Giants-Vikings: 5 plays that led to Giants’ collapse

Let’s take one more look

For the second consecutive season, the New York Giants failed to score a touchdown in Week 1, as Big Blue was dominated, 28-6, by the Sam Darnold-led Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Darnold carved through the Giants, finishing the game 19 of 24 for 208 yards with a pair of touchdowns and a Darius Muasau interception. He started 10 of 10 for 136 yards with a touchdown.

The Giants did not pressure Darnold. Man coverage was a liability and the defense’s zone coverage had holes, especially outside the numbers. There were issues throughout the Giants’ defense, after they started with a big Dexter Lawrence sack and an Andru Phillips forced fumble.

The offense, however, was equally as offensive as the defense. Daniel Jones finished the game 22 of 42 for 186 yards with two interceptions. His timing was off, his accuracy was erratic, and he was uncomfortable all game. The offensive line surrendered five sacks, but some of those were on Jones.

Brian Flores out-coached Brian Daboll throughout the game. It was — yet another — incredibly disheartening performance against a presumably beatable opponent. Positive takeaways have too frequently proven evasive for this New York Giants team; here are the five plays that elucidate that sad reality:

Play 1: Van Ginkel for six

The Giants were showing little to no life on offense all game. After a devastating defensive possession to open the second half (detailed in “Play 2”), Shane Bowen’s defense forced a three-and-out where Minnesota used two timeouts. A little momentum, maybe? Probably not.

The Giants receive the football and try a quick pass to Wan’Dale Robinson (17) who was behind the back-receiver motioned behind a QUAD formation. The Vikings’ Andrew Van Ginkel (43) read the play with ease and intercepted the pass for a walk in touchdown, putting the Giants down 28-6.

Play 2: Nailor in the coffin

The Giants were down 14-3 at half-time with the Vikings set to receive the football. The Giants’ defense showed life, and forced a third-and-long checkdown that would have resulted in a punt, but Kayvon Thibodeaux was called for a face-mask while he was pass-rushing.

Aaron Jones rushed for 31 yards on the next two plays. The third play was a Jalen Nailor touchdown that was effectively the nail in the coffin for the delusions still possessed by some Giants’ fans about a comeback.

Great play call by Kevin O’Connell to use Justin Jefferson (18) as a fast-three to the field with a post (No. 1)/ wheel (No. 2) combination that forced Cor’Dale Flott (28) to bite hard on the Jefferson fake. Nailor (83) easily secure the touchdown and the Giants fall behind 21-3, which seems insurmountable with this iteration of the team.

Play 3: Jones’ second interception

Desperate, the Giants go for the points while down 22 points early in the fourth quarter:

The Giants run a scissors concept to the field with a post/fade to the boundary. Jones targets Darius Slayton (86) on the post. I understand what went through Jones’ head. The underneath defender bailed to curl-flat from the line of scrimmage, which presented a throwing window behind him (the underneath defender). Josh Metellus (44) also bailed from the line of scrimmage to a middle-hook with the safety Harrison Smith (22) high and outside of Slayton.

Jones attempted to put the ball back-shoulder to Slayton, away from Metellus, who started moving toward Slayton. However, he put the ball too far inside. Smith waited patiently for Jones to throw and then jumped outside the hip of Slayton for the pick.

Play 4: 11 plays, 99 yards

The star receiver wasn’t called upon a ton in the game. He caught four of six targets for 59 yards with this touchdown below:

Jefferson beat Tae Banks (3) inside in the one-on-one matchup and Darnold did an excellent job optimally placing the football for his star receiver. The outside jab foot by Jefferson got Banks to slightly close himself off to the inside, which was just enough time for Darnold to find Jefferson. This touchdown concluded an 11-play, 99-yard drive. Yes, after an elite specail teams’ punt coverage play, Sam Darnold still managed to score a touchdown. The Jefferson play below was the catalyst to the drive:

Jefferson secures this 44 yard catch on second-and-twelve. He stemmed inside and broke outward away from the underneath defender and the deep safety. And, to his credit, that’s a beautiful pass by Darnold. Jordon Addison had a pair of outside-the-numbers consecutive catches that totaled 29 yards to help set up the Jefferson touchdown above.

Play 5: Containing Aaron Jones…

…was something the Giants struggled to do. Jones rushed 14 times for 94 yards (6.7 YPC) with one touchdown. New York missed tackles, lost contain, and looked poor overall against the former Green Bay Packers’ back. He out-paced Nick McCloud (44) to the outside on his early three-yard touchdown scamper:

Neither the offense or defense seemed capable to compete against the Vikings. This could be a long season for the Giants.