The Giants will look to take their momentum on the road in primetime in Week 8.
Following their victory over the Panthers, the Giants (2-5) head to Kansas City for a matchup with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs (3-4) on Monday Night Football. Joe Judge's team began on-field preparations on Wednesday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, but he first met with the media before heading out to practice. Here is everything you need to know:
🔹 Judge laid out the timetable for the long week. The team will be on the field Wednesday through Saturday and fly to Kansas City on Sunday. The Giants are 11-3 all-time against the Chiefs, including 4-3 at Arrowhead Stadium.
🔹 Sunday will be the Giants' first game against 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, who did not play in their most recent meeting in 2017. A rookie at the time, Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith as the Giants won 12-9 at MetLife Stadium on an overtime field goal. Judge said Mahomes "looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the world to me."
🔹 The Chiefs, who are currently 3-4, have never finished below .500 in Andy Reid's nine seasons in Kansas City. Judge said it would be a "foolish narrative" to think the 2021 iteration is not as good as it really is.
🔹 Judge always gives his scouting report of the upcoming opponent on Wednesdays, but he didn't list out all the Chiefs' playmakers because it would take too long. "This team poses a number of threats." They can score on any play from any point on the field.
🔹 Defensively, Judge said Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who won a Super Bowl in the same role with the Giants, does a good job mixing up pressures and staying after your skill players and quarterbacks. "From Coach Reid on down, they've very well coached, very situationally prepared, and very capable in all three phases."
🔹 Last week, running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) and wide receiver Kenny Golladay (knee) missed their second consecutive game, while rookie wideout Kadarius Toney didn't suit up after injuring his ankle on the first drive of the Rams game. Judge said they won't be ready to rule anyone out Wednesday or Thursday. "Three different injuries, three different bodies," Judge said. They will be on different timetables, but they will all benefit from having an extra day until Monday night.
🔹 Wide receiver Sterling Shepard was also a late scratch after he was deemed unable to play with a hamstring injury. The Giants worked him out before the game, but they did not feel confident he could last the entire game, so they made him inactive. Shepard will be part of the group with the trainers on Wednesday to judge how far along they are in their rehab process.
🔹 Judge was asked preparing for a loud environment in Kansas City after the Giants passed a similar test in New Orleans. Judge said communication will be key again.
🔹 The Giants lost a third captain for the season due to injury when safety Jabrill Peppers was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. Peppers suffered two injuries to his right leg – a rupture to the ACL in his knee and a high ankle sprain – during the third quarter of the Giants' 25-3 victory over the Panthers. Judge obviously doesn't want to see any players get injured, especially for the season, but he said it's "tough" seeing that for Peppers, who puts so much into the team and brings juice to everyone. Judge said he's the type of player you build with and he's talked to Peppers directly about it being a contract year. "He's a guy I value a lot in this program," Judge said. "I'd love to have this guy going forward." He said playing for the Giants is special to Peppers, who grew up in the area.
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