Coming off Week 2’s 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in an unaccustomed position: starting the season 0-2. Can they collect their first win of the season against the New York Giants on “Sunday Night Football?”
Here’s what I’ll be wondering as the game gets underway.
1. Can Kansas City get out to a fast start?
Through two games, the Chiefs have not been able to get their offense moving quickly. In both Week 1 and Week 2, Kansas City went three-and-out on its opening drive. If you combine the first
three drives of both games, the team has just three total points. The first 15 plays are the ones head coach Andy Reid scripts throughout the week — but this year, those have not been clicking.
This week, the Chiefs need to get out to a fast start. Can Reid craft a script that maximizes the current roster? Getting tight end Travis Kelce going early feels like a good way to jump-start the opening drive. If Kansas City can design plays that free Kelce in space for chunk gains, it could help put the offense into rhythm.
2. How will the offensive line do against the best pass rush it has seen?
The New York pass rush may be the best the Chiefs have faced so far. Some might argue that case for the Eagles, but the Giants have more top-end talent. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and defensive tackle Jalen Carter are both arguably the best at their positions. New York also features Pro Bowl defensive end Brian Burns and second-overall pick Abdul Carter on the edge. Beyond those stars, defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux is a former top-10 pick, and the team has solid depth with defensive tackles Darius Alexander — and former Chief Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who is doubtful for the game with a foot injury.
What makes the Giants’ pass rush dangerous is its versatility: New York can exploit matchups with its best players. Lawrence is the league’s best run-stuffer, but he also has a wide range of pass-rush moves and can dominate both at nose tackle and as a three-technique. Carter has already shown the ability to be a Swiss Army piece. He can win from the edge, line up over a guard or center, and create havoc with his athleticism. Burns primarily rushes from the edge, and his speed helps him collapse the pocket.
The Giants will be testing Jawaan Taylor and Kingsley Suamataia in one-on-one matchups. Taylor will see a lot of Burns — and it will be critical for him to seal the corner so Patrick Mahomes can escape outside the pocket. Taylor also needs to limit holding penalties when Burns bends around the arc. Suamataia will face both Lawrence and Carter, and he must be prepared for both. When Lawrence lines up over him, Suamataia must anchor and reestablish leverage after initial contact. Against Carter, he must stay agile and light on his feet, ready to react to whichever move Carter shows.
Against Carter, rookie left tackle Josh Simmons may face his toughest challenge yet. Because of Simmons’ injury, we didn’t see Carter playing against him in college last season, so this matchup is highly anticipated. Simmons has been outstanding through two games. If he passes this test, there won’t be a whole lot left for him to prove in the early going.
3. Can Kansas City establish a running game?
With the wide receiver group still banged up, the Chiefs will need to run the football; they just do not have the pass catchers to put the entire burden on Mahomes. He can create magic with scrambles and off-script throws, but that is not a sustainable way to win. Even with Mahomes playing well in the first two games, the offense has been constrained without consistent help on the perimeter.
Kansas City should lean further into its run game by going under center and committing to it. No more run-pass options or shotgun runs for Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. The offense needs to dedicate itself to heavier personnel and wear down defenses physically.
And because of Lawrence, the Giants will provide a tough test, as he can single-handedly disrupt an opponent’s rushing attack. Fortunately for Kansas City, center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith are among the best interior run blockers in football. Through two games, Suamataia has shown promise in the run game, and Simmons has looked strong as well.
The Chiefs have several athletic offensive linemen who combine power and agility, and they should lean into that strength. Instead of trying to cover up weaknesses in the passing game, they should rely on the ground game to control tempo. This way, when the wide receivers return, Kansas City can marry its rushing attack with play-action to generate explosive plays. Sunday night would be a good time to start that shift.
