Vikings @ Giants

[MaroonBells]

Too many games are called must-win games. But considering the Vikings schedule after the Giants (49ers, Texans, Packers, Jets, Lions, Rams --holy shit), Vikings really need this one. 

Will we have Jordan Addison? I'm gonna say doubtful. Could be a big game for Jalen Nailor. Giants LB unit (PFF ranked them 5th in the NFL) is a little banged up. Which Danny Dimes do we see? The one who earned a $40M salary courtesy of _onatell two years ago? Or the one who threw two ugly picks in the preseason two weeks ago? 

Giants were early favorites in this, but that has swung back to the Vikings. Most "experts" are now picking the Vikings. 

[purplefaithful]

Week 1 is such a crapshoot and we really have only seen the depth play in August.

I have no idea what we got overall.

Losing Hunter and Cousins is huge, I hope I'm not lamenting that much of the year.

I agree it would be nice to steal this one on the road. For a team trying to jell with a new QB, no TJH or Addison? That first 1/4 of the season is brutal.

[StickierBuns]

It will be interesting. Winnable road game to kick off the season. I've said my piece about Darnold: from this point on, I'm on the Sam Darnold Train. Only positivity, because I've already said I find it highly doubtful he pulls it off. If he fails, I won't pile on. Hopeful to be wrong. Let's do this.

[purplefaithful]

It will be interesting. Winnable road game to kick off the season. I've said my piece about Darnold: from this point on, I'm on the Sam Darnold Train. Only positivity, because I've already said I find it highly doubtful he pulls it off. If he fails, I won't pile on. Hopeful to be wrong. Let's do this.

Fair enough, thats probably the most fans can do given his tape. 

On offense, I suspect most of our wins will be Darnold making "enough plays" and the running-game being better than last year.

[FLVike]

One of these teams will have to get very lucky to win this game and it's not the purple team.

With turnovers, bounces, and calls being even:
Vikings 27
Giants  10

[comet52]

Giants D can bring pressure and make Darnold look like...Darnold. I expect Malik Nabors to be the next great WR in this league. Unfortunately he's got Daniel Jones for a QB, aka the opposing team's secret weapon.

I expect an ugly game. No idea who'll win.

[MAD GAINZ]

Daniel Jones sucks. The QBs aren't going to decide this game. Vikings have a better OL, offensive skill players, better defense, and better kicker (Will "Russian Assassin" Richard).

We win this one easy and KOC gets some revenge for the playoff loss to the Giants two years ago and getting snubbed for Coach of the Year. The media loved big dude Daboll after his first year, but KOC has more wins in 2022 and 2023 and will stack one more on the Andy Reid wannabe in Week 1.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

I think winning this game will be determined by the Vikings defense. If Aaron Jones has good stats on offense, the Vikings win, unless they have turnovers.
I'm anxious to see if all the turnover on defense adds up to improvement or decline. Against this QB, Vikings defense should dominate.

[RS_Express]

Vikings have the better WR, RB,and OT's. Giants have the better QB (yes even Jones has been less of a trainwreck than Darnold). I think the Vikings D is more talented, but with seeing hardly any starters in preseason that's an uneducated guess.

Who wins? If the Vikings can run the ball enough to limit Darnold's chances to screw up, we win. If KOC bails on the run and lets Sam throw it 40 times, we're toast.

Either way this is going to be a slog rather than a track meet. Final score 20-17 for whichever QB Fs up less.

[pattersaur]

Close game that we find a way to lose late is my guess. Lots of lineup unknowns, we're on the road, it's the home opener for the other team so the fans and refs will be helping them along.

And we have an infuriating recent history of losing "winnable" games early in the season. Sadly I think this game gets added to that list.