The Kansas City Chiefs are staring down a must-win situation as they head into Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants, aiming to avoid an 0-3 start for the first time in over a decade.
The nine-time defending AFC West champions have dropped their first two games — a 23-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and a narrow 20-17 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles — leaving them in unfamiliar territory.
Since 2012, the Chiefs haven’t finished a season with a losing record, but history suggests their playoff hopes hang in the balance: only 12.2% of teams that start 0-2 have reached the postseason.
The Giants also urgently need a victory
The Giants, meanwhile, are also 0-2 after falling in a 40-37 overtime thriller to the Dallas Cowboys. While few were surprised by New York’s struggles, Kansas City’s stumble has raised eyebrows across the league.
Sunday’s matchup carries extra intrigue thanks to one unusual stat: the Chiefs have never beaten the Giants on their home field. They’re 0-1 at MetLife Stadium and 0-7 all-time on the road against the Giants, despite having beaten the Jets in the same venue. Overall, Kansas City is just 4-11 against New York since 1974.
Still, the Chiefs have recent momentum in the series, having won the last two meetings, including a 20-17 victory in 2021. Now, they’ll need to rewrite history if they want to claw back into playoff contention.
Kelce is chasing a record
As always, all eyes will be on Travis Kelce, who is chasing history of his own. The star tight end needs just two touchdowns to tie Priest Holmes for the most in Chiefs franchise history (83) and 33 receiving yards to tie Dante Hall (12,356).
With both teams desperate for their first win, Sunday night could mark a turning point — or another devastating setback.
Mahomes and Kelce give Chiefs a crucial edge over winless Giants in Week 3 showdown
The Kansas City Chiefs are banking on their superstar duo of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce to finally put them in the win column when they face the New York Giants in Week 3. With both teams entering the primetime clash winless, only one will avoid the dreaded 0-3 start.
For the Chiefs, the pressure couldn’t be higher. Despite being the favorites on paper, Kansas City knows that in the AFC West, a third straight loss could send their season spiraling. Mahomes, now in his ninth year with the team, remains the ultimate X-factor.
The quarterback has already cemented his legacy as the youngest player to win both a league MVP and a Super Bowl, and his numbers back it up: in 114 career games, he’s thrown for 32,797 yards, 247 touchdowns, and rushed for 2,366 yards with 16 scores on the ground.
Kelce is the heart of the Chiefs’ offense
His most trusted weapon, Kelce, continues to make game-changing plays. Through just two games this season, the veteran tight end has already racked up 108 receiving yards, a touchdown, and two explosive gains of over 20 yards. With his ability to extend drives and break tackles, he remains the heartbeat of Kansas City’s passing game.
The Giants, meanwhile, are leaning heavily on new quarterback Russell Wilson, who has been both their leading passer and rusher. Through two games, Wilson has completed 60.3% of his passes for 618 yards and three touchdowns, while also scrambling for 67 rushing yards.
Skattebo could be the key for the Giants
Fourth-round rookie running back Cam Skattebo has shown flashes as well, scoring his first career touchdown in last week’s overtime loss to Dallas.
With history against them–the Chiefs have never beaten the Giants at their home stadium–Kansas City will need Mahomes and Kelce at their best to avoid the rare sight of a defending powerhouse stuck at 0-3.