KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Following the Kansas City Chiefs’ hard-fought 22-9 victory over the New York Giants in Week 3, head coach Andy Reid showered praise on breakout wide receiver Tyquan Thornton and celebrated a clutch touchdown-saving play by Patrick Mahomes. The win, secured at MetLife Stadium on September 21, 2025, snapped the Chiefs’ 0-2 start and showcased the team’s resilience.
Reid singled out Thornton for his career-best performance, hauling in five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. “Tyquan had a couple back-to-back plays that really opened things up,” Reid said postgame. “He’s been grinding, showing what JuJu [Smith-Schuster] and Bill [Belichick] saw in him at New England. His work ethic is paying off, and it’s great to see him seize this opportunity.” Thornton’s score in the fourth quarter proved pivotal, energizing the offense and silencing the Giants’ defense.
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The coach also lauded Mahomes for a game-changing moment late in the third quarter. With the Chiefs trailing 9-7, Mahomes evaded a Giants blitz, scrambled right, and launched a 35-yard pass to Travis Kelce—only to see Kelce drop it near the endzone. Quick-thinking, Mahomes dove to bat the ball away from a Giants defender, preventing an interception and setting up a field goal drive. “That was pure instinct,” Reid remarked. “Pat’s awareness saved us a touchdown. It’s why he’s the best—always finding a way.”
Mahomes credited his chemistry with the team: “I saw Tyquan open up the field earlier, and that gave me confidence to make a play. We’re gelling, and this win feels huge after a rough start.” Thornton echoed the sentiment, saying, “Practice reps turned into game reality. The guys here push me to be better every day.”
The victory lifted Chiefs Kingdom’s spirits, with fans on X raving #ThorntonRising and #MahomesMagic. As the team prepares for a Week 4 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens on September 28, Reid’s confidence in his young receiver and veteran QB signals a turnaround. “We’re building something special,” he added. “This is just the beginning.”
Stay tuned to Chiefs.com for more updates!
Based on reports from Chiefs’ media and postgame statements.