Two teams, who desperately need a win, faceoff to finish Week 8 of the NFL season as the 2-5 New York Giants travel to the 3-4 Kansas City Chiefs. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, and the game will be on ESPN.
These teams haven’t met in four years as the Giants won at home 12-9 in overtime during the 2017 season. Alex Smith and Eli Manning were the starting quarterbacks in that game, while only Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, and Evan Engram remain among skill position starters for either team. Overall the Giants hold an 11-3 advantage in their history against the Chiefs.
Giants Fighting Injury Bug
The Giants are 3-4 against the spread this season and are coming off their best game of the season, a 25-3 home win over Carolina. The Giants offense ranks 19th overall, 13th in passing, and 26th in rushing. The defense ranks 20th overall, 13th against the pass, and 24th against the run.
Quarterback Daniel Jones has played better on the road this season. He has also performed well on Monday night, with at least 25 completions in his last three Monday games. On the season, he has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,727 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions.
With Saquon Barkley out injured, Jones has been the leading rusher on the season with 229 yards. Barkley has 195 yards and two touchdowns in five games, while Devontae Booker has 156 yards and two scores.
Sterling Shepard leads the Giants wideouts with 28 catches on the season. Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney have been limited by injuries, while Engram had six catches last week against the Panthers.
Lineman Leonard Williams has sacks in three of his last four games and is third on the team with 38 tackles. Top safety Jabrill Peppers went on IR this week, and tackle Danny Shelton is also likely out.
Mahomes, Chiefs Out of Sync
The Chiefs are 2-5 against the spread this season, and they were dominated last week in a 27-3 loss to Tennessee. The Chiefs offense ranks third overall, fourth in passing, and 14th in rushing. The defense ranks 28th overall, 26th against the pass, and 27th against the run.
Kansas City is -10 in the turnover battle on the season, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes has nine interceptions plus two lost fumbles. Mahomes has 18 touchdowns but has been sacked 14 times behind a relatively inexperienced line.
With Clyde Edwards-Helaire out injured, Darrel Williams is the Chiefs lead back. He has 82 yards on 26 carries over the last two games while scoring four times this season. Mahomes has 219 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Hill leads the Chiefs with 52 receptions for 641 yards and five touchdowns, while Kelce has 45 catches for 533 yards and four scores. Mecole Hardman has 30 catches for 289 yards and one touchdown, while both Bryan Pringle and Demarcus Robinson have two touchdown receptions.
Betting Analysis
- New York Giants +10.5 (-115). Money line +360
- Kansas City Chiefs -10.5 (-105). Money line -490
- Total Points 52.5. Over -110, Under -110
The Chiefs have struggled in nationally televised games this season with a road loss at Baltimore and a home loss to Buffalo. They have scored more than 20 points just once in the last three games and are 1-2 at home this season.
If they are going to get the offense back to where they have been in recent memory, it should be Monday against a Giants defense that allowed 44 to Dallas and 38 to the Rams in successive weeks.
Betting Pick: Chiefs -10.5 (-105)
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