Giants lose to Chiefs 22-9, fall to 0-3

The New York Giants had another opportunity on Sunday night but couldn’t finish drives and capitalize on defense, falling 22-9 to the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium.

Both teams entered the game 0-2, but it was New York (0-3) that left still searching for its first win. The Giants moved the ball at times but Russell Wilson struggled through the air as rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo provided the only offensive sparks

A pivotal moment came in the fourth quarter. Trailing 16-9, the Giants’ defense had Kansas City backed up in a third-and-10 at the New York 35. But Patrick Mahomes found Tyquan Thornton for a 33-yard gain, setting up Kareem Hunt’s touchdown run on the very next play. Instead of getting the ball back with a chance to tie, the Giants fell behind 22-9, and the game slipped away.

New York’s lone touchdown came in the second quarter on Skattebo’s 13-yard rush, capping an eight-play, 70-yard drive. But a blocked extra point left the score tied at 6, and the Giants never led. Graham Gano’s 25-yard field goal early in the fourth trimmed the deficit to seven before the Chiefs delivered the knockout punch.

The defeat extended New York’s struggles under the lights: since 2019, the Giants are just 2-12 in prime-time games, the worst mark in the NFL.

Key Takeaways for the Giants

• Missed chances: New York finished just 1-for-3 in the red zone. Failed to recover two backwards passes
• The backbreaker: Mahomes’ 33-yard strike to Thornton on third-and-10 set up Hunt’s touchdown.
• Prime-time woes: The Giants continue to struggle under the national spotlight.

Halftime score

The Chiefs got three field goals from Harrison Butker to take a 9-6 halftime lead. Cam Skattebo had a 13-yard touchdown run for the Giants.

Russell Wilson was intercepted twice in the first half, the second one leading to “We want Dart” chants.

Injury news

• Giants placekicker Graham Gano was announced as questionable with a groin injury right before the opening kickoff. Gano watched as punter Jamie Gillan handled most placekicking duties, though Gano did complete a 25-yard field goal in the second half.
• Running back Tyrone Tracy left the game late in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. He was ultimately ruled out.

Giants inactives

Left tackle Andrew Thomas made his season debut on Sunday, returning from Lisfranc surgery last October. The inactive players for the Giants were:

• LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Calf)
• LB Darius Muasau (Concussion/Eye)
• DL Chauncey Golston (Ankle)
• OL Evan Neal
• TE Thomas Fidone II
• DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. (Foot)
• QB Jameis Winston (Emergency 3rd QB)

What’s next?

The Giants host the unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 28. Game time at MetLife Stadium is 1 p.m. ET. The Chargers defeated the Broncos, 23-20, on Sunday and are 3-0 for the first time since 2002.