The Chiefs have not yet played at home.
Manning, Giants sharp in win over Chiefs
NFL.com wire reports
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Aug. 17, 2006) -- Eli Manning and the New York Giants showed flashes of offense they'll need to repeat as NFC East champions. They also showed Herm Edwards how much work his Kansas City Chiefs have left to do.
Manning threw for one touchdown and set up another and the Giants starters and backups dominated in a 17-0 preseason victory over Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night, spoiling Edwards' return to Giants Stadium.
"We came out here and played very well," Manning said. "The defense did a great job of getting us good field possession on the first series and we were able to run the ball, throw the ball and convert third downs."
The Giants did just about anything they wanted in outgaining the Chiefs 309-111 while holding the ball for more than 37 minutes.
If the game showed anything, it was that the Giants (2-0) have the talent to repeat in the NFC East and that Edwards, the former Jets coach, has a lot of work ahead to get the Chiefs (0-2) back to the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
"We've done this two weeks in a row," Edwards said matter of factly. "I flat out told the guys it wasn't a good job coaching, and you just can't play like that against a team that went to the playoffs last year. We have to hurry up and rally now."
Edwards led the Jets to three playoff appearances in five seasons, but he was ushered out after a 4-12 mark last season. In taking the Chiefs job, he promised to shore up their porous defense.
No such change was evident against the Giants.
Eli Manning was effective in limited action for the Giants.
Manning shredded Kansas City for touchdowns on two of the first three drives, capping the first with a 5-yard toss to Amani Toomer and handing off the Brandon Jacobs for a 1-yard plunge on the third series.
The other drive probably would have resulted in points had not Jeremy Shockey and Tim Carter been hit with consecutive holding penalties in Chiefs territory.
Defensively, New York limited Trent Green (4-of-6 for 32 yards) and halfback Larry Johnson (4 carries for 8 yards) to two first downs in two series before turning things over to the backups. The Chiefs only got into Giants' territory once in the game, getting to the New York 40 on their second series.
"Is it time to panic?" Green asked. "No, but I definitely think there has to be much more of a sense of urgency on the starters part."
Manning finished 11-of-14 for 80 yards playing for the first time this preseason with all 11 starters from the offense that scored 422 points last season.
Manning spread the ball around extremely well, hitting Toomer, Plaxico Burress and Carter with two passes each. Tiki Barber, appearing for the first time, ran five times for 22 yards and caught a pass for nine more.
Shockey, who missed the preseason opener with a concussion, caught one pass for 10 yards and cleared out the middle on the short touchdown pass to Toomer.
"I'm excited we have something to build on," Shockey said.
In the second-quarter drive, Manning used a no-huddle offense to move New York 52 yards in eight plays without all starters in the game. Jacobs had a 14-yard run on the second play of the drive in which the Giants had only one third-down play: Jacobs' touchdown run.
Kansas City never threatened.
"Last week we didn't come out the way we wanted," Giants safety Gibril Wilson. "This week we came out flying."
The game also marked the return of quarterback Rob Johnson to NFL action for the first time since December 2003. He missed the last two seasons with an elbow injury that required surgery.
The 33-year-old Johnson, who the Giants signed in May, replaced Manning midway through the second quarter and played five series, completing 7 of 14 passes for 62 yards. The 10-year veteran put up points on his last drive, taking New York 65 yards for a 31-yard field goal by Jay Feely on the final play of the third quarter.
"I'm not satisfied," Johnson said. "I have a lot to improve on."
The most serious injury in the game was a sprained knee sustained by Giants starting center Shaun O'Hara. He will have an MRI on Friday, but he was not concerned.
"I'll be back working at Albany," O'Hara said, referring to the team's training camp site.
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