***MNF IN THE SWAMP - NYG @ MINN***
***NEW YORK GIANTS @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS***
We have an awesome game on tap tonight for MNF when the Giants head into Minnesota's new stadium to take on an undefeated Vikings squad. The new home of the Vikings, U.S. Bank Stadium is top notch folks and the home field advantage provides in Minnesota is the real deal. In their home opener in week 2 we watched on Sunday Night Football as QB Aaron Rodgers and his generally high-powered Packers offense struggled to get things going and were never able to run their offense smoothly, inevitably losing the game as a result. The noise in that place was deafening that night as Vikings Nation was pumped to open up the new season and help their team get the win to christen the place the right way. Although, not much help is needed for this defense because the Purple People Eaters are back baby, and this unit has established themselves as arguably the best in the NFL. I've always admired the way the Vikings organization has done a tremendous job building this defense through the draft and slowly but surely adding pieces to create the monster it is today. Frankenstein is alive and well and will be coming for Giants QB Eli Manning tonight and behind that average NY offensive line, I don't like Eli's chances. Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer was such a great hire for this team and has proven he is the right man to get turn this franchise around in a hurry. I fully expect this place to be rocking once again tonight and for the Vikings to get after Manning early and often. The Giants will not be able to run the ball with their hodgepodge of subpar running backs. RB Shane Vereen is out with injury and Rashad Jennings will be a game time decision. If he can't go it will be a combination of Orleans Darkwa to carry the rock and journeyman RB Bobby Rainey out of the backfield catching passes. Rainey is actually a nice fit and replacement for Vereen in this offense in my humble opinion. I like the way he plays and think he can be effective on third down and the screen pass game. However, it won't be enough tonight. That leaves the passing game as the Giant's hope tonight and that is what they do best as we all know the potent WR core they possess. WRs Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, and standout Rookie Sterling Shepard makeup a top tier WR core and have the potential to beat anybody but the key here is will Eli get the necessary time to throw the pill to 'em? That is where I just see Eli under duress all game forcing him into making those costly mistakes that he can be prone to doing, turning the ball over and killing their chances at a road win tonight. Minnesota has played QBs so far in Mariota, Rodgers, & Newton that can all utilize their legs to escape pressure, and I think it is safe to say all of these QBs saw flashes of Purple in their nightmares the night after the game. Eli is the least bit mobile, and will be a sitting duck in the pocket behind that offensive line tonight.
On the other side of things the Giants defense isn't any slouch either. NY spent a ton of money this offseason acquiring some big names to fill some major gaps in their unit and I really do like the pieces they added. In my opinion Big Blue will continue to bode a stout defense this year and will win them some games, it already has. The Giants were 2-0 after squeaking out a close (lucky) win in Dallas week 1 on the road, and holding the Saints offense off in a low scoring win at home in week 2. Last week the 0-2 Redskins came into MetLife Stadium and duped the Giants in a game that seemed like NY was going to run away with early on. Some trickery and costly mistakes by the Giants that Washington capitalized on gave the Skins their much needed first win. That being said, the Giants are coming off a loss where they blew a game they should've won and got banged up pretty good in the process. The Giants secondary is decimated, especially at the Safety position as both Free Safeties Darian Thompson & backup Nat Berhe are out tonight as well as CBs Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and first round draft pick Rookie Eli Apple. DRC is not confirmed out and has made the trip to Minnesota and could be used in a limited role here tonight but this is very bad for the Gmen as they will have to cover some speedy WRs tonight. I have read that starting CB Janoris Jenkins will be shadowing the surging WR Stefon Diggs so that could help but these other guys will have trouble covering the others especially if the highly drafted WR out of Ole Miss Laquan Treadwell gets inserted into this offense tonight. The Vikings have been holding him back so far saying he isn't quite ready yet, but if I'm Zimmer tonight would be a great spot to unleash him and let him gain some confidence on the NFL level. I don't expect Bradford to have it too easy though as his Left Tackle Matt Kalil is also out with an injury tonight so maybe Vernon & JPP can take advantage of this and rattle Sammy boy a bit. I have been one of the biggest Sam Bradford critics his entire NFL career, but this just may be the perfect marriage between him and Minnesota. He seems to be a perfect fit for Norv Turner's offense and with the absence of RB Adrian Peterson, it actually provides the freedom for Turner to open his scheme up the way he wants to without feeling forced to get the veteran RB his touches. Bradford should find success against this injured secondary here tonight. The thunder and lightning duo of Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata are no strangers to filling in for AP, and they do a nice job of running the ball efficiently and making the most of their chances. Also, lookout for the X-Factor with the Minnesota Special Teams here as WR Cordarrelle Patterson is always deadly and a threat to take one back to the house for a score in the return game. In a nutshell, I'm backing Everson Griffen and the boys to cause some chaos in the Giants backfield, and cause some turnovers to seal the deal here as they have done in every game so far this season. Sidenote: That Viking "Skoal" clap the crowd does is wild and I love it. VIKINGS-4
