/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73572703/2170858496.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "4 things we learned from the Giants’ 28-6 loss to the Vikings")
Filed under: 4 things we learned from the Giants’ 28-6 loss to the Vikings How does a team play so terribly? Let me count the ways By Anthony Del Genio Sep 8, 2024, 5:12pm EDT Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images If ever the start of a season felt like a turning point for better or worse in a team’s future, this one might be it. In the third year of the Joe Schoen/Brian Daboll regime, the New York Giants appeared going in to finally have a capable offensive line, finally have a bona fide WR1, finally have a pass rush that can get home from left/right/middle. To go even further, the season would begin with two winnable but far from easy games, followed by a five-week stretch of games against teams who would surely be favored. Get off to a fast start against the Minnesota Vikings, survive the gauntlet that follows, and this might be a season to remember. Fall flat and there might be wholesale changes at the top in store for 2025. Well … Daniel Jones was awful Unless I missed something, Jones did not even attempt a single pass more than 20 yards downfield. So much for the explosive passing offense we expected to see this year. Jones looked confused all day by Brian Flores’ defenses. I don’t know if receivers were open and he didn’t see them, or whether the coverage was that good. Either way, he seemed uncomfortable in the pocket from the start, and the criticism that Jones cannot read a defense will only get louder. He showed poor pocket awareness, e.g., when he avoided a sack by free rusher Patrick Jones and then let himself be sacked anyway rather than throwing the ball away. When he did have someone open, he often made inaccurate throws, either short-arming the ball or making the receiver jump or reach back unnecessarily, limiting yards after the catch. For the second straight game, he was pick-6’ed on an awful decision. Jones did connect with Malik Nabers a few times (5 of 7, 66 yards) while the result was still in question, but Jalin Hyatt was invisible until he was targeted once late in the game. Wan’Dale Robinson saw the bulk of Jones’ passes. Consider the Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck, Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, etc. watch to be on. Arch Manning may be too long to wait. Maybe Mike Kafka should call the plays? If today was an example of what Brian Daboll unchained does, then give me Mike Kafka back. Two consecutive Jones keepers? An obvious bubble screen at your own 5-yard line with Andrew Van Ginkel in the path? Not a single deep throw, even early in the game when the pass protection wasn’t that bad? The larger issue, beyond the play calling, was that Daboll, for the second season in a row, didn’t seem to have his team prepared to play. The Vikings looked crisp on both sides of the ball, the Giants did not. The offensive line wasn’t 2023 bad, but it wasn’t great either Early in the game, it seemed to me that Jones had enough time to throw, but as the game progressed, the pressure ramped up. By the second half the Vikings were teeing off, no longer having to worry about the run. While they were still close, the run blocking appeared to be adequate, but there weren’t any holes opening like the ones Saquon Barkley saw on Friday night. Jones was sacked five times by the Vikings, and while he was partly responsible, there was too much pressure, especially up the middle. The worst fears about the defense were realized Coming into the season, the thinking was that the Giants’ secondary would at best be a work in progress, but that suspect pass coverage would be partly shielded by an invigorated pass rush. The first of those thoughts was realized. Adoree’ Jackson had a questionable pass interference call made on him on a 36-yard pass that Sam Darnold underthrew to Jordan Addison. Up to that point the coverage had been adequate. From that point on, the dam broke. The Vikings are not a team you want to play much man defense on, considering they have possibly the best wide receiver in the NFL in Justin Jefferson. Yet the Giants did that at least once too often, and Jefferson beat Tae Banks badly. Jefferson later beat Banks on a short slant for the 3-yard TD that put Minnesota ahead by two scores. In the third quarter Cor’Dale Flott bit on Jefferson short and let