ClutchPoints
The Kansas City Chiefs are in unfamiliar territory heading into Week 3. At 0-2, Andy Reid’s squad is staring down the possibility of an 0-3 start. That’s a scenario that would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago. Despite Patrick Mahomes still capable of magic, the Chiefs’ offense remains stuck in neutral. Sunday night’s primetime showdown against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium might just be the early-season turning point they desperately need.
The Chiefs and Giants square off in a game that suddenly feels like a must-win for Reid, Mahomes, & Co. Few imagined Kansas City searching for answers on both sides of the ball this early. However, it is what it is. For a franchise that has been the gold standard of consistency under Mahomes, the prospect of falling to 0-3 would be nothing short of stunning.
The Giants, on the other hand, have managed to stay competitive thanks to new QB Russell Wilson’s fearless gunslinger style. Of course, that’s a double-edged sword that produces big plays as often as costly mistakes. Note that Kansas City’s defense showed signs of life in Week 2. It should benefit from coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s knack for dialing up pressure against Wilson, who still holds the ball too long.
The bigger concern for KC remains on offense. That’s where the Chiefs have sputtered and left Mahomes to carry too much of the load. Oddsmakers still expect him to find a way, especially against a Giants defense surrendering the fourth-most yards per drive (43.2). That said, nothing is certain when one team is fighting to rediscover its rhythm and the other thrives in chaos.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Kansas City Chiefs’ X-factor for blockbuster Week 3 clash vs. New York Giants.
If there’s one unit under the microscope this week, it’s the Chiefs’ running backs. Through two games, the ground game has been virtually nonexistent. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have combined for just 94 yards on 28 carries with zero touchdowns. That’s not just dismal. It’s outright appalling. Brashard Smith has barely been involved. That lack of production has forced Mahomes to shoulder even more of the offensive burden, often scrambling for yardage himself just to move the chains.
This is especially alarming for Pacheco. He enters free agency at the end of the season. Once seen as the explosive lead back of the future, he hasn’t looked the same since suffering a fractured fibula in 2024. He has yet to rush for more than 55 yards in any game since returning. In fact, through two weeks this year, he has just 20 opportunities (rushes plus targets) to his name. Hunt, on the other hand, remains a situational piece. He is reliable in pass protection and as a receiver. However, he is no longer the dynamic runner he was earlier in his career.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy...
