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Storylines to follow in Week 3 vs. Chiefs

WANDALE-ROBINSON-STORYLINES

The Giants have flipped the page from last week's heartbreaking loss as they prepare to take on the Kansas City Chiefs this week on Sunday Night Football.

Following back-to-back divisional road matchups to start the season, the Giants will take the field at MetLife Stadium for the first time in the 2025 campaign.

Both the Giants and Chiefs enter the week still in search of their first win of the season. The Giants took part in the game of the year (so far) last week in Dallas, a back-and-forth affair that ended with Brandon Aubrey kicking a 46-yard field goal as time expired in overtime to give the Cowboys a 40-37 win.

On the other sideline, the Chiefs fell to the Eagles, 20-17, as both offenses struggled to really get going in the Super Bowl LIX rematch.

Here are five storylines to follow in Week 3.

'We're in a 17-round fight'

The Giants' Week 2 game in Dallas turned out to be one of the most exciting games in recent memory. The divisional matchup saw six lead changes and 41 total points scored in the fourth quarter alone. This came one week after the Giants failed to get into the end zone in Washington. While there is no such thing as a morale victory in the NFL, it undoubtedly was an improved performance from the season opener.

"Anytime you lose, you know, it's tough," quarterback Russell Wilson said after the game. "There's so much fight. I think that the belief in the guys that we have, the belief on the sideline…you know, there's been a lot of noise and the guys do not flinch. So I think that was the best part about the day. You know, it would have been better – there's only one thing that would have been better and that's obviously the most important thing is to win and find a way. We tried to find a way. We kept responding. We kept answering…

"I just think the fashion that we fought…you know, I love sports. I love watching greatness. I love watching people be relentless. I love watching boxing, for example…you know, we're in a 17 round fight. We battled in the first round and second round. We've got more to do. So, I was just proud of how we needed to be able to answer the way we did. I've been a part of a lot of crazy games. I don't know if I've ever been part of one that crazy with that much grit."

The Giants have already flipped the page to Week 3 with a Sunday night matchup against the Chiefs on the horizon. Both teams will enter this game with a sense of urgency as they try to avoid a 0-3 start. This will be the first time the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs will travel to East Rutherford to take on the Giants.

See the top photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their Week 3 matchup against the Chiefs.

Vintage Russ

Following a lackluster performance in the season opener, the Giants offense erupted against the Cowboys. The unit racked up 506 total yards, finishing with the most yards by a Giants team since Dec. 22, 2019, while their eight plays of 20+ yards were the most by a Giants team since Nov. 19, 2023. Just one week after the offense failed to get into the end zone, the Russell Wilson-led unit scored four touchdowns in Dallas.

Speaking of Wilson, it was a vintage performance from the future Hall of Fame quarterback. The 36-year-old completed 30 of 41 pass attempts (73.2 percent) for 450 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 123.0. He also used his legs for the second straight week, picking up 23 yards on three carries (7.7 avg.). The passing yardage was the second-most of his 14-year career and tied with Eli Manning for the fourth-highest total in franchise history.

Coming into the season, we knew the ability to throw the deep ball was one of Wilson's biggest strengths. Well, the veteran put that on full display in Week 2 as he went seven of 11 for 264 yards and three touchdowns on deep passes. It was the most deep pass yards by any quarterback in the NFL since at least 2016, according to Next Gen Stats.

The players that benefited the most from Wilson's deep ball were Malik Nabers (nine receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns) and Wan'Dale Robinson (career-high 142 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions). The two wideouts became the fourth Giants duo ever to both record 140+ receiving yards in the same game and the first since Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard on October 23, 2018.

"He's very smart," coach Brian Daboll said about Robinson on Wednesday. "Can play multiple spots, knows every one of them. Has speed, has quickness. It was good for us and for him, the contributions that he made down the field. There's no substitute for explosive plays in this league. They generate points, skip third downs, it's a big contributing factor to the outcome of games.

"He's done it throughout practice and training camp here, but it was good to see in a game, giving him those chances and him making the plays when he had the opportunity to make them. He had a considerable amount of them. He's a player that – a very good teammate, and was productive, and has been productive in different areas. Some short, this is more vertical, but he's a good player."

