In the New York Giants’ first visit to Kansas City in eight years, the Giants fell short, 20-17, to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. The Giants dropped to 2-6 on the season and the Chiefs improved to 4-4.
How it happened
The Chiefs entered Monday night’s game leading the league with 17 giveaways. The Giants took advantage of that weakness on Kansas City’s opening drive. Patrick Mahomes drove 13 plays down the field all the way to the Giants’ 5-yard line. Then, Julian Love intercepted Mahomes’ pass intended for Josh Gordon to give New York the ball and prevent the Chiefs from scoring.
But the momentum was short-lived as, just two plays later, Daniel Jones’ pass intended for Darius Slayton was intercepted by Willie Gay Jr. The Chiefs did not miss the chance to capitalize on this red zone opportunity as Mahomes connected with Tyreek Hill for a six-yard touchdown at 6:12 in the first quarter to take an early 7-0 lead. It was the first touchdown the Giants gave up in the first quarter this season. They had given up only six total first-quarter points through seven games.
With 1:56 left in the first quarter, Jones connected with John Ross deep over the middle of the field for a 50-yard catch to advance to the Kansas City 36-yard line. The explosiveness continued on the next play when Jones flipped the ball to Kadarius Toney who completed a 19-yard pass to Sterling Shepard. On fourth-and-1, the Giants showed no hesitation in going for it. Jones connected with Kyle Rudolph for a touchdown pass at 14:18 in the second quarter to tie the score at seven.
The Chiefs added to their lead at 6:42 in the second quarter when Derrick Gore rushed for a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7. The Chiefs’ scoring drive was 11 plays and they only faced one third down situation.
With just under five minutes to play in the first half, on first down on their own 33-yard line, Jones connected with Devontae Booker for a 41-yard reception. A 15-yard penalty by the Chiefs allowed the Giants to advance to the Kansas City 13-yard line. On fourth-and-2 from the Chiefs’ 7-yard line, Joe Judge sent out the field goal unit. Gano converted the 23-yard kick to make it 14-10 with 2:48 left to play in the first half.
The Chiefs took a four-point lead into the locker room at halftime.
On Travis Kelce’s second reception of the game with 3:36 left to play in the third quarter on the Giants’ 38-yard line, Logan Ryan stripped the ball and forced a fumble. It was recovered by James Bradberry who ran it to the Giants’ own 43-yard line.
Jones led the Giants down the field on the following possession to the Chiefs’ 5-yard line. On third-and-four, Jones connected with Evan Engram for a five-yard touchdown pass in the top corner of the end zone at 14:57 in the fourth quarter. The catch was Engram’s first of the game. The Giants’ scoring drive was eight plays and 57 yards.
The Chiefs tied the score at 17 when Harrison Butker converted a 36-yard field goal at 8:56 in the fourth quarter.
Kansas City took a 20-17 lead with 1:12 left to play in the game when Butker converted a 34-yard field goal. On the Chiefs’ nine-play, 55-yard scoring drive, Darnay Holmes intercepted Mahomes’ pass but the call was reversed due to a offsides penalty on Oshane Ximines. There were also two back-to-back penalties called on the Giants defense later in the drive that allowed the Chiefs to stay on the field.
The Giants got the ball back with 1:07 left in the game but were unable to score.
First-half stats
The Giants trailed the Chiefs, 14-10, at the half. Jones was 11 of 16 for 135 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The Giants had 10 first downs while the Chiefs had 15. New York had 191 yards of total offense while Kansas City recorded 180.
The Chiefs won the time-of-possession battle in the first half, holding the ball for 17:31 compared to 12:29 for the Giants.
The Giants and Chiefs each had one turnover in the first half.
Some notable defensive stops in the first half: Playmakers Travis Kelce had one catch for 3 yards and Tyreek Hill had eight catches but only 56 yards
Stats
- Jones was 22 of 32 with 222 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the game. He rushed for 12 yards on five attempts.
- Ross had two receptions for 72 yards.
- Booker recorded 60 rushing yards on 15 attempts.
- Rudolph, who had gone 16 games without a TD catch, made his first TD reception as a Giant in the second quarter.
- Leonard Williams recorded one sack, one quarterback hit, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble.
- The Giants’ defense has now created a turnover in each of the first eight games.
Injury news
Dante Pettis left the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.
Sterling Shepard left the game at the end of the first half with a quad injury.
Giants inactives
Saquon Barkley (ankle)
LB Lorenzo Carter (ankle)
DB Nate Ebner (ankle)
WR Kenny Golladay (knee)
DB J.R. Reed
DT Danny Shelton
What’s next?
The Giants will return home to MetLife Stadium next week to host the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
