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New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings: Preview, Prediction, And More

By Kenneth Teape

Dec 27, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings

The New York Giants will be heading on the road in Week 4 for Monday Night Football. They will be traveling to take on the Minnesota Vikings in their brand new U.S. Bank Stadium. It will be a tall task for the Giants, as they look to bounce back from a poor Week 3 performance.

The Giants lost their first game of the season last week, losing to the Washington Redskins 29-27 at MetLife Stadium. The Giants couldn’t get out of their own way in the game, committing boneheaded penalties with costly turnovers.

They will have to clean things up against the Vikings if they want to get back into the win column. The Vikings come into the game with a record of 3-0, one of the surprises in the NFL. The Vikings came into the summer as one of the better-looking teams in the NFL, but injuries looked to have derailed them. They lost Teddy Bridgewater the week before the season and Adrian Peterson in Week 2.

It has not slowed down the Vikings, as they will look to remain undefeated on Monday Night Football.

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Keys To The Game

How will Eli Manning play? Manning has had some horrific starts in his career against the Vikings. In his career, Manning is 134-of-244 (54.1 percent) for 1,445 yards, five touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in eight games. Last season, without Odell Beckham Jr. in the lineup, Manning went 15-of-29 for 234 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in a Vikings 49-17 victory.

Can Manning finally get something going against the Vikings? Having Beckham Jr. in the fold will undoubtedly help. He also has more weapons in Sterling Shepard and Victor Cruz to throw to; not Rueben Randle and Myles White.

The Vikings defense has not allowed more than 16 points in a game yet this season, even holding the talented Green Bay Packers to only 16 points. It has bailed out an offense that has only three touchdowns in the season, tied for least in the NFL with the Houston Texans.

Can the Giants defense bounce back from a disappointing performance against the Redskins? The Vikings, without Peterson, are ordinary offensively. Stefon Diggs is a player to watch as he exploded the last time he played during primetime on national television.

Odds

Spread: Giants +4

Moneyline: Vikings -110

Over/Under: 43 points

Prediction

The Giants will be heading into a hostile situation in the Vikings new stadium. The fans are rabid and the noise is out of this world. But, with a veteran such as Manning under center, those factors should not impact the Giants as much as other teams.

But, with Manning’s history against the Vikings, things could get ugly. He has been shaky at times this season, so heading to a place he has had very little success is not a recipe for positivity. The Giants will have to rely on their defense to step up, which isn’t ideal with the injuries they are facing; Eli Apple, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Darian Thompson could all be out.

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Those are a lot of injuries for the Giants to overcome, as they could be looking at a two-game losing streak after starting the season on a two-game winning streak. The Vikings will remain undefeated on the season, squeaking by the Giants on Monday Night Football.

Prediction: Giants: 20, Vikings: 23

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