Patrick Mahomes threw for 224 yards and a touchdown and Harrison Butker kicked three field goals to lift the visiting Kansas City Chiefs to a 22-9 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night in East Rutherford, N.J.
Reigning AFC champion Kansas City (1-2) earned its first victory of the season behind an efficient attack and a defense that limited Giants quarterback Russell Wilson to 18-for-32 passing for 160 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
New York, which became the last team in the league to host its home opener this season, was unable to avoid an 0-3 hole. Entering Sunday, 165 teams had started a season 0-3 since 1990 when the NFL expanded to 12 playoff teams; only four qualified for the postseason.
The Chiefs produced a pair of second-half touchdown drives to pull away after a tight first half.
Mahomes, who was 22-of-37 passing for the game, went 5 of 5 for 45 yards on the opening possession of the third quarter, including a 5-yard TD pass to Tyquan Thornton to cap the drive.
A 33-yard connection from Mahomes to Thornton on third-and-10 from the New York 34 set up the game-sealing score, a 1-yard scoring run from Kareem Hunt with 6:03 remaining in the game.
Butker missed the extra point following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Hunt.
The touchdown gave the Chiefs valuable breathing room after the Giants drew within 16-9 on Graham Gano’s 25-yard field goal with 10:12 to go. Gano’s availability wavered as he dealt with an injured groin.
Kansas City took a 9-6 lead into the locker room courtesy of makes of 54, 48 and 28 yards from Butker. The Giants tied the game at 6 on rookie Cam Skattebo’s 13-yard TD run with 1:44 left in the second quarter, but the Chiefs blocked Jamie Gillan’s point-after attempt.
Chiefs defensive backs Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie held New York star wideout Malik Nabers to two catches for 13 yards
New York reached the Chiefs’ 10 late in the game but had a turnover on downs with 2:31 left. The Giants got the ball back with 2:04 remaining, but the possession resulted in another turnover on downs.
Isiah Pacheco rushed for 45 yards on 10 carries, while Hunt finished with 34 yards and a TD on 10 carries. Thornton had five receptions for 71 yards and a TD.
Butker missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt in the first half. Chris Jones notched his first sack of the season for the Chiefs.
Skattebo was New York’s top rusher with 60 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. He also led the team with six catches for 61 yards.
–Field Level Media
