That is the stay report from the Vikings’ season opener at MetLife Stadium towards the Giants. To learn Ben Goessling’s evaluation of the Vikings’ 28-6 win, go right here.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Vikings started the 12 months espousing the idea they may return to the playoffs in 2024 by coaxing the perfect out of quarterback Sam Darnold, constructing a run sport they may belief and making progress on protection behind a deeper group of go rushers than that they had in 2023.
Although they’ll face harder checks than they acquired Sunday at MetLife Stadium, they handed the primary one about as comfortably as they may have wished.
They held a 22-point lead — the most important of Kevin O’Connell’s teaching tenure — for many of the fourth quarter on Sunday, ending with a 28-6 win over the Giants for his or her most lopsided victory since a 39-10 win over the Chargers in 2019. Darnold accomplished 15 of his first 17 passes by means of three quarters, ending 19 of 24 for 208 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, whereas the Vikings sacked Daniel Jones 5 occasions and hit him 12 occasions.
Why it occurred: The Vikings did precisely what they’d stated all summer time they deliberate to do. Jones, who fileted the Vikings’ protection in a playoff efficiency that acquired him a four-year, $160 million deal and value Ed Donatell his job, was flustered by Brian Flores’ strain schemes all through the sport. Aaron Jones carried 13 occasions for 93 yards, main a speeding assault that proved efficient all through the day. And Darnold regarded in command, hitting Justin Jefferson with one of many deep throws he had accomplished all through camp and capping off a 99-yard drive with a fourth-down rating to Jefferson.
What it means: The win places the Vikings atop the NFC North to start out the 12 months, after they started final season with three straight losses that turned the remainder of the season right into a scramble. The turnover-laden begin to the 2023 season had grated at O’Connell since final 12 months, and it knowledgeable a lot of his coaching camp messaging to the 2024 Vikings. Issues will get harder with the 49ers and Texans up subsequent, however the Vikings may not must face Jordan Love in a Week 4 journey to Inexperienced Bay.
Play of the sport: On the Giants’ first play of a third-quarter drive from their very own 17-yard line, Andrew Van Ginkel took a gentle edge whereas speeding off the proper aspect of the road, placing himself in excellent place to intercept the display go he appeared to know was coming. He caught one hand within the air to snag the ball simply 1.16 seconds after the snap, in line with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, and scored the fourth landing of his profession on the interception.