An inside have a look at Saturday’s Giants-Vikings Week 16 matchup.
Marquee matchup
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook vs. Giants ILBs Jaylon Smith, Micah McFadden and Landon Collins
Stopping the run has been a bugaboo for the Giants all season. The statistical category that most closely fits this team ought to be Not Stopping the Run. This defense is thirtieth within the league, allowing 150.4 yards per game and showing an inability to contain any and all rushing attacks. The Vikings prefer to throw it and are only twenty eighth within the NFL in rushing offense at 95.4 yards per game. Don’t be fooled by that. Cook (230-1,045; eight TDs) is a formidable challenge. The Giants’ inside linebacker spot is a large number, which is why Collins will get some snaps and one other natural safety, Tony Jefferson, also will probably be in the combination.
Paul’s pick
When the Vikings are rolling and the joint gets jumping and the group starts chanting “Skol,’’ this can be a tough place to play for the road team. No wonder the Vikings are 7-1 at home this season. The Giants attained what they needed last week, but lest we forget, they managed to attain just 13 points on offense. That isn’t going to chop it here. Forcing turnovers from Kirk Cousins and Saquon Barkley running wild is the mix required to drag off the upset.
Vikings 27, Giants 17
4 downs
Popgun attack: The Giants are last within the league in explosive pass plays — completions of 20 or more yards — with just 21. For comparison, the Chiefs lead the NFL with 62. The Vikings are tied for thirteenth with 43. Are the Giants not asking Daniel Jones to look deep or are his receivers incapable of breaking loose?
“I’d say just every game is just different so far as how you would like to attack a defense,’’ offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said. “Some games you would like to try this, some games you would like to do something else.’’
On the flip side, Jones has fewer interceptions (4) than any starting quarterback. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has 11.
Tale of the 2 halves: There isn’t a approach to understand how the Vikings will respond coming off their Week 15 experience. They put together the most important comeback in NFL history, trailing 33-0 to the Colts at halftime and roaring back to say a 39-36 time beyond regulation triumph. Did that drain the Vikings or energize them?
“Very weird situation,’’ safety Julian Love said. “That shows how resilient they’re because Kirk Cousins has been a component of a number of of those. It shows you possibly can’t let up against them, they’ve too many weapons to not be in your s–t. Now we have to be locked in.’’
Inside out: Rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux and second-year Azeez Oljulari are a pair of 22-year-old outside linebackers and ascending edge rushers. They’ve deservedly received approval for their work the past month. They’re buoyed by the play of interior linemen Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams. It isn’t any coincidence that Lawrence had a quiet game in Week 14 against the Eagles when Williams was out with a neck injury.
“If Leo’s not on the market, there’s 4 hands happening Dex on a regular basis,’’ defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said. Lawrence this week was chosen to his first Pro Bowl. It’s noteworthy that the Vikings will probably be without their starting center, Garrett Bradberry, out with a back issue.
Locked in: Saquon Barkley has had longer runs and more productive outings, however the three consecutive rushes he had within the fourth quarter last week — bursts for 12, 15 and 14 yards — were a show of force hardly seen this season from Barkley and the offensive line.
“You, as they might say, you get in your bag,’’ Barkley said. “Meaning you get in your zone. You begin feeling good. Obviously, ripping off the primary one and also you get into the second, third one. For me, I just need to determine how I can get 4, five, six.’’
The return of Ben Bredeson at left guard made a difference. The Vikings are 18th within the league in run defense, allowing 120.4 yards per game. The Giants are sixth in rushing offense at 146.2 yards per game.