Many pundits and fans have compared the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants throughout the season. They each started 6-1, which many people felt was a fraudulent in both cases.
However, each team handled adversity differently.
After the Seattle Seahawks handed them their second loss in Week 8, the Giants failed to win four of their next five games before putting a stop to their winless streak last week. Meanwhile, the Vikings have not lost consecutive games all season, including rattling off a seven-game win streak after their first loss in Week 2. When the Vikings get punched in the face, they get up swinging, and they exemplified that mindset in their record-breaking comeback against the Indianapolis Colts last week.
While the Vikings may have an advantage in the grit and determination department, the Giants are not lacking in on-field talent. Given that this game may be a playoff preview, fans can get excited to see how their team can adapt and battle against another top NFC opponent.
Here are three things that make the Giants an interesting opponent.
Saquon Barkley
Not much can be said about the Giants’ offense. They rank 22nd in yards and points per game. Barkley is undeniably the focal point, leading the NFC in rushing yards with 1,170 yards. He’s also a major contributor in the pass game, leading the Giants in targets (62) and receptions (47) while averaging 21 yards per game through the air, giving him the sixth-most yards from scrimmage in the NFL.
However, the Vikings’ defense has been stout against the run, allowing only 3.8 YPC this season, third-best in the NFL. When Barkley averages this or less in a game, the Giants are 2-4-1. Therefore, Minnesota has a blueprint for how to win.
But Minnesota has issues in the passing game. Over the season, the Vikings have given up the fifth-most receptions (79) and receiving yards (617) to opposing running backs. Much of this problem has been the lack of burst from Jordan Hicks (No. 58) when closing down on the flats.
The Vikings have tried to fix that problem with Brian Asamoah II. The rookie linebacker is much more explosive, and they’ve increased his snaps. On the play below, Asamoah (33) helps force what would have been a fumble if not for a quick forward progress whistle.
Asamoah is not quite run-fit right now, so he’s not ready to be an every-down linebacker. However, the Vikings seem comfortable sending him out in clear passing situations, which could help their woes against receivers out of the backfield.
Blitzes
The Giants blitz more than any other team in the league, and it’s not even close. At 40.5%, it beats out the next most blitz-happy team, the Green Bay Packers, by nearly 5% (35.8%). It also more than doubles Minnesota’s blitz rate (18.6%). As a result, New York is third in quarterback knockdown rate (12.4%) and pressure percentage (24.5%).
Despite this, the Giants rank relatively low in sacks and hurries. They are 18th in team sacks (32) and 18th in hurry rate (7.2%). Why? Because opposing quarterbacks can diagnose and pick apart New York’s blitzes, making quick reads to find the hole that the extra rusher leaves.
Exploiting this weakness has many layers to it. First off, Kirk Cousins has to be effective against pressure. He struggled with pressure early this season, as he has throughout his career. Through Week 11, Cousins had the 30th-ranked PFF grade when pressured (52.0). However, in the four games since, Kirk has been nothing but exceptional against pressure, bumping his under-pressure grade up to seventh among QBs with at least 20% of their team’s dropbacks (61.7). Which version of Cousins turns up will be a major factor in the effectiveness of New York’s blitzes.
Backup center Austin Schlottmann is another factor. The center generally has to call out protections and blitz counters before the snap. Garrett Bradbury has done that for the majority of the season. However, Bradbury will almost certainly miss the game due to reaggravating a back injury in a minor car accident, meaning that Schlottmann will have to fill that role for the third straight week.
While it can be difficult to determine exactly who is at fault in many situations, calling an incorrect blitz counter will almost always result in a free man to the QB. Given the frequency of New York’s blitzes, Schlottmann will have a lot of responsibility on any given play. If he is up for the task, Cousins should have an easier time in the pocket.
Secondary
One of the things I look forward to the most in any Vikings game is how the other team will attempt to handle Justin Jefferson. Only nine yards away from the franchise record and 341 yards away from the all-time mark for receiving yards in a season, no team wants to be on the wrong end of the record books.
The Giants have been middle of the pack against the pass on the season, ranking 16th in yards allowed (216.9 per game). However, they will likely be without their top CB in Adoree’ Jackson and will have to rely on Fabian Moreau, Nick McCloud, and Darnay Holmes to try to contain Jefferson.
These corners have been less than stellar individually, and the Giants have been conceding 250.5 passing yards and 1.75 touchdowns per game in Jackson’s absence. Not wanting to rely on any one player, the Giants should look to double Jefferson with a safety all day, so K.J. Osborn may have an opportunity to build on his 157-yard performance last week.