Jalen Nailor breeze by him for a 21-yard score that more or less sealed the outcome. Darnold completed his first 12 passes and was 19 of 24 on the day. The flip side of the Giants’ prospects on defense was supposed to be an improved pass rush that would force opposing quarterbacks to hurry their throws and/or make bad decisions. Early in the game, Dexter Lawrence was up to his old tricks, sacking Darnold and getting pressure several other times. But Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux? You’d have to check the gamebook (which we’ll show tomorrow) to know that they were even on the field. Burns was as close to invisible as a player wearing number 0 can be in his Giants debut. Thibodeaux would have been invisible were it not for his face mask penalty on 3rd-and-16 that kept a Vikings drive alive and led three plays later to the Nailor 21-yard TD reception that broke open the game. When Dexter Lawrence came off the field for a breather, the Vikings immediately started gashing the Giants with runs up the middle. It’s only Week 1, and there’s still time to correct the problems. As Yogi Berra would say, though, “It’s getting late early.” View all 29 stories
4 things we learned from the Giants’ 28-6 loss to the Vikings
Rams-Lions: Four last minute can’t-miss bets
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK What are you betting on this Sunday? The Los Angeles Rams will be looking for revenge against the Detroit Lions this Sunday Night to begin Week 1. If you are looking to put some money on the line this weekend here are four can’t-miss bets for you to lock in last minute, odds courtesy of FanDuel. Tutu Atwell anytime scorer (+750) There will be a significant amount of attention on what Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are doing on the field on Sunday night which might just create the perfect scenario for Tutu Atwell to sneak his way into the end zone. After offseason rumors of the fourth year receiver being traded ahead of Week 1 did not come to fruition, Atwell will have to prove himself in a contract year if he wants to stick with the team. It starts with Week 1. In the last matchup against the Lions in the playoffs the speedy but undersized pass catcher found pay-dirt on a 38-yard catch run in the second quarter and will look to do it again on SNF. MATTHEW STARFORD TO TUTU ATWELL FOR THE TD AND THE This game is a SHOOTOUT! Finally we get something close Lions lead the Rams 21-17pic.twitter.com/yOqz86Ft33 — Last Take™ (@TheRealLastTake) January 15, 2024 Both teams to score 1+ Touchdown (-200) This ones seems like a “gimme” with both teams expected to have two of the top offenses in the NFC and have questions surrounding their defenses. With so many offenses weapons on the field there is no stopping either team from finding the end zone on Sunday. Kyren Williams & Jahmyr Gibbs to Combine for 250+ Rec & Rush Yards (+650) This one may be a bit more bold than the others, but hear me out. Kyren Williams is the heartbeat of LA’s offense and Sean McVay will do everything he possibly can to ensure he gets as many touches as possible—even if that means making him a punt returner. We haven’t seen what wrinkle McVay plans on brining to his offense this season, but if offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur has any say he will utilize Williams in the passing game as well. The Lions have a similar philosophy with Jahmyr Gibbs who, in his second season with the team, will see the majority of touches on Sunday. With both coaches wanting to run the football and utilize their offensive stars in as many capacities as possible it doesn’t seem unlikely that Williams and Gibbs could combine for 250+ yards receiving and rushing. At (+650) odds, why not take a chance on it? Some Jahmyr Gibbs highlights to bless your feed. pic.twitter.com/9X21JVntj0 — Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) September 5, 2024 Total Turnovers under 2.5 (-125) The last time these two teams saw each other there was not a single turnover recorded in the game and I don’t think things are going to change this time around. Both quarterbacks have a solid offensive line to sit behind and with little pressure Stafford and Goff have the ability to have elite pinpoint accuracy with the football and neither Gibbs nor Williams have had a fumbling issue in the NFL. Expect a clean football game from both teams as they lock-in for what could later be a playoff-seeding tie breaker later in the season.
