New York not competitive in embarrassing season opener
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants opened their 2024 season with a familiar-looking 28-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
- Defensive play, aside from some early work by Dexter Lawrence, that made Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold look like an All-Pro. Darnold completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
- Inept offense devoid of shots down the field.
- Poor quarterback play from Daniel Jones, who missed several open receivers, threw a Pick 6 and hesitated on a number of throws. Jones went 22 of 42 for 186 yards and two interceptions.
- Too much pressure on Jones, who was sacked 5 times as the revamped offensive line struggled in its debut.
- Questionable play calling from head coach Brian Daboll. The deep shots the Giants emphasized all summer were nowhere to be found until the game was out of reach. Daboll called several designed runs for Jones, coming back from knee surgery, including back-to-back ones in the second quarter. The pick 6 thrown by Jones came on an attempted wide receiver screen that was, by formation, brutally obvious.
- Special teams comedy, with substitute punt returner Darius Slayton muffing his first attempt to catch a punt. Only the Giants can lose a player in pre-game warmups before the beginning of the first game, as the Giants did when Gunner Olszewski suffered a groin injury.
- At least five dropped passes.
- Too many penalties, including big ones on Adoree’ Jackson and Brian Burns that extended Minnesota drives and led to touchdowns. The Giants ended with nine penalties for 95 yards.
- A secondary that was, predictably, overmatched.
By early in the third quarter, the outcome was not in doubt. It turned out that Minnesota linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was right.
#Vikings 2nd year LB Ivan Pace Jr. basically says the #Giants offense SUCKS:
“We bouta go crazy man. It ain’t even gonna be no matchup”
( Via ABC5, h/t @vikesinsider)
pic.twitter.com/tyYnZoNjJq— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 6, 2024
Giants fans were, justifiably, leaving early in the fourth quarter with the team down by three touchdowns.
Giants fans head for the exits with the Giants trailing 28-6 in the fourth quarter after Daniel Jones second interception of the game. pic.twitter.com/1EgFTMg3mD
— Big Blue View (@bigblueview) September 8, 2024
Injury updates
- Kick returner Gunner Olszewski suffered a groin injury in pre-game warmups and was announced as out moments before kickoff.
- Linebacker Carter Coughlin was lost with a pectoral injury.
- Cornerback Nick McCloud left the game with a knee injury.
Highlights
Is it bad when the first highlight is punt coverage?
Punt coverage
: #MINvsNYG on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ibIGfeMOnm— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
First catch for Malik Nabers. The No. 6 overall pick finished with five catches for 66 yards.
First NFL catch for Malik Nabers!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/hyPJoaezV7
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) September 8, 2024
Nabers is nice!
Malik Nabers goes up to get it!
(via @Giants) pic.twitter.com/bVvMJfu55U
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) September 8, 2024
Inactives
The Giants elevated linebackers/special teamers Carter Coughlin and Ty Summers to play Sunday. Inactive were:
S Anthony Johnson Jr.
CB Tre Hawkins III
OLB Boogie Basham
G Jake Kubas
QB Tommy DeVito (3rd QB)
What’s next?
The Giants travel to Landover, Md. on Sunday to get their first look at rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders, who are now coached by Dan Quinn. Game time is 1 p.m. ET.
