In this battle of two winless NFL teams, most certainly would have viewed the Giants as less likely to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start.
They would have been correct.
After hanging with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs for much of the first half, the Giants ultimately fell short yet again in a dreary 22-9 loss Sunday night in their home opener before an already restless crowd at MetLife Stadium.
Only six teams since the 1970 merger — and one in the 2000s, the 2018 Texans — have reached the playoffs after dropping their first three games.
But to invoke that legendary quote in NFL lore, “Playoffs?!”
Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson managed just 39 of his 160 passing yards in the first half for the Giants after throwing for a career-high 450 in last week’s overtime loss to the Cowboys. He also was picked off twice, including once in the end zone in the second quarter.
Some fans in attendance at the home opener predictably chanted, “We Want Dart” late in the first half for first-round pick Jaxson Dart. The rookie got on the field for one running play (a 3-yard scramble) early in the third quarter and two more handoffs in the fourth before Wilson returned to boos.
Malik Nabers was also a non-factor with zero catches on two targets in the first half, and a career-low two for the game for 13 yards.
Fellow starter Wan’Dale Robinson was also shut out until making one late catch.
Starting left tackle Andrew Thomas at least made his season debut following 2024 foot surgery, but running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. left the game late in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. Rookie Cam Skattebo (121 combined yards) scored the lone touchdown for the Giants.
Kicker Graham Gano also was unavailable for much of the game with a groin injury apparently suffered during pregame warmups, but he came on for the first time to nail a 25-yard field goal for a 16-9 game with 10:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Mahomes finished with 224 passing yards and one touchdown to go along with three Harrison Butker field goals for Kansas City.
The Giants operated a throwback opening drive in which all 11 plays were either running plays or short pass attempts to backs Tracy and Skattebo, but the 6-minute drive stalled with no points on the scoreboard.
With Gano announced as questionable right after the national anthem, the Giants went for it on fourth-and-3 from the Chiefs 38 and Wilson’s short pass intended for Tracy was broken up by Nick Bolton.
