KC Chiefs’ report card vs. Giants: Win earns passing grade but this team needs to study
The Chiefs, a 10 1/2 point favorite, got by the New York Giants 20-17 on Monday Night Football. It was another uneven performance for the Chiefs, who nevertheless improved to 4-4.
Next: The Chiefs play host to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Green Bay improved to 7-1 with its victory last Thursday at Arizona. Sunday’s game, at 3:25 p.m., will be broadcast on Fox (Ch. 4).
KC STAR OF THE GAME
For the second straight week, it goes to linebacker Willie Gay, this time in a victory. Gay turned in the signature play on defense for the Chiefs with his interception to end the Giants’ first possession. It followed another Patrick Mahomes pick that had deflated the Arrowhead crowd. Gay finished with nine tackles, second to Nick Bolton’s 11.
Passing offense: D
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: The Chiefs drove to the red zone on their first possession, only to have it end in a turnover. Another Mahomes pass that was deflected.
After that, Mahomes was off-kilter for the rest of the half. He completed his first eight passes then went 8 for his next 23. Travis Kelce lost a fumble for the first time this season. And once again, the Chiefs had been driving when the turnover occurred.
It’s stunning that the Chiefs still cannot adjust to cover-2 looks. And when Mahomes finally got a receiver behind the Giants’ defense, Mahomes underthrew Tyreek Hill. Mecole Hardman turned a shovel-pass into a 24-yard gain — the Chiefs’ longest play of the night — that set up the game-winning field goal.
Rushing offense: C
Derrick Gore, in his third NFL game, ran hard and strong. On the Chiefs’ second touchdown drive, he gained 41 yards, including the final 3 for his first touchdown. Gore had an excellent preseason and was called up from the practice squad three weeks ago when Clyde Edwards-Helaire was injured.
The Chiefs finished with 107 yards on the ground. Darrel Williams had with 49, Gore 48. It seemed like there should have been more production here with the Giants taking away weapons in the Chiefs’ passing game.
Passing defense: C
The pass rush got home in the end. The Giants had no timeouts when they took over with 1:07 remaining down three. On second and 7, Chris Jones got his first sack since the season opener. On fourth down, Frank Clark finished off the game with his first sack this season.
The game started well in this department for the Chiefs thanks to Willie Gay’s interception of Daniel Jones off a terrific read. But there were problems for much of the game. Daniel Sorensen surrendered a 50-yard completion on the Giants’ first touchdown drive. Sorensen later was beaten on a short touchdown pass to Evan Engram.
The Chiefs dialed up a pass rush on a snap toward the end of the third quarter and got Jones to throw one he shouldn’t have. L’Jarius Sneed was in position to make the interception with plenty of grass in front of him. But he slipped, fell and surrendered the completion.
A holding call on Charvarius Ward kept alive a fourth-quarter drive.
Rushing defense: B
Gay came up with big stop of Daniel Jones on a third-and-1, forcing a Giants punt. Saquon Barkley did not play for the Giants Monday as he recovers from an injury. Devontae Booker finished with 60 yards on 15 attempts, and the Giants rushed for just 72 as a team. The Chiefs will take that every game.
Special teams: B
Harrison Butker booted the game-winner from 34 yards with 1:07 remaining. He also tied the game with a 36-yard field goal with 8:53 to play. It was a good night for punter Tommy Townsend, who averaged 50.8 yards on four kicks. But it was a tough night for Marcus Kemp, one of the team’s most reliable coverage men. He was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a Giants punt return ... and that denied the Chiefs a chance to set up their defense inside the 5. Kemp also couldn’t come up with a fumble on another punt-return opportunity..
This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 10:50 PM.