If I were writing this preview of the Giants-Vikings game a few days ago – when Minnesota was fresh off thumping the Carolina Panthers on the road – I would probably have said that Minnesota is for real and the Giants are in deep trouble.
I mean, eight sacks and three interceptions of Cam Newton? In Carolina? Seeing that evisceration –- and knowing the proclivities of Elisha Manning –- it’d be reasonable to think we could be looking at a Monday night game in which the Vikings amass double digit sacks and a half dozen turnovers in hosting the Giants.
But my feeling toward this game has changed. And not because of anything the Vikings or Giants have done. No, I watched the Atlanta Falcons face Carolina on Sunday and they picked up where the Vikings left off, with Matt Ryan throwing for 503 yards (with 300 of them to Julio Jones) in beating the Panthers 48-33. I feel confident in saying Cam Newton has no chance of returning to the Super Bowl to act like a baby after his team loses.
Four games is a small sample size, but the Panthers have now lost to Trevor Siemian, Sam Bradford and Matt Ryan. Carolina is just not that good, thanks in no small part to the loss of cornerback Josh Norman to Washington in free agency. In turn, the Vikings’ 3-0 record – with wins against Tennessee (yawn), Green Bay (meh) and Carolina – looks much less impressive than it did just a few days ago.
Granted, Atlanta came in with the No. 1 offense in the NFL, due largely to playing against the Buccaneers, Raiders and Saints – ranked 19, 31 and 32 in the league.
In short, Minnesota is not that good because Carolina is not that good. And that’s good news for the Giants, because frankly Big Blue looked like the late-era Coughlin Giants in losing to Washington last week.
Turnovers, Penalties, Stupidity: New York owned all three phrases in its loss to Washington. And yet they still had an opportunity to win the game late. Unfortunately, Manning had a late brunch appointment to keep and tossed another godawful interception to end the team’s comeback bid.
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The Giants now face Minnesota, which on paper is a classic confrontation between a top offense (Giants, No. 2) versus a top defense (Vikings, No. 6). History says that in matchups such as these, the defense traditionally comes out on top. Particularly at home, where through one game Minnesota’s new stadium has already proven to be deafening with piped-in noise. (What, you’d put it past those Minnesotans? The Twins did this during the 1987 World Series; just ask Al Michaels.)
We’re quickly going to see just how good the 2016 Giants are going to be. After this game, they stay north to play Green Bay. It’s not unreasonable to think they’ll be 2-3 seven days from now, not least because the Packers were on bye this week and will be well rested.
But first, Minnesota: an offense led by quarterback Sam Bradford, wide receiver Stefon Diggs and some running back not named Chuck Foreman. I see the game unfolding in one of two ways –- the Giants get out to an early lead by bombing away with their three-headed receiving corps, dooming the Vikings to attempt a comeback with Bradford and a pedestrian Minnesota offense against a much-improved Giants defense (that nonetheless stunk against Washington last week).
Or I see Manning going full Mr. Hyde and committing so many turnovers that the Minnesota defense will carry countless fantasy owners to victory.
The Giants have played close games all year – none decided by more than a field goal. But also, none against a defense like Minnesota’s. If they try to go ball control with Orleans Darkwa, Odell Beckham Jr. will probably be wearing a field goal kicking net by halftime.
It’s time to see what this Giants team is capable of –- on the road, on Monday Night Football, against a supposedly great team (led by Sam Bradford).
Good teams win road games like this. Are the Giants a good team? Well, if they lose this game, they’ll be in last place in the NFC Least, so I guess we’ll see.
