Surprisingly enough, the NY Giants are listed as underdogs going into their Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Not only are the Giants at home this week, but this Vikings squad is not the same as it was just a season ago. Despite this, Vegas is still low on New York's chances to walk out of MetLife with a victory.
The Giants have made a lot of moves in the offseason to better the team, so it's only fitting that in Week 1 we see them come out with a win to help prove that these moves will pan out. Even with their underdog status, there are four ways in which New York can come out on top:
4. Establish domination in the trenches early on
One of the biggest parts of the Giants' offseason was all of the moves they made on their offensive line. Guys like Jon Runyan Jr., Jermaine Eluemunor, and Greg Van Roten were all brought in to revamp this once decrepit unit and they have to show that they were worthy investments. Lucky for them, they get to start the season against an insanely weak Vikings defensive front.
This unit is highlighted by names like Jonathan Greenard, Harrison Phillips, and Jerry Tillery: all solid players, but nothing to write home about. Given the talent this new and improved Giants offensive line has over them, this should be a walk in the park.
The Giants have been without a stable and consistent offensive line for nearly a decade now. If these moves pan out, 2024 could be the year to break the curse. At least, we hope it is, as another season with a poor offensive line could spell disaster for not just the players, but the front office and coaching staff as well.
Regardless, there really couldn't be a better team to kick off the season against in terms of trench matchups. An interesting X-factor in this game will be John Michael Schmitz. An injury has made it difficult to evaluate him this offseason, but improved play from him could lead to a dominating game on the interior, setting up the offense for a versatile attack on the ground and through the air.
3. Deonte Banks holds Justin Jefferson down as much as possible
Now, this is a tough ask for the second-year corner, but holding down Justin Jefferson will be crucial for the Giants' defense. Fortunately, Deonte Banks has a lot going for him. Not only is Sam Darnold now the QB for the Vikings, but the new-and-improved pass-rush will help make life easier for everyone else on the defense.
We saw Banks hold some incredibly talented receivers to minimal numbers during his rookie season, so we know he is capable of showing up against tough competition. Jefferson may be one of, if not the best receivers in the NFL, but he has a lot going against him in this game that may swing the favor in Banks' way.
Not only will the Vikings be without T.J. Hockenson, but Jordan Addison is also questionable and overall, this offense is not the same as it was last season. It will be easier for the Giants' defense to focus on Jefferson with fewer options around him on the field. This means that Banks will likely have a safety hovering above in case Jefferson gets the advantage early on.
This will not only be a crucial matchup for Week 1, but it could also have some serious effects on Banks moving forward. If he can hold down a receiver of Jefferson's status, it will give him tons of confidence moving forward. However, if Jefferson dominates, it could set a negative tone for Banks. However, we're confident in the youngster, and this Giants defense in general, to do their job.
2. Brian Daboll uses his play-calling to unlock Daniel Jones
Giants fans were hit with some big news this week, as head coach Brian Daboll announced to the media that he would, in fact, be taking over the team's offensive play-calling. This is huge news, as New York's offense ranked 31st in passing yards, and 28th in passing touchdowns last season. Now, with Daboll replacing Mike Kafka in calling the plays, we can expect a much more creative and aggressive offensive game plan.
Just like their front, the rest of the Vikings' defense is rather weak. Sure, you have playmakers like Harrison Smith, Stephon Gilmore, and Byron Murphy Jr., but they won't make up for the lack of talent at almost every other position.
It will be crucial for the Giants to come out firing this week. Whether it be giving guys like Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton deep passes, or hitting Wan'Dale Robinson in the open field to make a play, there are too many options for Daboll to use against this weak defense for them to fluster out of the gates.
A strong passing attack in Week 1 will give Daniel Jones the confidence he needs to potentially have a bounce-back season. This is something he desperately needs if he wishes to remain with the Giants past 2024. Jones has everything going for him this week, and it's up to him to show everyone what he is capable of.
1. The pass-rush must make Sam Darnold see ghosts again
One of the more hilarious moments from Sam Darnold's tumultuous tenure with the Jets was when he was caught saying "I'm seeing ghosts" in the middle of a 33-0 blowout against the Patriots. This quote really set the tone for what his career would look like, and in a return to MetLife, the Giants have the chance to make him see ghosts once more.
Last season, Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux made for a deadly pass-rushing duo, but the rest of the front was rather lacking. Now, following the addition of Brian Burns, the Giants have an elite trio of pass-rushers looking to make the lives of opposing offenses rough. At least, they're going to have to, as the weakened secondary may not hold up as well as we hope they do.
The Vikings' offensive line certainly won't be a cakewalk, as guys like Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill are two great offensive tackles. However, Burns and Thibodeaux are two elite pass-rushers, and Lawrence has a history of dominating against the Vikings.
If these three can scare Darnold early on, it could rattle him for the remainder of the game and completely shut down Minnesota's offense. Joe Schoen has invested a lot into the pass-rush and it's about time we start seeing game-changing results from them.