The Bengals are 1-10 in first 2 weeks of the season in Zac Taylor era
Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Starting slow isn’t a trend. It’s a major highlight in the Zac Taylor coaching handbook. The Cincinnati Bengals kicked off their season on Sunday, but anyone familiar with recent history might have been able to foresee the loss without even watching the game. The Bengals lost to the New England Patriots by a score of 16-10 in an ugly performance plagued by mistakes and miscues on both sides of the ball. While the saying, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” is absolutely true, getting off to a slow start could force the Bengals into a tough spot later in the season. They had an opportunity on Sunday to come out and beat a less-talented Patriots team and get their 2024 campaign off and running. Instead, they fumbled away, literally and figuratively, their chances to head into Week 2 with a winning record despite several opportunities to take control of the game. The Bengals have had more postseason success under Taylor, having gone to two AFC Championship games and one Super Bowl, but to get there, they’ve had to go through tough stretches at the end of the season and squeak out some must-win games. They haven’t had the luxury of being able to play a little more relaxed at the end of the year. Teams can’t be relaxed when they’re in must-win situation. Now they’re going to head to Kansas City to face the Chiefs, who beat the Ravens in an exciting season-opening Thursday Night Football game. The Bengals see the Chiefs as a roadblock to a potential Super Bowl bid, so this is a huge game. It would have been nice to see the Bengals go into Week 2 with their best foot forward, but that’s not going to be the case. Instead, they’ll have to pick up the pieces from an embarrassing Week 1 loss while simultaneously game-planning for the best team in the AFC. Now that the Bengals are officially 0-1 to start the 2024 season, Zac Taylor is 1-10 in the first two weeks of any season. Taylor’s only win in the first two weeks of the season was Week 1 of the 2021 season when the Bengals beat the Vikings 27-24 in overtime. They went on to the Super Bowl, losing to the Rams by a field goal, to end the season. Before Taylor, Bengals fans will remember the team’s struggles to win Wild Card playoff games. While I’d rather have a coach who can win in the postseason than a coach who can’t win in the first couple of weeks of the season, having both would be nice.
Jordan Addison Has a New Ankle Issue
Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images And it might affect if he’s available next week In the third quarter of the Minnesota Vikings’ 28-6 season-opening victory over the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon, wide receiver Jordan Addison was taken out of the game with what was called an ankle injury and did not return to the contest. According to head coach Kevin O’Connell in his post-game press conference, the injury was not a re-aggravation of the high ankle sprain that Addison suffered during joint practices with the Cleveland Browns this summer. That was a high ankle sprain to his left ankle, while the injury that took him out of Sunday’s game with the Giants was to his right ankle. O’Connell offered no insight into the severity of Addison’s new injury, nor did he speculate as to whether or not it would affect his availability for next Sunday’s home opener at U.S. Bank Stadium against the San Francisco 49ers. Hopefully the Vikings were just being cautious with Addison by keeping him out of the last quarter and a half or so of Sunday’s win. This is obviously an important story that we’ll be keeping tabs on throughout the week.
Jaguars vs. Dolphins final score and immediate reactions in 2024 Week 1
The Miami Dolphins hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon as the teams started their 2024 NFL regular season. The Week 1 contest brought with it stress and a roller coaster of a game. It was a tale of two halves, and the Dolphins did enough in the second half to come away with the win. The Jaguars dominated the first half, with Miami struggling to find any rhythm on either offense or defense. However, the second half was all Miami, with the Dolphins shutting out the Jaguars and overcoming obstacles to finish with the victory. Final Score Jaguars 17 – 20 Dolphins Immediate Reactions This game dominated pre-game headlines, not because of anything that was to happen on the field, but rather the detainment by police officers of Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill just a few hours before kickoff. Hill was stopped on his way to Hard Rock Stadium for alleged reckless driving. He was forced down on his stomach and handcuffed, then was forced down into a sitting position on the curb before being released and making it to the stadium. Hill finished the game with 130 receiving yards with a touchdown on seven receptions. Calais Campbell started his Dolphins career hot. A sack on the first play and