Week 3 Chiefs vs. Giants game preview: Chiefs to accept challenge, play with 'urgency'
The running game, blocking up New York's vaunted defensive line, amongst other things key to snapping 0-2 skid.
The Chiefs will face one of their most critical regular-season matchups in recent memory on Sunday Night Football this week.
Both the Chiefs and the Giants may be winless, but Kansas City badly needs a notch in the win column if they want a remote shot at winning their 10th straight AFC West title.
It is only Week 3, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes is approaching this matchup with urgency, accepting the challenge that lies ahead.
“Obviously, being 0-2, there’s more urgency than even last week and I feel like we were very urgent last week. Definitely new territory as far as being 0-2, but knowing that we got the guys for it. We have the mindset of going out there and being even better.
In my eyes, it looks like what an opportunity. What an opportunity to prove who we are as the Kansas City Chiefs. Coming back from 0-2 and trying to build up to win a big football game on Sunday Night Football and try and get our season going in the right direction from there.”
Nobody would expect the Chiefs to defeat the Ravens in Week 4 if they fall to 0-3, coming off a loss to New York. Looking down the barrel of a 0-4 start to the season would be a realistic possibility.
Teams of the Chiefs' caliber beat teams like the Giants, regardless of who is injured or suspended.
The real question is, what version of the Chiefs are the viewers going to get?
In Week 1, the defense was putrid, but the offense scored on its final five possessions.
In Week 2, the offense lost a game in which their defense limited the Super Bowl Champs to 216 total yards.
Poor execution on third downs, a lack of running game and zero pass rush have been a constant, however.
The Chiefs are converting 34.6 percent (26th) of their third downs, are averaging 3.3 yards per carry by their running backs and have only two sacks by defensive linemen.
0-2 is uncharted territory in the Mahomes era, but these are the glaring holes where marginal improvements could make a big difference.
“I trust this group,” coach Andy Reid said. “I mean, this group’s a good group, got good leadership and they’ll stay together. And they’ll work hard on cleaning things up. There’s nobody more aware of it than the guys and we’ll make sure we get back to the drawing board. This game (Philadelphia Eagles) here was more on the offensive side, and we’ve got to take care of that.”
The run game should be something they can get going on Sunday night. The New York Giants are dead last in the NFL, allowing over 177 yards per game on the ground.
If Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt do not get going in Week 3, running back may be at the top of the mid-season shopping list. Reid did mention this week that they have been practicing more under center, but it remains to be seen if that comes to fruition or if it aids the running backs.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy would love to see some more consistency, especially when there are holes open for them to run through.
“It’s hit and miss per play,” Nagy said. “There are some runs where I think we all see that, and the RBs see it. I think that’s every game. It’s our job as coaches to make sure that they understand where that is at, and then when to hit it is a big part of it … we want to really get that going (and) it hasn’t been there yet, but that’s something we want to emphasize.”
No Kristian Fulton, no problem?
The Chiefs have essentially played without the cornerback they signed to a $20-million deal this offseason. In Week 1, Kristian Fulton played 15 snaps and he exited Week 2 in the first quarter. This week, he has been a non-participant in practice with an ankle injury and is listed as out.
Week 1 didn’t go so well. Week 2 was a different story.
After getting torched on 30 snaps out of the slot against the Los Angeles Chargers, Chamarri Conner only played 17 there against the Eagles. He wound up playing 37 snaps at safety and finished as the third-highest graded defender, according to PFF.
Rookie Nohl Williams actually finished at number one, albeit on eight snaps, but those did allow cornerback Trent McDuffie and others to kick inside to the slot more often.
Outside corner Jaylen Watson and safety Bryan Cook finished second and fourth, capping off a brilliant day for the defensive backfield in Fulton’s absence.
Second-year safety Jaden Hicks also had a much more successful second week.
If there is one thing we know about Russell Wilson, though, it is that he is not afraid to take the cap off of the defense.
Against the Cowboys in Week 2, he posted an astonishing 13.9 ADOT (average depth of target), while tossing for 450 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.
“I have seen him clicking on all cylinders,” safety Bryan Cook said. “Trusting his arm, letting it sling, trusting his guys and getting the ball to his go-to guys as well. I think he found his different type of groove.”
Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson combined for over 300 of those yards. This position group that just aced a test, holding A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to 80 total yards, will be put to examination again this week.
Potential for a wide receiver duo returning
The offense has been stale through two weeks. There is no doubt about that.
In the same breath, you cannot fail to mention that they have also been without their top two receivers, in Rashee Rice and Xavier Worhty, since the third play of the season.
As a result, the Chiefs ranked 18th in yards and 24th in points scored.
The offense has been far too reliant on Mahomes' legs, veteran Travis Kelce making a play in the intermediate areas or hoping Tyquan Thornton hauls one in down the field, to get any sort of offense going.
While Rice is out for the next four games, Worthy and Jalen Royals may be suiting up Sunday night in New Jersey.
Royals were listed as limited in the first practice, but rounded out the week with two straight fully participated ones.
Worthy, on the other hand, logged three straight limited practices. Mahomes says Worthy is itching to get on the field, though.
