Mistakes and penalties threatened to derail the Kansas City Chiefs once again, but Patrick Mahomes and a swarming defense steadied things just in time. Kansas City avoided its first 0-3 start in 14 years with a 22-9 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.
Mahomes, who turned 30 this week, wasn’t flawless. He even had to recover his own errant backward pass after linebacker Bobby Okereke nearly turned it into a turnover. But the three-time Super Bowl champion made enough winning plays to lift the Chiefs (1-2). Mahomes completed 22 of 37 passes for 224 yards, including a touchdown strike to Tyquan Thornton, and delivered a dazzling on-the-run 33-yard throw to Thornton midway through the fourth quarter. That pass set up Kareem Hunt’s 1-yard touchdown plunge that sealed the outcome and sent Giants fans filing toward the exits.
“Sometimes it’s about keeping your composure when things aren’t clean,” Mahomes said. “We found a way tonight, and that’s what matters.”
Kansas City’s defense carried plenty of weight too. Linebacker Nick Bolton racked up a game-high 14 tackles, while the secondary clamped down on Giants rookie Malik Nabers, holding the first-round wideout to just two catches for 13 yards. That came a week after the Chiefs limited Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to nine receptions combined.
The Giants (0-3) had their own struggles. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson tossed two interceptions and finished 18 of 32 for just 160 yards. MetLife Stadium erupted in chants of “We want Dart!” following Wilson’s second pick. Rookie Jaxson Dart did take a handful of snaps late but handed the ball off each time, leaving his first NFL pass attempt still waiting.
One bright spot for New York was rookie running back Cam Skattebo, who scored a touchdown for the second straight week and piled up 121 total yards. He shared carries with Devin Singletary after Tyrone Tracy exited in the first quarter with a shoulder injury.
For the Chiefs, it was the kind of gritty performance they desperately needed. Isiah Pacheco provided balance with 45 rushing yards on 10 carries, allowing Mahomes to stay out of harm’s way after leading Kansas City in rushing in each of the first two games.
The victory gave Kansas City its first mark in the win column this season and prevented the franchise’s first 0-3 start since 2011—two years before Andy Reid arrived to begin a run that has included three Super Bowl championships and five AFC title game appearances.
“This is about fighting through adversity,” Reid said. “Our guys did that tonight.”
Chiefs: Host the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday in a marquee AFC clash. Giants: Return home to face the Los Angeles Chargers, still seeking their first win.