a tackle for a loss on the second is a great way to start. The Jaguars seemed to adjust, however, keeping him from having much more of an impact the rest of the first half. The Dolphins offense struggled early in the game, unable to find their rhythm. Penalties hurt the team, backing them up on a kickoff due to an illegal procedure and a holding penalty negating a scramble from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for 12 yards. The team was looking to the quick passing game, short passes and screens, but the Jaguars were keying in on it. The first half was ugly. The Dolphins looked like they were going through the motions for most of it. They found some rhythm late in the second quarter and were able to put together a sustained drive. Achane scoring on a one-yard rush put Miami on the board, but the defense allowed the Jaguars to immediately march down into field goal range and push the lead back out to 10 points. Halftime score Jaguars 17-7. Dolphins finally hit a huge play, with Tagovailoa finding Jaylen Waddle for a 63-yard catch and run. Suddenly the team looked more like they did last year. The big play was a part of the offense as they moved into Jaguars territory. It was followed by a three-yard loss on a Raheem Mostert run, a three-yard loss on a catch by Hill, and a 14-yard sack of Tagovailoa. What a waste of a great play. The Dolphins found a spark. Safety Jevon Holland perfectly punched the ball loose on a potential touchdown run from Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, with cornerback Kader Kohou falling on the ball in the endzone. Can the Dolphins use that to spark a comeback? And wow, did they use the spark. The next play after the recovery was an 80-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Hill, who caught the ball on a crossing route, turned up field at the sideline, broke a tackle and found the endzone. Then put his hands behind his back as if he was being detained in handcuffs as part of his celebration. Jaguars 17-14. Not sure what happened on kicker Jason Sanders’ 42-yard attempt. That ball was shanked off his foot, flying way left as soon as it was hit. He did come back and hit a 37-yarder on the next drive to tie the game at 17, though. Tied 17-17. What a great stop from the defense. Linebacker David Long, Jr., stuffed running back Tank Bigsby on first down for no gain. Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah then sacked quarterback Trevor Lawrence on second down. To end the drive, linebacker Jaelan Phillips sacked Lawrence on third down, giving Miami’s offense back the ball after the three-and-out punt with three minutes remaining in the game. The Dolphins won on a 52-yard field goal, with Sanders going 2-for-3 on the day and winning the game for Miami as the clock struck zero. The offense did exactly what they needed to do to finish that game, eating clock and working down into field goal range. They also showed they have an idea of how to convert short yardage situations this year, with Pro Bowl fullback Alec Ingold getting multiple carry attempts on the day and picking up first downs each time. It was stressful, but the Dolphins come away with the win. Dolphins 20-17. Post Game Immediate Thoughts That was not the prettiest game ever, but the Dolphins seemed to figure it out in the second half. The offense and defense both woke up, suddenly finding their rhythms and making plays. The pass rush showed up, Holland was able to force a turnover when it was critical, and the defense stuffed the run. The offense found the deep attack, opened up running lanes, and found a way to convert short-yardage situations. The Dolphins have to figure out what caused the slow start and they have to do it quickly. The team has four days until their next game, welcoming the Buffalo Bills into Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday night.
NFL Late Afternoon Games Open Live Thread & Game Information
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images Please use this thread to follow the NFL’s slate of late-afternoon games. Please follow all site rules in the live threads and other posts on The Phinsider. Please remember that SBNation is strictly against the sharing of illegal game streams. Sharing, discussing, or requesting illegal game streams may result in a temporary suspension from the site or a ban from the entire SBN platform. WEEK 1 2024, Sunday, September 8th Las Vegas Raiders (0-0) AFC West @ Los Angeles Chargers (0-0) AFC West Time: 4:05 PM EST Location: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California TV: CBS Odds: Chargers -3; Over/Under 39.5 (via FanDuel sportsbook) Denver Broncos (0-0) AFC West @ Seattle Seahawks (0-0) AFC West Time: 4:05 PM EST Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington TV: CBS Odds: Seahawks -4.5; Over/Under 41.5 (via FanDuel sportsbook) Dallas Cowboys (0-0) NFC East @ Cleveland Browns (0-0) AFC North Time: 4:25 PM EST Location: Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio TV: FOX Odds: Browns -2.5; Over/Under 40.5 (via FanDuel sportsbook) Washington Commanders (0-0) NFC East @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0) NFC South Time: 4:35 PM EST Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida TV: FOX Odds: Buccaneers -3.5; Over/Under 42.5 (via FanDuel sportsbook)
