Vikings Dominate Giants in 2024 Season Opener

The Minnesota Vikings have won their season opener!

Final: Minnesota Vikings 28 New York Giants 6
Stats:
Minnesota:
QB:
S. Darnold 19/24 208 yds 2 TD 1 INT 113.2 rtg
RB:
A. Jones 14 car 94 yds 6.7 avg 1 TD (2 rec 15 yds)
T. Chandler 8 car 17 yds 2.1 avg (3 rec 25 yds)
WR:
J. Jefferson 4 rec 59 yds 14.8 avg 1 TD 44 long
J. Addison 3 rec 35 yds 11.7 avg 16 long
J. Oliver 2 rec 27 yds 13.5 avg 22 long
J. Nailor 1 rec 21 yds 1 TD 21 long
DEF:
P. Jones II 2 sacks
A. Van Ginkel 1 sack 1 INT (returned for a TD)
D. Turner 1 sack
H. Phillips 1 sack
H. Smith 1 INT
K:
W. Reichard 4/4 XP

Game summary:
The Vikings and Giants each did not start the game right. Both teams didn't score on their first drives. Minnesota's CJ Ham fumbled on the Vikings second drive which led to the Giants field goal which was the first of the day. Minnesota would answer not long after though with a 3 yard rushing score from RB Aaron Jones for his first TD in purple. In the 2nd quarter, Minnesota added more on with a nice pass from Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson for their first touchdown connection of the season. On that drive, Jefferson also caught a 44 yard pass that Darnold just laid in his hands practically.
In the 2nd half, the Vikings came out swinging on their first drive. They would score on a 21 yard pass from Darnold to Jalen Nailor to go out 21-3. The Giants would drive and kick a 50 yard field goal on their next drive. While Minnesota would go three-and-out on their next possession, the Giants' Daniel Jones had lots of issues today. One of them was Andrew Van Ginkel, who intercepted a low out route and returned it for six! This put Minnesota up 28-6 and that would just about do it. Neither team was very productive on offense after that, and the game just continued to whittle down.
I was impressed by Sam Darnold's consistency today, especially as player that has not had much success since being drafted 5 years ago. Darnold rarely threw a ball that could even be intercepted. The one pick he threw was tipped by the receiver and caught by the defender. If Darnold can be this consisten for the Vikings this season, the team could actually make some waves. Aaron Jones also looked solid for the team today. 

Injury Update
WR Jordan Addison had dealt with an ankle injury during training camp, and it appeared he reinjured it at the end of the 2nd quarter. He did not play the rest of the game, and I would expect him to be sidelined for at least one game.

Up Next
Next week, the Vikings will come back to Minneapolis for the home opener against last year's Super Bowl runner ups - the San Francisco 49ers. Kickoff is at 12 PM CT.

​#SKOL