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Chiefs vs. Giants: 10 Observations

Here are some things that stood out Sunday afternoon

The Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) fell to the New York Giants (2-8) Sunday afternoon in overtime by a score of 12-9 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Here are 10 observations from the game:

1. The Chiefs get a late field goal to push the game into overtime

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Trailing 9-6 with just 1:38 left in the game, Alex Smith led the Chiefs on a nice 69-yard drive that took nine plays and culminated with a Harrison Butker field goal with just five seconds remaining.

Butker's 23-yard field goal was his third of the day and gave him 22-straight made field goals on the season, which ties him for the franchise record with Pete Stoyanovich and Ryan Succop.

It also sent the game into overtime, where both teams would have opportunities but the Giants would ultimately win on a 23-yard field goal from Giants' kicker Aldrick Rosas.

2. Tyreek Hill's long catch sets up Chiefs' field goal

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**On a day in which the wind was swirling, the Chiefs took a deep shot to Tyreek Hill late in the third quarter and it paid off. It was one of only a few shots Smith took down the field in the first three quarters of the game assumedly because of the conditions.

Hill, who had a step on the cornerback in coverage deep down the left side of the field, perfectly timed his jump and was able to make the contested catch for a gain of 38 yards. It gave the Chiefs the ball at the Giants' 16-yard line.

Just a few plays later, Butker hit from 31 yards and tied the game, 6-6, early in the fourth quarter.

3. The Chiefs get a turnover at the perfect time early in the game

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After going 74 yards on 12 plays in a little more than seven minutes, which included a fake punt on fourth-and-1 that resulted in a gain of two yards up the middle, the Giants were within striking distance and facing a first-and-10 from the Chiefs' 18-yard line late in the first quarter.

Veteran running back Shane Vereen, who hadn't attempted a pass in his even-year career, tossed one in the direction of rookie tight end Evan Engram on a trick play, but safety Daniel Sorensen came flying over to make the interception at the goal line.

It was the fourth interception of Sorensen's career.

4. Alex Smith's shovel pass was intercepted

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Late in the first quarter and on the Chiefs' ensuing drive after Sorensen's interception, the Chiefs had a giveaway of their own.

After picking up a couple of first downs and getting the ball out from near their goal line, the Chiefs faced a second-and-10 at their own 34-yard line, and that's when Smith flipped a shovel pass intended for Travis Kelce.

The ball got tipped and went into the hands of All-Pro defensive lineman Damon Harrison, who at 6-feet-3 and 341 pounds, got the first interception of his career. He was questionable coming into the game with an ankle injury.

Smith finished the game 27 of 40 for 230 yards and two interceptions.

The Giants got great field position after the interception at the Chiefs' 26-yard line, and after a key scramble from Eli Manning on third-and-8, which resulted in a first down, and a pass interference call on Marcus Peters in the end zone on third down, the stage was set for running back Orleans Darkwa. 

On first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Darkwa took it off the right side and into the end zone, which gave the Giants an early 6-0 lead after the extra point was missed.

It was the only touchdown scored on the day by either team.

5. Chiefs responded to that score with scoring drive of their own

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Following the Giants' touchdown, the Chiefs went 61 yards on 15 plays and took nine minutes off the clock on a drive that culminated with another 31-yard field goal from Butker.

The key play on the drive was a scramble from Smith that went for six yards on fourth-and-5. Smith finished with five rushes for 27 yards, which included a couple of key first-down runs.

On the play as he was approaching the first-down marker, Smith sacrificed his body by going head first and jumping up and partially over a defender to pick up the first down. He actually did that a couple of times in big moments on Sunday.

The Chiefs had decided to go for it on fourth down rather than attempting a 50-ish-yard field goal in a swirling wind at MetLife Stadium. The Giants made similar decisions during the game when it came to long field goal attempts.

6. Travis Kelce had a good day

Kelce led the Chiefs with eight catches for 109 yards.

7. Reggie Ragland led the Chiefs in tackles

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Reggie Ragland came into Sunday's game with just 11 tackles on the season, and he had the best statistical game of his season (and career) as he finished with a team-high nine tackles. He helped keep the Giants' running game to averaging just 3.5 yards per carry.

Ragland—a former second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills last year—came over in a trade before the Chiefs' final preseason game of the year.

8. Zach Fulton started at left guard, Gaines at right cornerback

The Chiefs made a couple of changes to their starting lineups this week.

Zach Fulton, who has made 40 starts in his career all along the three interior spots, took over as the starting left guard Sunday against the Giants. The spot had been occupied by Bryan Witzmann.

On defense, the Chiefs went with Phillip Gaines on the outside at right cornerback over Kenneth Acker, who had been starting most recently, and Terrance Mitchell, who has also got some run at that spot this year.

9. Dustin Colquitt's punt early in the fourth quarter was good

Early in the fourth quarter and with the game tied, 6-6, Chiefs' punter Dustin Colquitt, who on Sunday became just the fourth player in franchise history to play in 200 career games, nailed a 58-yard punt that bit as it hit the ground and was downed at the Giants' 4-yard line.

The Giants picked up a couple of first downs but were unable to do much else as they had to punt it back to the Chiefs midway through the fourth quarter.

On the Chiefs' ensuing drive, Travis Kelce attempted a deep pass on a trick play and it was intercepted by Landon Collins.

Photos from the Chiefs Week 11 matchup against the Giants

10. Core stats favored the Giants

The Chiefs turned it over three times, picked up 87 total yards in penalties, converted just 3 of 11 third downs and were 0-3 inside the red zone.

Generally, those are the stats that determine which team wins the game, and on Sunday, all were in favor of the Giants. In his postgame presser, Chiefs' head coach Andy Reid mentioned turnovers multiple times in his opening statement.

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