Gameday: Vikings at N.Y. Giants

TODAY'S BIG THREE: PLACES TO FOCUS YOUR SLEEPY EYES

1. The occult: How else to explain the strange things that seem to happen in Vikings-Giants games? In 2003, Vikings S Jack Brewer blocked a New York punt. But the Giants turned the play into a first down when LB Wes Mallard scooped the ball and ran for 20 yards. In 2005, the Vikings offense accounted for none of the team's three touchdowns in a 24-21 victory. Instead, the Vikings scored on an interception return, a kickoff return and a punt return. What unexpected occurrence will happen today? (No jokes about the Vikings passing for 200 yards, please.)

2. Injured running backs: They might outnumber the healthy ones today. Two of the NFL's top running teams are digging into their depth this weekend. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (knee) could miss his second consecutive game, while Giants RB Brandon Jacobs (hamstring) and Derrick Ward (ankle/groin) were slowed in practice this week. Veteran RB Reuben Droughns, who has been used mostly in short-yardage/goal-line situations, might have to carry the load today.

3. The bottom of your screen when the Vikings are going left to right: If you're a Vikings fan, you're hoping someone comes up with a better idea than to put RT Ryan Cook on an island against Giants DE Michael Strahan, who got back in gear last week with three sacks against Detroit. The Vikings have been making liberal use of multi-tight end sets, and one of those tight ends (perhaps former Giants TE Visanthe Shiancoe) needs to give Cook some help. And that's assuming that LT Bryant McKinnie can hold his ground against RE Osi Umenyiora, which is no sure thing.

GAMEBREAKER ONE GUY WHO COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING

Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson: Today could be a breakout game for Jackson in this sense: Expectations for him remain so low that if he simply plays an entire game, doesn't make a huge mistake and finishes with decent numbers, it'll go down as the best game of his career. In truth, the Vikings' biggest obstacle to winning a tough November game on the road is savvy quarterback play. That makes Jackson a gamebreaker in this book.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com