains the heartbeat of Kansas City’s passing game.
The Giants, meanwhile, are leaning heavily on new quarterback Russell Wilson, who has been both their leading passer and rusher. Through two games, Wilson has completed 60.3% of his passes for 618 yards and three touchdowns, while also scrambling for 67 rushing yards.
Skattebo could be the key for the Giants
Fourth-round rookie running back Cam Skattebo has shown flashes as well, scoring his first career touchdown in last week’s overtime loss to Dallas.
With history against them–the Chiefs have never beaten the Giants at their home stadium–Kansas City will need Mahomes and Kelce at their best to avoid the rare sight of a defending powerhouse stuck at 0-3.
Read the full article here
Thank you for joining us for this play-by-play broadcast. We hope you enjoyed it, and we look forward to seeing you next week.