NY Giants mistakes again prove monumental in 20-17 loss to Chiefs: Takeaways

Familiar struggles for the NY Giants proved costly in 20-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night

There has been much made about Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense’s struggles with turnovers this season, and for good measure, but it was a common theme for the NY Giants’ defense that was New York’s undoing Monday night.

While the NY Giants’ defense made enough plays to give the offense a chance to win the game, it also made enough sloppy mistakes to cough up a chance at a signature victory and monumental upset of the two-time defending AFC Champions.

Instead, Harrison Butker split the uprights on a 34-yard field goal with 1:07 remaining to send the NY Giants home having snatched defeat from the jaws of possible victory, 20-17.

The NY Giants were in this game in the fourth quarter, despite being the inferior roster, despite injuries, and largely because of timely clutch plays from the defense.

In a big spot, the NY Giants got a huge play from defensive captain Logan Ryan, that should have proven to be a catalyst.

This time, on Monday night, Ryan punched the ball out of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s grasp with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter for a monumentally timely turnover.

With the NY Giants trailing 14-10, as Patrick Graham’s defense struggled mightily to that point even breathing on Patrick Mahomes in the pocket, Ryan’s forced fumble that James Bradberry recovered put New York in prime field position to take the lead.

The turnover was the Chiefs’ 19th of the season, as Kansas City’s turnover margin rose to minus-11.

Eight plays later, Jones fired a perfectly-thrown pass into a tight window on a goal-line fade to Evan Engram, for his first touchdown of the season to lift the NY Giants to a 17-14 lead, capitalizing on Ryan’s turnover and seizing boatloads of momentum as Arrowhead fell worryingly silent.

But, the momentum was short-lived after the NY Giants somehow managed to give Mahomes and the Chiefs the ball back with 4:41 remaining, on their ensuing series following a Kansas City field goal.

The shame of it, for the NY Giants, is the fact that a lack of discipline once again proved costly, when FB Elijhaa Penny was called for taunting, after picking up a first down that might have extended a promising drive.

Giants head coach Joe Judge has stressed the importance of discipline and fundamentals since his arrival in New York, but senseless penalties and mistakes late in games have been a hallmark of his team, in his second season.

Instead of possibly salting out the game on offense, the NY Giants gave the ball back to Mahomes and the Chiefs. Darnay Holmes intercepted Mahomes, but it was another NY Giants’ mistake, Oshane Ximines jumping offsides gave the Chiefs’ quarterback a mulligan.

On the very next play, Tae Crowder yanked Travis Kelce’s facemask, moving the Chiefs closer to field goal range.

Mistakes, penalties, carelessness, and Judge taking timeouts like he was picking candy out of his kids’ trick or treat buckets all but negated New York’s chances of winning late.

Here are key takeaways from the NY Giants’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs:

Injuries exacting a toll on NY Giants

Already limited by Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay’s absences, for the third consecutive week, the NY Giants lost Sterling Shepard with a quad injury late in the first half against the Chiefs.

The NY Giants really are facing a crisis situation, when it comes to injuries to the offensive skill position players, and otherwise.

One week removed from Jabrill Peppers being lost for the season, to a torn ACL, while returning a punt, the NY Giants were forced Monday night to insert a limited Kadarius Toney into that role.

It wasn’t even a certainty until game-time whether Toney would be available to play.

But, once Dante Pettis suffered a shoulder injury, and was knocked from the game, Toney was forced to step in as the NY Giants’ punt-returner.

That Jones was even as effective as he proved to be against the Chiefs is a minor miracle, given the depleted supporting cast around him. It’s also increasingly difficult to make a complete evaluation of Jones, when he’s largely throwing to skill players who opened the regular season buried on the depth chart.