“Yeah, I think more than anything, having him (Worthy) out there is just a threat in general,” Mahomes said. “He can at any moment take a pass – short or long and he can take it to the house. Having him out on the practice field was very encouraging last week. Obviously, we didn’t know after that injury in Brazil, but seeing him out there, he wanted to stay out there. It was kinda like holding him back.”
Adding a talented speed threat and a rookie who has a knack for yards after the catch would be a much-welcomed boost. Both are listed as questionable, however.
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O-line to be tested
There is a path to the Chiefs starting 0-3, and it lies within their offensive line not letting this one get away from them.
On paper, the Giants are as dominant up front as it gets.
They have the best defensive tackle in the NFL, in Dexter Lawrence.
On the edge it is the well-established Brian Burns, and two top draft picks, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter.
“They have a really good defensive front,” center Creed Humphrey said. “Really good at all positions, too. It’s not just one standout guy here or there. They have really good players across the board. So, it’s going to be a great challenge for us, and I’m excited to see how our guys work this week through practice and getting ready for the game.”
After losing Joe Thuney and not having an established left tackle last season, the Chiefs have completely revamped the left side of their offensive line with rookie left tackle Josh Simmons and second-year left guard Kingsley Suamataia.
Suamataia has been met with mixed reviews, but Simmons seems to have passed every step along the way in his young career. Suamataia’s neighbor along the line likes what he’s seen, though.
“Yeah, they’re (Simmons and Suamataia) both improving each week,” Humphrey said. “They’re both coming in with the right mindset, working on the things they need to work on and they’ve gotten better throughout the past two weeks. (I) continue to hope to see a good jump from them. But they're coming in (and) they’re playing their tails off, efforts been awesome and they're continuing to improve each week.”
Mahomes has been sacked four times through the first two games, but has left the pocket to scramble or has gotten antsy, frequently.
Mahomes himself admits that the offensive line may be performing better than he has trusted them during the heat of the moment when he feels pressure in the pocket.
Against this front, Mahomes will need to trust them to find the receivers downfield against a porous Giants secondary.
“I have confidence in (the offensive line). I just gotta continue to show that on gamedays,” Mahomes said. “I think that’s probably the biggest thing I saw is that there was times that I left the pocket early this last week. Even on some of the runs and I’m like: ‘If I can just sit in that pocket and trust those guys that are gonna protect.’ That’s a good Eagles defensive line, obviously, and we’re going up against another great challenge, but the more I trust them, the better the offense will be. I’m going to continue to do that and try and hang in that pocket and make throws on the field.”
Them, as well as Humphrey, right guard Trey Smith and Jawaan Taylor will have perhaps their biggest challenge of the season on a game that Kansas City must win.
Can Chiefs rookies build on Week 2 performance?
If you look around, all five rookies the Chiefs drafted in the first four rounds are getting competitive opportunities.
Obviously, Simmons is the team's starting left tackle. He has been one of the bright spots this season.
Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott just picked up his first sack this season. Fellow defensive linemen, edge rusher Ashton Gillotte could be looking at his first starter-level snaps this week with Danna listed as out.
Cornerback Nohl Williams is filling in some of the gaps that the injured Fulton and Nazeeh Johnson have left behind. He was even put in one-on-one coverage against the Eagles’ Brown and Smith on key third downs in Week 2.
With the state of the wide receiver room, rookie fourth-rounder, Royals, is viewed as someone who could come in and fill in some of the Rice slot snaps.
All but Royals, who has not played yet, have flashed in some vital way in the first two weeks.
“I would tell you I thought they (Gillotte and Williams) did a solid job in there,” Reid said. “I liked the effort, I liked them hustling, getting themselves to the ball (and) getting off blocks up front. I thought Williams did a nice job on a couple of coverages down the field. I thought they were very respectable.”
Gillotte, who, aside from Simmons, may have the most significant role of any Chiefs rookie this week, has only logged 14 pass rush snaps this season.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says that is not by design. Most of them and his 20 run defense snaps came last week against the Eagles.
“I mean, they’re (snaps) up for a reason,” Spagnuolo said. “He’s (Gillotte) played pretty good football for us. Now, the first game, he got the elbow (injury), and I think he only got nine plays. He would’ve had more there. I just see him continuing to do that. I think the guys are getting a lot of confidence in him. I think I mentioned this last week, every time I turn the one-on-ones on against our guys, I think he’s doing a really good job. He’ll keep ticking upward.”
Considering the Chiefs only have two sacks by defensive linemen this season, Gillotte and Norman-Lott providing some juice would be a delight to Spagnuolo.
Key injuries
Chiefs: Defensive end Mike Danna (quad) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) have been listed as out, while wide receivers Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Jalen Royals (knee) are listed as questionable.
Giants: Former Chiefs defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (foot) is listed as doubtful, as is linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf). Linebacker Darius Muasau (concussion) is the only Giant who is listed as out.
Key game details
Location: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date: Sunday, Sept. 21
Kickoff: 7:20 p.m. CT
TV/Streaming: NBC
Broadcasters: Mike Trico and Chris Collinsworth
Radio: 96.5 The Fan
Head Referee: Land Clark
Betting Line: Chiefs -6 | Moneyline: -300 | Over/Under: 45
Weather Forecast: Clear to partly cloudy, 70°, winds around 5-10 mph, 6% chance of rain
