N.Y. GIANTS (vs. K.C.): They're 0-2, but it's not all bad -- New York rolled up 506 net yards and 4 touchdowns at Dallas.
But while Kansas City is also winless, their defense looks just fine, allowing an average of 305 net yards and 23.5 points to a pair of strong opponents (Chargers, Eagles). Will be tough for New York to avoid an 0-3 start, and win or lose it's probably best to lower expectations for the offense.
Russell Wilson just threw for 450 yards and 3 touchdowns, but risky to chase that production. That was a wild shootout against a team missing its best cornerback. This pass defense is better; lit up by Justin Herbert (318 yards, 3 TDs) but holding Jalen Hurts to 101 and 1 last week. Kansas City has a good feel for Wilson, facing him 5 times the last three seasons and sacking him 25 times in those games. He threw 8 TDs in those contests, but was held to 205 or fewer yards in three of them. Different teams, but unlikely he lights this group up. While Wilson is 36, he's still a gamer, running for 67 yards the first two weeks. He ran for 55 yards and a score against this defense a year ago. But that's his only rushing touchdown in his last 12 starts. Another negative with Wilson is the presence of Jaxson Dart. The rookie didn't play in the opener but was on the field for 3 plays at Dallas. Not to great effect (he lost 3 yards on a carry), but presumably they'll get him involved every week going forward. With New York's season spiraling out of control quickly (the upcoming schedule is very difficult), Dart will probably be starting here before long.
Kansas City was better against the run (8th) than the pass (16th) a year ago, and looks similar now. Setting aside quarterback runs the Chargers went for only 58 yards in the opener. Saquon Barkley went for 88 yards and a score, but didn't actually have a great game (4.0 per attempt). And the Giants don't have a back like Barkley (now), with Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy splitting time. Tracy had a credible rookie season (an average of 66 total yards per game, and 4.4 per attempt), but the team seems to have soured on him. They drafted Skattebo early in the fourth round and he was on the field more than Tracy against Dallas, carrying 11 times for 45 yards, while also catching 2 passes. Tracy caught 4 balls but saw only 5 carries, for 15 yards (he also returned kicks, a troubling sign). So Skattebo looks like the better bet going forward, but not a great matchup. Devin Singletary actually started at Dallas, though it's not clear why. He played only 4 snaps.
Malik Nabers has been a highlight, with 12-13 targets in each game and 2 TDs, one a 48-yard bomb despite two defenders all over him that looked like a game-winner with 27 seconds left last week. Kansas City has good personnel in the secondary but allowed three different Chargers wideouts to catch 5-7 passes, and with 3 TDs to the position. Wan'Dale Robinson also caught a touchdown from outside 30 yards at Dallas, and had a 50-yard catch in that game. More commonly he'll be catching shorter passes (his other 12 catches on the season have gone for 115 yards), but he's caught as many balls as Nabers. Those guys are the passing offense (just 2 catches on 4 targets for Darius Slayton so far).
After a 1-catch opener, Theo Johnson caught 4 for 34 in the Dallas shootout. No tight end touchdowns against Kansas City yet, but they haven't faced a notable one. Not that Johnson is that kind of player either, but maybe he can get there -- he had 18 catches in his last five games a year ago.
Graham Gano gets a lesser matchup. Kansas City has allowed 4 field goals in two games, which is an ordinary figure, but both against playoff teams from last year. Last season they allowed just 24 (6th-fewest). It may be difficult for Gano to settle for field goals in this one, unless the defense is playing a whole lot better than it did in Dallas.
The Giants Defense has a lot of pass rushing talent, and has 6 sacks so far. If they're to make a game of it, knocking Patrick Mahomes around some will be the way. But Mahomes is generally good at getting rid of the ball (188 sacks in 114 games), and he's usually careful about avoiding interceptions. Just 1 this season, and that one clanged off his receiver's hands. The Giants might still be deciding on their kick returner (Wan'Dale Robinson in the opener, Tyrone Tracy last week) but look ordinary in that area.
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