New York Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs: NFL Game Preview

• When: Sunday, September 29, 2013, 1:00 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Radio: WCBS 101.1 FM
• Last regular-season meeting: Oct. 4, 2009 – Giants 27, Chiefs 16

The New York Giants enter Week 4 winless and looking to pick up a victory Sunday. But that will not be an easy task, as they head to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs look like one of the league’s best through three games. They’re ranked within the top 10 in points allowed per game, total yards allowed, penalties and turnover differential. Their 15 sacks lead the NFL. That could spell danger for the Giants, who rank near the bottom of the league in each of those categories. They surrendered seven sacks of quarterback Eli Manning in a 38-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers a week ago.

“They’ve got a lot of talented athletes,” New York offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “They do a nice job of creating overload blitzes where they give you an impression they’re coming from one side when in fact they’re coming from the other and I think that combination along with the skill of the guys that are actually rushing the quarterback makes it very, very difficult.”

Factor in Arrowhead Stadium — one of the toughest NFL stadiums to play in — and Kansas City head coach Andy Reid, and the Giants may have their hands full.

Reid knows head coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants well. And while he’s in a new city with a new team, his familiarity could be beneficial to his team’s performance.  Inside his home stadium, his chances can only improve.

“The fans are right on you, but it’s a good environment,” Coughlin said. “It’s a loud, boisterous NFL community and it will be a good experience for us. There will be some issues, obviously, with the goal line and that part of the field.”

Two of the Chiefs’ three wins have come against the NFC East (the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles). The Chiefs kept the pressure on the Eagles and quarterback Michael Vick a week ago, sacking the elusive passer six times en route to that 26-16 win. Of the Chiefs’ 15 sacks, 7 1/2 have come by way of outside linebacker Justin Houston. For the Giants, stopping Kansas City’s pass rush starts with him.

“He’s similar to the guy I went against last week, very physical player,” right tackle Justin Pugh said. “He’s got a good motor so it’s a good challenge for me.”

A good challenge indeed. According to Pro Football Focus, Pugh allowed two sacks, two hits and five hurries of Manning against the Panthers. The G-Men would likely prefer he not replicate that performance again.

New York has some progress to make with its offensive line, which has been the biggest flaw for an underwhelming team to date. The lack of blocking up front resulted in the Giants being outgained by Carolina last week, 402 yards to 150, and it has been a major contributor to the team’s lowly 44.3 rushing yards per game.

Much like last season, the unit has been hampered by injuries. This Sunday’s starters will be a patchwork group that includes center Jim Cordle and guard James Brewer — neither has ever started an NFL game — in place of veterans David Baas and Chris Snee.

The offense’s difficulties have clearly taken a toll on the Giants’ players, including wideout Hakeem Nicks. He seemed uncharacteristically disgruntled in his comments following the Panthers loss, declaring that “I can’t throw it to myself” after going all game without a catch.

The obstacles the Giants face are certainly challenging, but they must find something that works. Otherwise, the 2013 season could be a lost cause with three quarters still to go.

“We’re going through a stretch where we haven’t played our best football and we’ve come out of it,” Manning said. “It might be in the middle of the season, at the end of the season, we understand you go through little phases.  Right now, we’re in a tough phase and we have to break out of it.  The only way to do it is our preparation and our commitment; and our team coming together and start playing better football.”

Since the two teams first played one another in 1974, the G-Men lead the series 10-2 and have won four straight. They are 4-2 at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Giants have not started 0-4 since 1987 when they lost their first five games of the season. They finished 6-9 that year and failed to make the playoffs in a strike-shortened campaign.

 

INJURY REPORT

New York

OUT: TE Adrien Robinson (foot), C David Baas (neck), OG Chris Snee (hip), CB Corey Webster (hip)

DOUBTFUL: OL David Diehl (thumb)

QUESTIONABLE: LB Jacquian Williams (knee), S Cooper Taylor (shoulder)

PROBABLE: CB Terrell Thomas (knee), DE Justin Trattou (ankle), LB Spencer Paysinger (hip)

Kansas City

OUT: TE Travis Kelce (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: OG Jeff Allen (groin), TE Anthony Fasano (ankle/knee), CB Brandon Flowers (knee), S Kendrick Lewis (ankle)

PROBABLE: DT Mike DeVito (neck), OT Branden Albert (shoulder), FB Anthony Sherman (knee), LB Frank Zombo (elbow)

 

STAT OF THE WEEK

Since 1990, only three teams have started the season 0-3 and made the playoffs. Only one, the 1992 San Diego Chargers, has started the season 0-4 and still earned a playoff berth.

 

KEY MATCHUP: Giants offensive line vs. Chiefs pass rush

The Giants are the fourth-worst team in terms of pass protection, having allowed 11 sacks of quarterback Eli Manning. They allowed seven of those sacks last week against the Panthers despite rarely being face with more than a four-man rush.

How are they going to handle the Chiefs and their league-leading pass rush?

KC linebacker Justin Houston is a lethal threat. He proved it against the Eagles when he recorded 4 1/2 sacks. With a patchwork offensive line in front of him, he could inflict substantial damage. It will be on the shoulders of tackles Will Beatty and Justin Pugh to slow the rush. They were the Giants’ two worst performers versus the Panthers — they allowed five of the seven sacks — and will face the biggest challenges from the Chiefs on Sunday.

 

Louis Musto is a reporter and sports talk host for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. All quotes were acquired first hand or via team press releases unless otherwise noted. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.