Keys to a Monday win? Beating Giants is paramount because of what’s next for KC Chiefs
The Chiefs might not be where they wanted to be entering Week 8 of the regular season, but perhaps a game against another NFC East opponent can help them get back on track.
Two of the Chiefs’ three wins this season were against NFC East teams: Philadelphia and Washington.
The Giants (2-5) are 11-3 all-time against the Chiefs (3-4). Chiefs coach Andy Reid has an 18-15 record against the Giants, but most of those games were when he coached the Eagles.
The Chiefs and Giants have met just twice since Reid arrived in KC in 2013. They split those two meetings, with the Chiefs winning 31-7 in 2013 and the Giants winning 12-9 in overtime in 2017.
Make no mistake about Monday night’s matchup at Arrowhead Stadium: The Chiefs need a win badly this time around, especially considering how much their schedule stiffens in the games that follow (more on that in a minute).
Here are some keys to the game for the Chiefs as they seek a return to .500.
TURNOVERS (SOUND FAMILIAR?)
This is a recurring theme. Giving the ball away has contributed to the Chiefs’ four losses, including last week’s 27-3 mauling at Tennessee.
Since Week 2, the Chiefs have lost 17 turnovers. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown nine interceptions, and the Chiefs are minus-10 in turnover margin (tied for 31st in the league).
The Giants, meanwhile, have shown they can get after the football, totaling nine takeaways — six by interception.
Kansas City is a 10-point favorite Monday night, but if the Chiefs want to win it starts with limiting turnovers.
“We know we need to fix that,” Reid said. “If you’re going to have success, we need to fix that.”
A CHANCE TO GET RIGHT
Miscues of offense have certainly hurt the Chiefs, but the defense hasn’t done its part, either.
The Chiefs have shown an ability to hunker down in the second half of games, but by then the damage is often done. That certainly was the case last weekend against the Titans.
The Chiefs enter Week 8 ranked at or near the bottom of numerous major defensive statistical categories: 27th in points allowed (29 per game), 28th in total yards allowed (404.6), 30th in third-down conversion rate (48.5%) and 32nd in yards allowed per play (6.6).
The Chiefs could catch a break against the Giants’ offense, which is led by third-year quarterback Daniel Jones. The Giants rank 19th in total offense (352.3 yards per game), 23rd in yards per play (5.5) and 25th in scoring (19.9 points per game).
There’s more. Star running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), wide receiver Kenny Golladay (knee) and rookie wide receiver Kadarius Toney (ankle) are banged up and didn’t practice Thursday. Barkley and Galladay have missed two straight games.
There’s time for those players to heal up a bit before Monday’s game, but if any or all are unable to play, the Chiefs must take advantage defensively.
PRESSURE THE SECONDARY
The Chiefs’ opponents this season have often dropped their safeties back to prevent deep passes. The Giants likely will, too.
The Giants rank a respectable 13th against the pass, allowing 243.1 yards per game through the air, but the Chiefs shouldn’t be deterred. Before dismantling Carolina last week, the Giants were vulnerable to big plays in two of their previous three games.
The Cowboys scored a 49-yard TD through the air against the Giants in Week 5, and the Rams racked up four big plays, including a 25-yard touchdown, against New York the next week.
Even with so many turnovers, the Chiefs’ offense still ranks among the league’s best, averaging a third-most 419.3 yards per game and a fourth-best 301.1 yards passing per game.
Mahomes, receiver Tyreek Hill and tight Travis Kelce should have plenty of opportunities for big plays Monday.
CHANNEL THAT FRUSTRATION
It’s clear the Chiefs were in disbelief this past week about how their season has gone so far.
“We know what this team is capable of, so there is a shared frustration within the locker room, but we’re all mature,” defensive end Alex Okafor said Thursday. “We’ve had a lot of success, so we understand that, and we know how to get back to that.
“So, there’s no panic. We’re making corrections and we plan on playing better this week.”
It’s a good sign, actually, that the Chiefs are confident they can rebound from their malaise.
“I think just believing in each other,” Mahomes said when asked about the team’s focus. “We have a lot of guys in this locker room that have won a lot of football games and played a lot of great football, so we don’t really worry about what other people outside of this building say.
“We just focus in on what we know we can do and what we’re going to try to do the rest of the season.”
Now it’s time to turn that belief into results. The Chiefs need to win Monday because games awaiting them on the horizon are no easier.
After the Giants, the Chiefs face the Green Bay Packers (7-1), the AFC West-leading Las Vegas Raiders (5-2) and the Cowboys (5-1).
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
