Minnesota Vikings 16 – New York Giants 13

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 16 – NEW YORK GIANTS 13…
In a horrifically played game by both teams, the New York Giants lost their ninth game in a row, falling 16-13 to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants are no 2-13 with two games remaining.

A combination of a very conservative Giants’ offense dealing with offensive line issues (including missing three starters at one point) and a tough Vikings’ defense led to only 12 first downs, 141 total net yards, and 13 net passing yards for New York. In turn, the Vikings were held to 17 first downs and 240 total net yards. The Giants only gained 2.9 yards per play and the Vikings only 4.1 yards.

The Vikings received the ball first, benefiting from a kick out of bounds by new kicker Ben Sauls. They gained 35 yards on nine plays but it was enough to set up a 43-yard field goal. The Giants moved the ball on their first possession, reaching the Minnesota 10-yard line but turned the ball over on downs when quarterback Jaxson Dart was sacked on 4th-and-5. The Giants got the ball back when Vikings’ quarterback J.J. McCarthy was picked off by cornerback Paulson Adebo at the 44-yard line. The Giants ran 12 plays on the ensuing possession, gaining just 35 yards, and settling for 27-yard field goal when Dart was sacked again. At this point, left tackle Andrew Thomas left the game with a hamstring injury. The Giants were already without left guard Jon Runyan due to the birth of his baby.

Tied at 3-3, the Vikings put together an 11-play, 64-yard drive that stalled inside the 10-yard line of the Giants, forcing a 31-yard field goal. On the ensuing possession, Dart was intercepted on the third play, on 3rd-and-15, and the Vikings had the ball at the New York 16-yard line. It took three plays for the Vikings to score when McCarthy ran the ball in from 12 yards out on 3rd-and-6. Vikings 13 – Giants 3.

The Giants went three-and-out after a holding penalty. On 2nd-and-4, unblocked outside linebacker Brian Burns sacked McCarthy and caused a fumble that recovered by safety Tyler Nubin and returned for an easy 27-yard touchdown with just 17 seconds before halftime. The Giants were now down 13-10 and McCarthy was knocked out of the game with a right hand injury.

The bulk of the third quarter was taken up by the first possessions of the second half for both teams. In a weird series, the Giants tried to run nine plays, with only four of them counting due to penalties by both teams. In the end, the Giants only gained 11 yards and punted with almost four minutes off of the clock. The Vikings took almost six minutes off of the clock, gaining 43 yards, but also punted.

The Giants then began a 14-play, 54-yard drive that took 9:21 off of the clock. The Giants reached the 17-yard line of the Vikings before getting pushed back by a penalty and being forced to settle for a 39-yard field goal. Nevertheless, the game was tied 13-13 with 11 minutes to play. It was during this drive that the Giants lost center John Michael Schmitz with a hand injury.

On the Vikings’ second possession of the half, they gained 57 yards on 14 plays. The drive was kept alive by a 3rd-and-17 conversion., Minnesota ended up settling for a 30-yard field goal to take a 16-13 lead with just over four minutes to play. On ensuing (and last) possession for New York, the Giants gained one first down on a 3rd-and-9 defensive penalty, but the Giants turned the ball over on downs on 4th-and-3 when Dart was sacked again at the 2-minute warning. Minnesota then ran out the clock.

Both teams only had the ball three times in the second half.

Dart finished the game 7-of-13 for 33 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked five times. His leading receiver was Wan’Dale Robinson who caught three passes for 19 yards. Running back Tyrone Tracy ran 16 times for 71 yards and running back Devin Singletary gained 47 yards on 11 carries.

Defensively, the Giants held the Vikings to 240 yards. Burns had two sacks and forced a fumble. Fellow outside linebacker Abdul Carter had a sack.

GAME VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS are available on YouTube.

ROSTER MOVES, PRACTICE SQUAD ELEVATIONS, INACTIVES, AND INJURY REPORT…
On Saturday, the Giants placed OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Shoulder) on Injured Reserve and activated CB Art Green (Hamstring) from Injured Reserve.

The Giants also activated (standard elevation) DL Elijah Chatman and PK Ben Sauls from the Practice Squad.

Inactive for the game were OG Jon Runyan (wife having baby), DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (Ankle), ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Illness), WR Jalin Hyatt, WR Ryan Miller, OLB Caleb Murphy, and QB Russell Wilson (3rd QB).

Leaving the game with injuries were LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), CB Cor’Dale Flott (knee), OC John Michael Schmitz (hand), and DL D.J. Davidson (neck)

POST-GAME REACTION…
Transcripts and video clips of post-game media sessions with Interim Head Coach Mike Kafka and the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Interim Head Coach Mike Kafka and select players will address the media by Zoom on Monday.

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