The Minnesota Vikings (2-2) head to New Jersey on Sunday hoping to right their floundering langskip (look it up) as they enter the second quarter of the season at .500 and in sole possession of the NFC North cellar.
The New York Giants have discovered the fountain of youth in their rookie quarterback Daniel Jones since he replaced veteran quarterback Eli Manning after their second consecutive loss in Week 2. The Giants have won both games since Jones has taken the helm.
Game Info
Date: Sunday, October 06, 2019
Start time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Location: East Rutherford, N.J.
Stadium: MetLife Stadium
Series History: Vikings lead series (15-10)
TV Info: FOX
Game Preview
This is a must-win game for the Vikings. This is their third road game of the season. They dropped their earlier two on the road against division rivals Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Their previous two wins were convincing and came against the Atlanta Falcons and the Oakland Raiders.
Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, along with the Vikings’ defense (ranked sixth in the league) have primarily carried this team through their first four games despite the two losses.
What is lacking is consistent play at the quarterback position and passing game. Minnesota currently ranks 31st in passing.
Cousins holds his share of the blame. He holds on to the ball too long and fails his reads when Vikings wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are often open and viable targets. Cousins has tossed only three touchdowns along with two interceptions this season for 735 yards and an 88.6% passer rating.
Kirk Cousins: “Let’s practice me not throwing you the ball.”
Stefon Diggs… pic.twitter.com/S2P03sp22X
— Vincent Frank (@VincentFrankNFL) October 2, 2019
It’s not only Kirk Cousins’s fault, though. The Vikings’ O-line folds like a wet paper bag at times when Cousins drops back. Cousins enters the game against the Giants with eight sacks, six of which came last week.
To get back into the NFC North race, the Purple and Gold must get their passing game fixed, and that includes protecting the quarterback.
The Giants are a rejuvenated team since the emergence of the rookie Daniel Jones. They are flying high off of two consecutive wins behind the rookie and are looking — for the first time in quite a few seasons — daring to entertain the possibility of a playoff appearance.
The Giants’ passing offense since Jones took over under center ranks seventh in the league in passing. Jones’s passing rating is 95.9%.
Jones also enjoys an incredible supporting cast on offense as well with phenom Saquon Barkley (who could be back next week) and backup running back Wayne Gallman. Tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Sterling Shepard round out the Giants’ crew and prove able-bodied targets for the young quarterback.
Week 4 was fun, let's do it again 🤩#GiantsPride | @VanHeusen
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 30, 2019
The Giants’ 25th-ranked defense, however, may prove to be problematic and will cost the Giants games down the stretch.
The Giants have the foundation to be a great football team. However, that won’t happen this season. With their defense and the inexperience of starting rookies Jones and Barkley, the best that they can hope for this year is good. However, great is just around the corner with Jones and Barkley as the foundation.
“I really want to apologize to [Thielen] because there’s too many opportunities where we could have hit him on Sunday. … I’ve watched the film, and the reality is there were opportunities for [Thielen]. The one that’s most obvious is the third-and-10 at the beginning of the game. We’re near midfield. That’s arguably seven points.
“If you put the ball where it needs to be, No. 19’s shown that he will make that play. … Adam’s not just a really good player or one of the best players on the Vikings. He’s one of the best players in the NFL, one of the best players in the world, period, regardless of position. And so we want to, we need to — I need to get him more opportunities. Get him the football.”
– Vikings QB Kirk Cousins on not getting the ball to WR Adam Thielen this season
Fodder for Thought
- The Vikings have lost five straight outdoor road games. Ironically, their last win was at MetLife Stadium, 37-17 over the New York Jets last October.
- Dalvin Cook (second in the NFL with 410 yards rushing) is the only player in league with at least one rushing touchdown in each of the first four games this season.
- Kirk Cousins suffered six sacks last week (ties career most). Cousins also leads the league with six fumbles (two lost).
- Danielle Hunter has three sacks in the past four games.
- Harrison Smith has 14 tackles and a 35-yard pick-six in his last two outings against New York.
- With a win Sunday, the Giants will have their first three-game winning streak since 2016.
- Daniel Jones ranks second among rookies with a 95.9 passer rating.
- Wayne Gallman had a career-high 118 yards from scrimmage and two scores in place of injured Saquon Barkley last week.
- Golden Tate returns from a four-game PED suspension this week.
- Janoris Jenkins had two of the Giants’ four picks against the Washington Redskins last week.
- Markus Golden has a team-high three-and-a-half sacks this season.
Prediction
The Vikings are a much better team than their record reflects. They are a much better team than the Giants, as well.
The Vikes’ O-line will do a much better job this Sunday protecting Cousins, and Cousins shall prove himself a worthy skipari and right the Vikings’ langskip. Aiding Cousins, the Vikings’ defense will expose phenom Daniel Jones as a mere mortal this Sunday.
Final Score prediction: Vikings 28, Giants 18
@MichaelTRose previews this Sunday’s matchup between the New York #Giants, riding a two-game winning streak with Daniel Jones, and the Minnesota #Vikings, who own a spot in the cellar of the NFC North.
