In this battle of two winless NFL teams, most certainly would have viewed the Giants as less likely to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start.<br /><br />They would have been correct.<br /><br />After hanging with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs for much of the first half, the Giants ultimately fell short yet again in a dreary 22-9 loss Sunday night in their home opener before an already restless crowd at MetLife Stadium.<br /><br />Only six teams since the 1970 merger — and one in the 2000s, the 2018 Texans — have reached the playoffs after dropping their first three games.<br /><br />But to invoke that legendary quote in NFL lore, “Playoffs?!”<br /><br />Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson managed just 39 of his 160 passing yards in the first half for the Giants after throwing for a career-high 450 in last week’s overtime loss to the Cowboys. He also was picked off twice, including once in the end zone in the second quarter.<br /><br />Some fans in attendance at the home opener predictably chanted, “We Want Dart” late in the first half for first-round pick Jaxson Dart. The rookie got on the field for one running play (a 3-yard scramble) early in the third quarter and two more handoffs in the fourth before Wilson returned to boos.<br /><br />Malik Nabers was also a non-factor with zero catches on two targets in the first half, and a career-low two for the game for 13 yards.<br /><br />Fellow starter Wan’Dale Robinson was also shut out until making one late catch.<br /><br />Starting left tackle Andrew Thomas at least made his season debut following 2024 foot surgery, but running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. left the game late in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. Rookie Cam Skattebo (121 combined yards) scored the lone touchdown for the Giants.<br /><br />Kicker Graham Gano also was unavailable for much of the game with a groin injury apparently suffered during pregame warmups, but he came on for the first time to nail a 25-yard field goal for a 16-9 game with 10:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.<br /><br />Mahomes finished with 224 passing yards and one touchdown to go along with three Harrison Butker field goals for Kansas City.<br /><br />The Giants operated a throwback opening drive in which all 11 plays were either running plays or short pass attempts to backs Tracy and Skattebo, but the 6-minute drive stalled with no points on the scoreboard.<br /><br />With Gano announced as questionable right after the national anthem, the Giants went for it on fourth-and-3 from the Chiefs 38 and Wilson’s short pass intended for Tracy was broken up by Nick Bolton.
