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Final gun report: Giants 23, Vikings 7

Freeman's debut a flop as the Vikings offense struggles all night.

By Chris Miller

October 22, 2013 at 3:58AM

New York Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle (82) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook (20) and Mistral Raymond (41) react during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Jerry Holt — ASSOCIATED PRESS/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Josh Freeman's debut as Vikings quarterback was an utter failure.

Freeman was under pressure most of the night, but was missing receivers all night, and threw a crucial interception as the Vikings lost to the Giants 23-7 on Monday in the Meadowlands.

Freeman was 20-for-53 for 190 yards and no touchdowns and a 40.6 passer rating as the Vikings fell to 1-5.

Adrian Peterson had the sixth-lowest rushing total of his NFL career with only 28 yards on 13 carries.

Eli Manning passed for 200 yards and a touchdown for the Giants.

Key player: Marcus Sherels

The Vikings return man and backup cornerback scored the second touchdown of his career on an 86-yard punt return in the first half.

But in the third quarter, Sherels missed an interception chance and, on the following play, fumbled the ball away on a punt return although he was untouched, setting up a Giants touchdown.

Sherels' punt return was the third longest in team history, behind a 98-yarder by Charlie West in 1968 and a 91-yarder by Nate Burleson in 2004. It gave the Vikings a 7-3 lead. Sherels has two career punt return TDs, tying the team record held by David Palmer and Mewelde Moore.

But Sherels' fumble was costly. The Giants led 10-7 in the third quarter, and Sherels fielded Steve Weatherford's kick at his own 10. He stumbled ahead to the 13, but lost the ball when he hit the ground, untouched, and the Giants eventually recovered the bouncing ball at the 3. Peyton Hillis scored two plays later on a 1-yard run.

about the writer

Chris Miller

Editor

Chris Miller supervises coverage of professional sports teams. He has been at the Minnesota Star Tribune since 1999 and is a former sports editor of the Duluth News-Tribune and the Mesabi Daily News.