NFL Week 1 Late Games
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images For your late-afternoon and early-evening watching. Now that the Week 1 early games are over, it’s time to take a look at your late-afternoon viewing options, including the Dallas Cowboys — and their newly re-signed QB — taking on former Eagles’ DC Jim Schwartz and the Browns. You can [CLICK HERE] for a full Week 1 Eagles fan rooting guide. Here’s who the BGN writers are predicting to win. You can check out 506sports to see which games are being broadcast in your area, but people will get the Cowboys vs. Browns [RED on the map] on FOX. Check below for more information on how to watch these NFL Week 1 late games. Online Streaming FuboTV Sunday, September 8 LAS VEGAS RAIDERS at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS Start time: 4:05 PM ETChannel: CBSAnnouncers: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson (field reporterSXM App: Las Vegas | Los Angeles Chargers DENVER BRONCOS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Start time: 4:05 PM ETChannel: CBSAnnouncers: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta, Aditi Kinkhabwala (field reporter)SXM App: Denver | Seattle DALLAS COWBOYS at CLEVELAND BROWNS Start time: 4:25 PM ETChannel: FOXAnnouncers: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews (field reporter), Tom Rinaldi (field reporter)SXM App: Dallas | Cleveland WASHINGTON COMMANDERS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Start time: 4:25 PM ETChannel: FOXAnnouncers: Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin (field reporter)SXM App: Washington | Tampa Bay Note: This is an open thread. Discuss all of the NFL Week 1 late games here in the comment section. Stay tuned for the Sunday Night Football thread to be posted later today.
Giants-Vikings final score: Giants pummeled by Minnesota, 28-6
Justin Jefferson beats Tae Banks for a first-half touchdown on Sunday. | Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images 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 IIIOLB Boogie BashamG Jake KubasQB 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.
NFL Week 1 open thread to talk football
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images Talk about all the Week 1 games prior to Rams-Lions on Sunday Night Football The NFL regular regular season is back and here are all the games for Week 1’s Sunday: The early games (Steelers-Falcons, Cardinals-Bills, Titans-Bears, Patriots-Bengals, Texans-Colts, Jaguars-Dolphins, Panthers-Saints, Vikings-Giants) all start at 10 a.m. MST (1 p.m. ET). The late games have two different start times, with Raiders-Chargers and Broncos-Seahawks starting at 1:05 p.m. MST (4:05 p.m. ET) and Cowboys-Browns and Commanders-Buccaneers starting at 1:25 p.m. MST (4:25 p.m. ET) The Sunday Night Football game (Rams-Lions) starts at 5:20 p.m. MST (8:20 p.m. ET). As we do here every Sunday, every season. This is an open thread to talk about football with your fellow Rams fans and TST readers. Jump into the comments below to start doing that!
Ryan Rehkow breaks Bengals punting record in first career game
Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK The offense hasn’t looked very good so far, but their rookie free agent punter has shown he has a leg. Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals offense haven’t been able to get things moving on offense yet in their Week 1 game against the New England Patriots. They’ve had two drives and zero first downs. It’s early, and things hopefully will get better, but so far there hasn’t been a lot to be excited about when the Bengals have the ball. Luckily for them, Ryan Rehkow showed up to play. On the second kick of his career, he boomed a punt 80 yards, etching himself into the team’s record books. The rook made the HISTORY BOOKS!! Ryan Rehkow with an 80-YD PUNT, making it the longest punt in Bengals history @r_rehkow24 | : #NEvsCIN on CBS/@paramountplus pic.twitter.com/j0LtgME8Wu — Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 8, 2024 Rehkow, a rookie undrafted free agent out of BYU, won the punting battle this offseason largely thanks to an injury to second-year punter Brad Robbins that landed him on IR. Punting has also been a struggle for the Bengals over the last couple of years, as they haven’t found a consistent punter since Kevin Huber retired in 2022. Hopefully, this is a sign of what we could expect from Rehkow moving forward. If he can combine some touch with his obvious power, he could be a huge asset for the Bengals.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26076974/2227032695.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1267&ssl=1 "Fantasy Football ‘25: New York Giants Fantasy Preview")
