The New York Giants opened their 2024 season with high hopes, but they were crushed 28-6 by the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium.
What should have been a fresh start after a disappointing 6-11 season in 2023 quickly turned into a nightmare.
Sam Darnold, now a member of the Vikings, led the charge against his former hometown team with an outstanding performance. It came during what was expected to be a challenging transition for him.
Darnold, who hadn’t played in MetLife Stadium in years, made an impressive return.
He completed his first 12 passes and threw two touchdown passes—one to Justin Jefferson and another to Jalen Nailor.
He also connected with Josh Oliver for 22 yards, helping set up Aaron Jones’ 3-yard touchdown run.
By the end of the game, Darnold completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards. It was the kind of game people hoped to see from him back when the Jets drafted him.
“Obviously, it’s great to be back,” Darnold said after the game.
“It’s been a while since I played here. Always good to get back in MetLife.”
His journey back to the stadium was remarkable because he wasn’t even Minnesota’s first choice.
Drafted as a veteran backup for first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, Darnold stepped up after McCarthy’s knee injury during training camp sidelined him for the season.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell praised Darnold, saying, “For a guy in a new system to start 12 for 12 and be incredibly poised throughout the day, it was a huge performance for us.”
Meanwhile, the Giants were a mess. Just returning from knee surgery, Daniel Jones couldn’t get anything going.
On their first drive, the Giants lost yardage and even got hit with a delay of game penalty.
To add to the struggles, rookie tight end Theo Johnson dropped a pass.
And Jones never found a rhythm, finishing with 22 completions out of 42 attempts for 186 yards, along with two interceptions.
Evidently, Jones struggled throughout the game, as he finished with 22 of 42 for 186 yards with two interceptions.
One of those interceptions was a back-breaking pick-six by Andrew Van Ginkel, who returned a swing pass from Jones for a 10-yard touchdown.
Plus, the lack of support from Jones’ receivers and offensive line only exacerbated the situation, as Jones was constantly under pressure.
First-round draft pick Malik Nabers had five catches for 66 yards but was left wondering what more he could do.
“Daniel said he was trying to give me the ball,” Nabers said.
“He saw a lot of people in his face. I mean, I cannot control that.”
The only points the Giants could manage came from Graham Gano’s two field goals—one from 23 yards and another from 50 yards.
Making it more frustrating, the Giants’ offense never even sniffed the end zone. Co-owner John Mara, who had hoped for big improvements this season, was likely left disappointed.
Brian Daboll, the Giants’ head coach, had taken over play-calling duties this year, but the results were disastrous.
Unfortunately, the team could not find a rhythm, and the lack of pressure on Darnold, despite the offseason acquisition of edge rusher Brian Burns, was glaring.
“Obviously not the way we wanted to start,” Daboll said. “Disappointing game. A lot to clean up, and that’s what we will do.”
Although, the Giants’ defensive performance was no better. Aside from an early fumble recovery by linebacker Bobby Okereke, which set up the Giants’ first score, they struggled to contain the Vikings’ offense.
Not to mention, Justin Jefferson was especially dangerous, catching four passes for 59 yards, including a quick slant for a touchdown that capped off a 99-yard drive.
On the other hand, the Vikings’ defense was solid. Brian Flores’ unit effectively shut down the Giants’ offense, with Van Ginkel’s one-handed interception as the game’s highlight.
Even with a few injuries on their side—WR Jordan Addison left with an ankle injury, and CB Nick McCloud exited with a knee issue—the Vikings remained dominant.
But the Giants weren’t as fortunate. Unluckily, Gunner Olszewski aggravated a groin injury during warmups and didn’t play.
With Olszewski out, Darius Slayton had to take over punt return duties, while running backs Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy handled kickoffs.
This game felt all too familiar for Giants fans as if it were the nightmare of last season coming back.
Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence expressed frustration after the game, saying, “I get it, they want to see their team win. It’s just a rough patch.”
But for many, this didn’t feel like just a rough patch. The atmosphere in the stadium reflected a growing sense of despair, as though the ghosts of 2023 had returned.
Even with franchise legends like Lawrence Taylor, Eli Manning, and Phil Simms in attendance to celebrate the team’s 100th season, the mood was somber by halftime.
By the end of the game, most fans had already left, leaving the stadium to echo the silence of a season that already felt lost.
And as you might expect, the mood was equally grim in the locker room.
“It’s frustrating because a lot goes into a season, especially the opener,” said wide receiver Darius Slayton.
“We all wanted to come out there and play well, especially kicking off the Giants’ 100th season.”
As the Giants look ahead to their next game, it’s clear that much work needs to be done.
The offensive line needs to better protect Jones, the defense must generate more pressure, and the play-calling must improve.
If not, this season could quickly spiral out of control, just like 2023.
For now, the Giants can only hope that this loss was a wake-up call and not a sign of things to come.