Despite continued offensive struggles, Chiefs get first win of season 22-9 over Giants

By MATT PIKE

It still wasn’t pretty, but the Kansas City Chiefs did just enough to snap their two game losing skid to start the season, earning their first ever win against the New York Giants on the road 22-9 on Sunday Night Football in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 

The Kansas City offense struggled to get much going throughout the entire first half, getting just three field goals.  After the Giants turned the ball over on downs to open the game, the Chiefs put together a 12 play drive that ended with a Harrison Butker 54 yard field goal.  And after forcing New York to punt, on a drive that carried into the second quarter, Butker was forced to kick again, this time from 48 yards away to put the Chiefs up 6-0. 

While Kansas City’s offense struggled, the defense was strong, and Chris Roland-Wallace got the Chiefs first interception of the season, picking off Russell Wilson, but on the ensuing drive Butker missed a 40 yard field goal wide right to extend the lead and the Giants would capitalize, scoring the first touchdown of the game on a 12 yard run by rookie Cam Skattebo.  With an injury to kicker Graham Gano though, punter Jamie Gillan lined up and had his extra point attempt blocked to leave the game tied up 6-6.

The Chiefs offense went three and out on their next drive, but again the defense stepped up to get them the ball back as Wilson threw his second interception of the game, Jaylen Watson picking off the veteran quarterback in the endzone.  Kansas City would use the remaining time in the half to march down into field goal range, for Butker to redeem himself knocking through a 28 yard field goal with no time remaining to go to the halftime break up 9-6. 

Opening the second half with the ball, Kansas City looked like a new team on offense, putting together a complete drive and going 11 plays to score with Patrick Mahomes finding Tyquan Thornton for a second week in a row with a touchdown pass five yards short over the middle, extending their lead to 16-6 on Butker’s extra point for the only score of the third quarter as both teams exchanged punts on their next two drives.  

A 12 play drive that carried between the third quarter and early into the final quarter for the Giants ended with a 25 yard field goal as Gano returned to the game, though on the kick you could see the kicker was in obvious pain as he doubled over after knocking it through.    The Chiefs answered with the final score of the game going nine plays before Kareem Hunt found the endzone on a one yard rush, Hunt’s touchdown run coming after Mahomes connected again with Thornton on a big 33 yard pass on 3rd and 10.  Butker would knock through the extra point, though it was from farther back after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Hunt.

New York would turn the ball over on downs after a 12 play drive, but Kansas City again would have to punt on a three and out, a strong defensive effort by the Chiefs forced another turnover on downs by the Giants to get the ball back and kneel out the remaining time for the first victory of the season.  

Mahomes was 22-for-37 through the air for 224 yards with one touchdown.  Isiah Pacheco rushed 10 times for 45 yards while Hunt rushed 10 times for 34 yards and the touchdown.  Thornton was the leading receiver with five catches for 71 yards and a score.  JuJu Smith-Schuster had four catches for 55 yards while Hollywood Brown had four catches for 42 yards.  

Kansas City (1-2) returns home next to host the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium.  Kickoff on Sunday will be at 3:25pm.  Pregame will air at 2pm on Q Country 92.7 (92.7 FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.