O'Connell Adds Insult to Giants' Injury

The Minnesota Vikings wiped the MetLife Stadium turd with the New York Giants on Sunday, taking home a 28-6 Week 1 win .

On a day that was meant to be celebratory, honoring the team’s 100th anniversary with an opportunity to get off on the right foot, New York fell flat. The Giants were outplayed in every facet of the game, and the Vikings knew it.

Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell’s postgame speech said almost as much as the boos that rained down from a decreasingly-packed stadium.

“Fellas, I’m just proud of the fact that if you look out there on that field all day long, we looked more prepared,” O’Connell said . “We looked better conditioned, all right.

“We looked better to execute one play every single snap and just keep rolling play after play.”

Rolling play after play is exactly what Minnesota did. Quarterback Sam Darnold completed his first 12 passes while finishing 19-of-24 for 2018 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. On the ground, running back Aaron Jones averaged 6.7 yards per attempt.

It was simply strong execution on a remarkably consistent basis. They almost doubled the Giants’ yards per play.

Minnesota entered the day with a more talented roster. Receiver Malik Nabers isn’t Justin Jefferson (not an indictment on the rookie), the Vikings own a clear advantage up front, and the defense is arguably more complete.

But Darnold played far better than Jones, too. And after switching out defensive coordinator Wink Martindale for Shane Bowen and letting head coach Brian Daboll call plays, New York looked completely outmatched.

The Giants were less physical, less urgent, and far too accepting of the catastrophe that lies ahead. Nobody needs to question their collective football character, but it was the type of performance that certainly looked like one team had real playoff aspirations.

Related: Giants Notebook: Jones Struggles, Defense Toothless

New York will get its chance at redemption against the Washington Commanders next Sunday – a rival, similarly talented team with coaching question marks. Another sorry performance would firmly press the panic button for the fans who have held off after one bad week.

Week 1 is often a mirage. But if struggles like Sunday’s persist, it will quickly become a conversation about the merits of this coaching staff.