Instant analysis: Daniel Jones, Giants haunted by ghosts of past in 28-6 loss to Vikings

EAST RUTHERFORD − How do you spot a losing team?

Run back-to-back designed quarterback sweeps near midfield late in the first half and go nowhere.

Come out of halftime making plays on defense, and force a potential punt that could change the momentum, only to have a facemask penalty gift the opposing offense an automatic first down. Two plays later, you give up a touchdown.

That, my friends, is how you lose games.

And the Giants were on their way to Sunday's eventual 28-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings far too early, way too soon in a season that began with Jones and Co. needing to find some success under intense scrutiny from jump.

Nothing transpired in the regular-season opener to change that. If anything, the pressure is only going to go up.

The Giants were booed vociferously throughout the game by the MetLife Stadium crowd, in attendance as the franchise attempted to honor 100 seasons of football as an organization. The greatest of the greats to wear the uniform over the course of Giants' history were lauded, many inside the building to receive the pomp and circumstance as part of the fanfare and festivities.

Yet, when it came to the football, the only ghosts of the past that were supposed to haunt Sam Darnold and the Vikings from his time with the Jets here at the Meadowlands were those that resurfaced from last season when everything seemingly went wrong in Brian Daboll's second season as head coach.

Jones was once again blindsided by Andrew Van Ginkel .

Van Ginkel was with the Dolphins last year, and his sack of Jones resulted in a neck injury. He got to the Giants on Sunday with his new team, the Vikings. He picked off a Jones pass on an attempted bubble screen to Wan'Dale Robinson and strolled into the end zone untouched for a touchdown that put to bed any Giants' hope of mounting a serious second half comeback.

Van Ginkel's 10-yard return of Jones' first of two interceptions led to more boos inside MetLife Stadium, increasing the Vikings lead to 28-6, and sending fans to the exits late in the third quarter.

Jones never looked in sync against the Vikings and defensive coordinator Brian Flores. His throws skipped at the feet of receivers in key spots. He double-clutched far too many times. It's everything critics say defines Jones' play, and why the Giants are not going to rebound this season with him at the helm of the offense.

Truth be told: it's hard to argue with that sentiment Sunday.

Dexter Lawrence was unblockable. Rookie defensive backs Dru Phillips and Tyler Nubin had their good moments.

And Darnold, meanwhile, was efficient. He made one remarkable throw to Justin Jefferson in the first half, but otherwise took what the Giants gave him and seemingly played under control for much of the game.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Instant analysis: Daniel Jones, Giants haunted by ghosts of past in 28-6 loss to Vikings