Rashee Rice Suspension Update Is Good News for Giants

The New York Giants got some good news Wednesday.

The Giants will not have to deal with a fully operational Kansas City Chiefs offense in Week 3, since wide receiver Rashee Rice accepted a six-game suspension from the NFL on Wednesday

The Giants will host the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football on Sept. 21 at MetLife Stadium in their home opener after opening the year with two road games.

New York will start its season against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 7 then take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 at AT&T Stadium, with both games kicking off at 1 p.m. ET.

Why Was Rashee Rice Suspended?

Rice was suspended six games for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy since he was involved in a multi-car wreck in North Texas while racing his car on the road in March 2024.

Rice pleaded guilty to two third-degree felonies and was sentenced to 30 days in prison last month. Rice also reportedly agreed to pay more than $115,000 in damages to the victims of his racing.

The NFL was waiting for the court to rule on Rice’s case before handing out its own punishment. The league was reportedly seeking a double-digit-game penalty due to the extreme nature of Rice’s offense yet relented after the NFLPA pushed back.

Rice announced he would not appeal the suspension.

Why Is Rashee Rice’s Suspension Good News For Giants Fans?

The Giants and Chiefs have only played once since Patrick Mahomes broke into the NFL in 2018, but New York nearly stole a victory at Arrowhead Stadium when they last met in 2021.

Although they were a double-digit-point underdog, the Giants led 17-14 in the fourth quarter after Daniel Jones’ touchdown throw to Evan Engram. But Mahomes rallied his team back for a 20-17 w on Monday Night Football on Nov. 1, dropping the Giants to 2-6 en route to a 4-13 season.

So the fact Mahomes will not have Rice, who is Kansas City’s No. 1 wide receiver, makes the Giants’ chances of playing a competitive game — or potentially stealing a win.

The Giants’ improved secondary has one less weapon to defend. Plus, Mahomes has one less weapon to work with against while also needing to contend with their elite game-wrecking front four — notably Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence and rookie Abdul Carter.

Why Is Rashee Rice’s Suspension Bad News For The Giants?

Unfortunately for the Giants, Rice’s suspension will also coincide with Kansas City’s Week 2 date with the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of Super Bowl LIX. That fact gives the Eagles a more likely chance of winning, even though it will be Kansas City’s home opener.

The other factor that could be problematic for the Giants is the Chiefs are still really good, and Mahomes knows how to win without Rice. The wideout missed the final 13 regular-season games, plus all three playoff games, after he tore up his knee in the Chiefs’ Week 4 win against the Los Angeles Chargers last year.

Mahomes and KC still went 13-3 without Rice last year with a rag-tag group of receivers and nearly completed a three-peat before falling to the Eagles.

Plus, the new-look Giants offense will still need to contend with the elite Chiefs defense, which was fourth in the NFL in points-against per game (19.2).