New York Giants get a win on Thursday night despite not playing in the NFL kickoff game
The New York Giants got a win on Thursday night despite not playing in the NFL kickoff game. Unfortunately for the Giants, it's not a win that counts in the standings. But it will still make Giants fans smile. The Detroit Lions opened the 2023 NFL season by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 21-20 at […]
The New York Giants got a win on Thursday night despite not playing in the NFL kickoff game.
Unfortunately for the Giants, it's not a win that counts in the standings. But it will still make Giants fans smile.
The Detroit Lions opened the 2023 NFL season by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 21-20 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas City wasn't at full strength for the game — defensive tackle Chris Jones (contract dispute) and tight end Travis Kelce (knee injury) were both out — but it was still a game that the Chiefs could've (and probably should've) won.
A big reason why Kansas City didn't win is because of wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
Toney, a first round draft pick by the Giants in the 2021 NFL Draft, had several brutal drops, including a perfect pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes that bounced off Toney's hands and was returned for a touchdown by Lions rookie defensive back Brian Branch.
That botched play combined with Toney's other drops is a key reason why the Chiefs are 0-1. Kansas City's players, of course, will tell you that they still should've won the game despite Toney's drops. But it's safe to say that in a game that was decided by one point, if Toney makes those catches then the Chiefs win.
The Giants, meanwhile, look like geniuses for sending Toney to the Chiefs last season for a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick.
Toney is undoubtedly a talented player. But between the injuries and the inconsistency, it was a wise move for the Giants to move on from the former Florida Gators standout, despite running the risk of looking foolish if Toney enjoys a breakout season with Mahomes and the Chiefs.
And there's still a chance that Toney could break out in a big way in Kansas City. Mahomes expressed confidence in the beleaguered wide receiver on Thursday night after the Chiefs' loss. But for at least one night, the Giants look like the big winners in this trade. And you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who disagrees after Toney's brutal Week One performance.
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Featured image via Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
