Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Beat Giants 22-9 for First Win/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first victory of the season with a 22-9 win over the New York Giants. Mahomes threw for 224 yards and a touchdown while the Chiefs’ defense stifled Giants QB Russell Wilson. The win prevented Kansas City’s first 0-3 start since 2011 and gave Andy Reid’s team momentum heading into Week 4.
Chiefs vs. Giants + Quick Look
- Final Score: Chiefs 22, Giants 9 at MetLife Stadium.
- Mahomes: 22-of-37, 224 yards, 1 TD, 1 key fumble recovery.
- Tyquan Thornton: touchdown catch and 33-yard reception to set up Kareem Hunt’s score.
- Nick Bolton: 14 tackles, led Chiefs’ defense.
- Isiah Pacheco: 45 rushing yards on 10 carries.
- Giants’ Russell Wilson: 160 yards, 2 interceptions, chants for rookie Jaxson Dart.
- Giants’ Cam Skattebo: 121 total yards, 1 rushing TD.
- Chiefs’ defense shut down Malik Nabers, limiting him to 2 catches, 13 yards.
- Injuries: Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (neck scare), Giants kicker Graham Gano (groin).
- Next games: Chiefs host Ravens, Giants host Chargers in Week 4.
Deep Look: Mahomes and Chiefs Defeat Giants 22-9 for First Win of Season
The Kansas City Chiefs avoided their first 0-3 start in 14 years with a 22-9 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night, led by Patrick Mahomes and a resilient defensive effort that quieted the crowd at MetLife Stadium.
Mahomes Settles In After Rocky Start
Mahomes admitted after the game that he made some sloppy plays early, including a bizarre backward pass that nearly became a costly turnover.
“I kept throwing the ball backwards,” he joked. “That’s not good.”
But the former MVP quickly steadied himself, finishing 22-of-37 for 224 yards, including a touchdown pass to Tyquan Thornton. Mahomes also delivered the game’s defining moment when he wrestled the ball away from Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke, preventing a turnover and preserving Kansas City’s momentum.
Later, his 33-yard sideline strike to Thornton set up a short touchdown run by Kareem Hunt that sealed the game in the fourth quarter.
“It was a good win to get, in particular when you haven’t had one,” coach Andy Reid said, relieved his team avoided the franchise’s worst start since 2011.
Bolton and Defense Set the Tone
Linebacker Nick Bolton was all over the field, recording 14 tackles as Kansas City’s defense smothered New York’s offense. The Chiefs allowed just one third-down conversion on 10 attempts, frustrating Russell Wilson and the Giants’ attack all night.
“We’ve been searching for one win,” Bolton said. “The main thing now is to keep stacking and get another.”
Kansas City also contained Giants rookie star Malik Nabers, limiting him to just 2 catches for 13 yards, a week after holding Philadelphia’s dynamic receivers in check. “For us to clamp down on him was huge,” Reid said.
Wilson Struggles, Giants Fans Grow Restless
For the Giants, the loss marked an 0-3 start, and the frustrations were evident. Wilson threw for just 160 yards with two interceptions, drawing boos and chants of “We want Dart!” from the stands.
Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart made a brief appearance, but all his snaps were handoffs. Coach Brian Daboll defended sticking with Wilson despite the crowd’s calls. “When you don’t convert on third down, it’s hard to sustain anything,” Daboll said. “I would be booing too.”
Bright Spot: Rookie Cam Skattebo
One of the few positives for New York was the performance of rookie running back Cam Skattebo, who racked up 121 yards from scrimmage and scored his second touchdown in as many weeks. With Tyrone Tracy sidelined by a shoulder injury, Skattebo carried much of the backfield workload alongside Devin Singletary.
Injuries Add to Giants’ Concerns
The Giants’ injury list grew longer when kicker Graham Gano was ruled out until the fourth quarter with a groin injury. He converted a short field goal once available. Left tackle Andrew Thomas made his return after 11 months out due to foot surgery, but only lasted 26 snaps before rookie Marcus Mbow replaced him as planned.
For Kansas City, safety Bryan Cook left with a neck scare after defending a deep pass to Nabers, but Reid later said he was “fine.” Receiver Xavier Worthy missed his second consecutive game with a shoulder issue.
Chiefs Avoid Crisis, Eye Ravens Next
At 1-2, the Chiefs may not be dominant yet, but Sunday’s win was crucial for a team accustomed to fast starts under Reid. With three Super Bowl titles in the past decade, the Chiefs remain among the league’s elite — and Mahomes’ leadership once again proved decisive.
The Giants, meanwhile, remain winless and face mounting questions about their quarterback situation as pressure builds on Daboll and his staff.
Next week, Kansas City hosts the Baltimore Ravens in a marquee AFC showdown, while New York welcomes the Los Angeles Chargers, desperate for their first victory.
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