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Giants Face Big Early Season Test in Minnesota

By Will Gaitings

Sep 25, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) calls a play at the line against the Washington Redskins during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) calls a play at the line against the Washington Redskins during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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A big game awaits the New York Giants in Minnesota.

Coming off a 29-27 loss to Washington, the Giants head to Minneapolis with an opportunity to knock off the 3-0 Minnesota Vikings.

“It’s a huge game, we have to bounce back after last week,” Justin Pugh said, according to the Giants twitter page on Sep. 27, 2016. “We’re looking forward to Monday night.”

It’s going to be a tough task.

The Vikings are coming off an impressive 22-10 win in Carolina on Sunday. Minnesota’s defense dominated the Panthers, sacking Cam Newton eight times and forcing three turnovers.

The Vikings’ defense has been impressive, allowing  just 13 points and 295 yards a game to opposing offenses.

“They don’t make anything easy,” Eli Manning said of Minnesota’s defense on WFAN Sports Radio on Sep. 26, 2016. “We’re going to have to earn every first down, every touchdown, every completion.”

Ball security has been a major issue of concern in the early going for the Giants, as the offense has turned the ball over seven times in its first three games.

Minnesota has already forced nine turnovers already in 2016, so the Giants will need to play smarter football starting this weekend.

“We’ve got to clean some things up,” Manning said. “We’ve got to be smart with the ball and protect it and not put our defense in a tough situation.”

The Giants are also a little banged up heading into this game.

With Shane Vereen lost for the season and Rashad Jennings unlikely to play as he recovers from a thumb injury, the Giants will turn to Orleans Darkwa. Darkwa took over last week to handle a bulk of the rushing carries.

“I’m really just worried about winning,” Darwka told the media, according to Giants.com on Sep. 28, 2016. “I’ll do whatever the coaches ask me to.”

The statuses of defensive backs Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Eli Apple are uncertain, as both left the game against Washington with injuries.

“We’re going to give them a chance to get healthy,” coach Ben McAdoo said, according to NJ.com on Sep. 26, 2016. “We aren’t going to rule anyone out right now. Either of those two guys, we’ll give them a chance to get out there and get healthy.”

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