Chiefs vs. Giants live updates: analysis, highlights, news, latest

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, searching for their first win of the season, are underway against the New York Giants tonight at MetLife Stadium.
The Chiefs are coming off a loss at home to the Eagles in a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl, while the Giants lost a wild overtime game to the Cowboys in Dallas.
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Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has had a quiet start to the season, but he should have extra enthusiasm tonight while playing close to Vineland, N.J. Pacheco, who also attended nearby Rutgers University in Piscataway, said he had to reserve about 50 tickets for family members and friends. There’s no way to sugarcoat that the Chiefs’ starting running back has had a lackluster first two weeks (15 carries for 47 yards), but I wouldn’t be surprised if coach Andy Reid gets Pacheco some early carries to see if emotions help bring out his best.
It will be strength on strength tonight at MetLife Stadium when Giants quarterback Russell Wilson tries to chuck the ball deep against the Chiefs’ secondary. According to Sumer Sports, the Giants are No. 1 in the NFL in expected points added on deep passes, while the Chiefs defense has been fifth best defending those same throws. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo blitzed a bunch last week, but I wouldn’t expect that again, given the Giants’ strengths and Wilson’s comfort level with testing defenses down the sideline. The side that wins the deep game, though, should have a big edge tonight as both teams attempt to secure their first win.
Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy — as the team announced Saturday — will miss his second consecutive game with a shoulder injury. That’s the biggest news of the Chiefs’ inactives, but there’s also this: fourth-round rookie Jalen Royals is set to make his NFL debut on “Sunday Night Football.” Royals, who missed the Chiefs’ first two games with knee tendinitis, practiced all three days this week in a limited capacity. Though Royals — from a body-type standpoint — draws comparisons to Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice, it’s likely too soon to grab him for your fantasy football lineups. Rookie receivers typically start off slow while learning the Chiefs’ complicated playbook before increasing their roles late in the year. Considering Royals’ injury status and his inexperience, it’d be a surprise if he played more than 15-20 snaps against the Giants.
Chiefs inactives:
WR Xavier Worthy
CB Kristian Fulton
TE Jared Wiley
RB Elijah Mitchell
DE Michael Danna
C Hunter Nourzad
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was honest during his news conference when he said — upon further review of the tape — that he didn’t think he’d trusted his offensive line enough in last week’s home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Specifically, Mahomes said he’d bailed out of clean pockets too early while not giving his receivers enough time to break free.
Mahomes’ average time to throw this year is 2.38 seconds, per TruMedia, which is trending to be a career low and also nearly three-tenths of a second faster than a year ago (2.67). Look for Mahomes, then, to sit in the pocket more tonight than he has recently, while trying to send a message to his offensive linemen that he trusts their work in front of him.
A week after the Chiefs’ secondary was torched by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, the group responded in a significant way against the Eagles.
K.C.’s coverage was locked down from the start against Philadelphia. That included standout efforts by cornerbacks Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Chamarri Conner, along with safety Bryan Cook.
Eagles quarterback Hurts, even when the Chiefs blitzed, couldn’t find many openings. Hurt mustered just 62 passing yards in the first three quarters, and the most significant portion of credit for that should go to the Chiefs’ back-end defenders.
The Chiefs suddenly have an unexpected — and pressing — situation following this season’s 0-2 start.
Yes, the Chiefs have some valid excuses for their disappointing record, if they’d like to use them. The team opened its season against a tough Chargers team in Brazil. The Chiefs also have had to play without three of their top wideouts in Rashee Rice (suspension), Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Jalen Royals (knee).
None of that changes what the team faces now.
K.C. has started the season 0-2 for the first time since the 2014 season. For reference, the Chiefs have lost their first two games 15 times in team history; they’ve made the playoffs on those instances just once.
Those previous teams, of course, weren’t coming off three consecutive Super Bowl appearances. And the schedule at least lightens up a touch facing the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football.
Tonight, however, now becomes nearly a must-win, especially with a Week 4 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens looming.
It’s obviously too soon to count the Chiefs out. It’s still not too premature, however, to say the pressure will be on tonight to start turning the season around.