Giants Warned About Second-Year Pro in Chiefs Matchup

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The New York Giants have been warned a struggling second-year pro is vulnerable against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3.

Clamping down on Patrick Mahomes’ less-than-imposing wide receivers shouldn’t be a problem for the New York Giants against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football in Week 3, unless a second-year cornerback continues being a liability from the slot.

It’s a warning from ESPN identifying “second-year nickel Dru Phillips, who has been targeted 18 time this season — more than any other slot corner. The result? A high 1.6 yards allowed per coverage snap, per NFL Next Gen Stats (average is 0.9). It’s a matchup the Chiefs might look to exploit.”

Mahomes and the Chiefs are expected to go after Phillips by unleashing veteran wideout Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown from the slot at MetLife Stadium. This is a matchup problem for Phillips and the Giants because “Brown is surprisingly tied for sixth in the NFL with 21 targets. And signs point to a high-volume day for him in Week 3, too. Brown has lined up in the slot on 52% of snaps this season, and that happens to be a good spot to attack the Giants from — 40% of targets against the New York have been to the slot, second most in the NFL.”

Phillips’ obvious vulnerability increases the pressure on Big Blue’s secondary after last week’s horror show against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants were shredded for 361 yards by quarterback Dak Prescott, who targeted wide receivers for 20 catches, 243 yards and a pair of touchdowns, per Pro Football Reference.

KC’s receiver corps lacks the same level of talent, but Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen still needs to protect Phillips and a suspect defensive backfield.

Dru Phillips Faces Matchup Nightmare vs. Chiefs

Phillips actually intercepted Prescott last week, but the diving theft merely masked an otherwise nightmare outing for the 23-year-old. The Giants’ third-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft is playing like anything but the team’s most underrated player after he gave up 10 completions from 14 targets, Cowboys receivers turned into 107 yards.

One of Phillips’ notable lowlights occurred when he was turned around by Kavontae Turpin and left snatching at air when the Cowboys completed a 10-yard touchdown late in the second quarter.

Phillips wasn’t rolled up in press coverage and failed to get handsy to disrupt Turpin off the snap. Those deficiencies won’t have escaped the Chiefs when they studied the tape.

Letting Brown get a free release will lead to big plays like this 49-yarder against the Los Angeles Chargers from Week 1.

The Giants have to risk getting physical with a group of receivers lacking a marquee playmaker, but it will be just as important to make Mahomes uncomfortable.

Underachieving Pass Rush Must Improve for Giants

They are loaded along the front seven, but the Giants aren’t puncturing the pass-pocket as often as expected. Head coach Brian Daboll and Bowen need to be smarter and more selective about how they use 2025 NFL draft third-overall pick Abdul Carter.

More impact is expected from Carter, but he’ll need help from what is a deep rotation. Veterans Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux have been disruptive, but far from dominant through two games, while a versatile newcomer key to Bowen’s sub-package schemes landed on the Week 3 injury report.

There are still enough game-wreckers in the trenches for the Giants to make life difficult for Mahomes, but the stars must live up to the billing. It’s the best way to protect those in the secondary, but the help should be reciprocated.

Bowen has had his DBs sit back in soft zones, but the Giants haven’t generated enough heat up front to justify this passive approach. Tighter, man coverage could afford Carter and Co. the extra time they’ll need to unsettle Mahomes, not to mention disrupt his wideouts.

James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world soccer since 2011, with bylines at FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko