Patrick Mahomes is part of a 0-2 team for the first time in eight seasons as an NFL starting quarterback.
The three-time Super Bowl winner isn’t overly concerned about the slow start as he leads the Kansas City Chiefs to face the also-winless New York Giants on Sunday night at East Rutherford, N.J.
Kansas City has started a season with consecutive losses for the first time since 2014, when Mahomes was a freshman quarterback at Texas Tech.
“Definitely new territory as far as being 0-2, but knowing that we got the guys for it,” Mahomes said Wednesday on his 30th birthday. “We have the mindset of going out there and being even better.
“In my eyes, it’s … an opportunity to prove who we are as the Kansas City Chiefs. Coming back from 0-2 and trying to build up to win a big football game on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ and try to get our season going in the right direction from there.”
An 0-3 start hasn’t proven to be a good path to the postseason.
The 2018 Houston Texans are the lone team this century to lose their first three games and rebound to make the playoffs.
Giants coach Brian Daboll doesn’t feel as if the Chiefs look like a winless squad.
“No, they’re a very good football team,” Daboll said. “They’ve been that way for a long time. A model of consistency in this league for the past decade-plus. A lot of good football players, a lot of good coaches. We’re going to have to do a good job of evaluating and studying them but also improving on the things we need to improve on and do the things we need to do.”
The Chiefs’ two losses have come against two unbeaten teams. Kansas City lost 27-21 to the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil on Sept. 5, then fell 20-17 to visiting Philadelphia last Sunday in a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl, also won by the Eagles.
Perhaps that’s why Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce says there is no reason to panic.
“An 0-2 start is not how you envision the year starting,” Kelce said. “Played two solid teams. … We’ve just got to get the train rolling on the right tracks, man. We’re a play here and a play there away from being 2-0, and that’s what we see when we watch the film.”
New York dropped to 0-2 despite an entertaining effort as it fell 40-37 in overtime to the Dallas Cowboys last week.
Russell Wilson passed for 450 yards, three touchdowns and one interception one week after being criticized for a poor debut with the club in a 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders. The Giants were on the road in both contests.
“I’m excited about our football team,” Wilson said on Wednesday. “I’m excited about the challenge. A little bit of adversity is never a bad thing, it molds you. I think it’s a long season, but we’ve got to play this season right now. Play like this is the fourth quarter, this is the last play of the game every time.”
The Giants are tied for 27th in scoring defense (30.5 points per game) and are dead last in total defense (455.0 yards per game).
New York standout left tackle Andrew Thomas could make his season debut. Thomas underwent foot surgery 11 months ago. He was a limited practice performer all three days this week and says he will be a game-time decision on Sunday.
Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (concussion, eye) did not practice this week and has been ruled out for Sunday. Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) and defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches (foot) are listed as doubtful, while linebacker Chauncey Golston (ankle) and receiver Gunner Olszewski (back) are listed as questionable.
Kansas City receivers Xavier Worthy (dislocated shoulder) and Jalen Royals (knee) were limited participants all week and listed as questionable for Week 3. Defensive end Mike Danna (quadriceps) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) have been ruled out.
The Giants have won 11 of the teams’ 15 meetings, but the Chiefs prevailed in two of the past three.
–Field Level Media
