Vikings vs. Giants
NFC wild-card playoffs, 3:30 p.m. Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium (Ch. 9, 100.3-FM)
Season summary
The Giants (9-7-1), in the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season, finished third in the NFC East after going 0-4 against the Eagles and Cowboys. At one point, first-year head coach Brian Daboll looked like the NFL's darling after guiding New York to a 6-1 start — all one-score games. The Giants narrowly won by dominating the turnover margin with solid-enough defense.
Running back Saquon Barkley's resurgence has been the story of New York's season. He burst out of the gate with 194 yards from scrimmage in Week 1 against the Titans.
But Daboll, the ex-Bills offensive coordinator, has yet to find consistency on offense. Quarterback Daniel Jones and Daboll have struggled to keep the Giants in games. Since their hot start, the Giants are 0-6-1 when their opponents score 20 points or more. All six losses came against NFC foes: the Seahawks, Lions, Cowboys, Eagles (twice) and Vikings.
They're stumbling into the playoffs with a 3-6-1 finish to the regular season, ultimately middling on both sides of the ball with the 15th-ranked scoring offense and 17th-ranked scoring defense.
Last meeting vs. Vikings
Jones rode big plays to keep the Giants within reach during the Vikings' 27-24 win on Dec. 24, ended by kicker Greg Joseph's franchise-best 61-yard field goal in the closing seconds. Jones' 334 passing yards against Minnesota was his second-highest total of the season. He attacked the perimeter of the Vikings defense with throws gaining at least 29 yards to receivers Darius Slayton, Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins.
Barkley finished strong with a 27-yard touchdown run up the middle on fourth down, which tied the game at 24-24 in the fourth quarter.
But Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was also efficient. He led three scoring drives in the fourth quarter while finishing with 299 yards and three touchdowns, relying on receiver Justin Jefferson (12 catches, 133 yards, a touchdown) and tight end T.J. Hockenson (13 catches, 109 yards, two touchdowns).