Giants vs. Vikings: Preview, prediction, what to watch for in Week 16
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An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Vikings NFL Week 16 matchup at MetLife Stadium:
Marquee matchup
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson vs. Giants CB Paulson Adebo
Wait, so the quality of play at the quarterback position has a direct impact on the stats of a premier target?
Who knew?
Jefferson has played in all 14 games this season and yet there are 16 receivers in the league with more than his 66 receptions.
He remains elite but cannot throw the ball to himself, as he’s labored with J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer.
Jefferson has just two touchdowns and his 12.6 yards per catch is a career low.
Adebo missed five games with a knee injury and is clearly the team’s top cornerback, but he has not been the shut-down defender this defense needs on a consistent basis.
Four downs
Passed over: The Giants wanted a quarterback in the 2024 draft. They could have selected Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy or Bo Nix and passed on all three, instead going with wide receiver Malik Nabers with the No. 6 pick.
They did plenty of work on McCarthy but were not high on his makeup. He might have even been taken off their draft board.
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Interim head coach Mike Kafka referred to McCarthy as “a really sharp kid, great kid with a cool personality.”
Asked what he meant by a “cool personality,” Kafka said. “He’s got a unique personality. I think he’s got kind of a laid-back chill, but when the lights turn on and when the ball’s out there, rolls out there, he kind of flips a little bit of a switch, and it’s cool to watch that.”
McCarthy was injured and missed his entire rookie year, and is 4-4 in eight starts this season, with the same number of interceptions (11) as touchdown passes.
He has played better the past two games in victories over the Commanders and Cowboys.
Split decisions: As a rookie last season, safety Tyler Nubin started every game he was healthy and played every snap on defense.
That is the way it was for him earlier in Year No. 2, but a few injuries have caused him to miss time.
He also is being used differently since Charlie Bullen took over as defensive coordinator. Nubin and Dane Belton split time last week and Nubin has moved closer to the line of scrimmage.
“I think Dane is playing well right now,” Bullen said. “So, I look at it like it’s just more of how can we get our best 11 on the field? But I’ve liked what Nubin has done the last couple weeks as well as some of the other guys in the back end.”
Southpaw swinger: The fourth kicker used by the Giants this season is Ben Sauls, a rookie from the University of Pittsburgh.
This operation will look different, as Sauls is a left-footer.
“Yeah, well, the holder’s on the other side, for one,” special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said. “The rotation of the ball may look different. So sometimes when you’re just looking at a righty, it’s unique to just see the rotation look different. Obviously to him, it looks normal. Just the fact of the matter is there’s not as many lefty kickers in this league. So, getting the whole specialist crew comfortable with those situations.”
Test time: Another week, another challenge for Jaxson Dart as he navigates through his rookie season.
This one is a biggie. The defense run by coordinator Brian Flores is unpredictable and pressure-driven.
“Just chaos, chaos just trying to disguise different looks and bring a whole bunch of different pressures,” Dart said. “But they’re organized in the back end, too, so they do it soundly.”
The Vikings on defense is ninth-best in the NFL in yards allowed, fifth in passing yards, 24th in rushing yards and 13th in points allowed.
“You got to have an answer every single play,” Dart said. “It’s just more frequent with what their defense does.”
Paul’s pick
Do you think the Vikings have any remorse for not retaining San Darnold?
They are 6-8 and sure look unsettled at quarterback.
The Giants greatly preferred Jaxson Dart in the 2025 draft to J.J. McCarthy in 2024.
Does Dart have any more big performances in him this season?
The Vikes have won two straight with McCarthy, and they are the superior team here.
Vikings 27, Giants 17