O-line looking to keep building

A big reason for the significant offensive boost this past week was the protection up front. As we know, in order for deep plays down the field to develop, the quarterback must be given some time in the pocket. After struggling to do so in the season opener, the offensive line gave Wilson plenty of time to operate in Dallas. 25 of Wilson's 41 attempts came when he got over 2.5 seconds to throw. He completed 17 of those 25 passes for an impressive 365 yards and all three of his touchdowns, earning a passer rating of 133.8.

Through the first two games of the season, right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor has performed well in pass protection. The veteran allowed just one pressure on 51 pass block snaps in Week 1, and followed that up with one pressure allowed on 46 pass block snaps this past week, according to Pro Football Focus. After his performance last season, it shouldn't surprise anyone to see Eluemunor playing well. But the play of rookie tackle Marcus Mbow against the Cowboys was a bit more eye-opening.

Mbow came in for James Hudson III after the Giants' first drive of the game. The fifth-round pick was on the field for 50 of the team's 65 offensive snaps and allowed just two pressures on 36 pass block snaps, according to Next Gen Stats. His 5.6 percent pressure rate allowed ranks as the fifth-lowest among left tackles this season with 25+ pass block snaps. Left tackle Andrew Thomas was once again limited at practice on Wednesday, with Daboll noting that the left tackle would take "a good amount of reps." The head coach went on to say he is "encouraged with where he's at" in his recovery from last year's foot injury.

Trying to contain Mahomes

For the third consecutive week, the Giants defense will face off against a top quarterback. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has already accomplished a list of accolades that include two league MVPs and three Super Bowl championships, all of which he was named the MVP.

Through the first two games of the season, Mahomes has completed just 58.8 percent of his passes for 445 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. However, he's made up for it with his production in the run game with 123 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. The Giants know the challenge that lies ahead this Sunday night.

"You talk about their offense, it starts with Patrick Mahomes, who is one of the best to ever do it," Daboll told the media Wednesday. "He's as impressive as a quarterback as you evaluate and watch, both physically and mentally. Loose plays, he's made a lot of plays these first two games with his legs, I'd say particularly on third down. But just an unbelievable awareness, instinct to play this position. He's done it at a high level and he's certainly doing it now."

When the Giants take the field at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night, they will be playing shorthanded at one position in particular. Linebacker Micah McFadden suffered a foot injury in Week 1 which resulted in him being placed on injured reserve, and a few days later at practice, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles suffered a calf injury that forced him to miss the game in Dallas. This past Sunday, Darius Muasau left the game with a concussion and Chris Board departed with a chest injury. Flannigan-Fowles and Muasau both did not participate in Wednesday's practice, while Board was placed on injured reserve.

The rash of injuries at linebacker led to the Giants making several roster moves this week. Swayze Bozeman was signed to the active roster while Curtis Jacobs and long-time veteran Neville Hewitt were both signed to the practice squad.

Scouting the rest of the Chiefs

Since Mahomes took over as the Chiefs starting quarterback at the start of the 2018 campaign, tight end Travis Kelce has been his favorite target. The two have had perhaps the greatest on-field connection between a quarterback and a tight end in recent memory, and while Kelce is approaching his 36th birthday, we have seen flashes of that great chemistry this season. The tight end comes into this game with six receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown through two weeks, but will likely be a focal point of the Chiefs' gameplan this weekend. Daboll referred to Kelce as a "go-to player" for Mahomes in critical situations.

"One of the best to do it at tight end as well," the head coach said.

The Kansas City defense, led by coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, has talented players at all three levels of their defense. While the Chiefs offense starts with Mahomes, the same goes for lineman Chris Jones on the defense. Jones has been named an All-Pro in each of the last five seasons, including three consecutive years earning first-team All-Pro honors. In last week's game against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, Jones registered two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit.

While Jones might garner the most attention up front, the Kansas City defense has plenty of difference-makers behind him, as well.

"Defensively, have competed against Spags a number of times," Daboll said. "Have a lot of respect for him and the things that he does defensively and he has some good players that are with him, starting with Chris Jones inside. He plays multiple positions, he's a tough player to block. (Cornerback) Trent McDuffie, I think, is a very good defensive back. Does a good job of tackling, covering, playing the deep ball. (Linebacker Nick) Bolton and (defensive end George) Karlaftis, two good players that are hard to account for, and they're kind of a spin-the-dial defense, if you will. Play a number of fronts, a number of coverages and have a number of pressures."

View rare photos of the history between the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs ahead of their Week 3 matchup on Sunday Night Football.

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