Murphy: A resounding, relieving victory in The Big Apple
Brian Murphy writes that the Vikings' win sets them up for battle against the tougher teams on their schedule
By Brian Murphy
That’s one small step for Sam Darnold, one Giant beat down for Brian Flores.
As first impressions go, the Vikings shouldn’t have a problem securing a second date. Not after the convincing opening statement their reclamation quarterback and defensive coordinator delivered Sunday in the Big Apple.
They had to overcome early nervousness on the front porch, a few hiccups in the car and some moments of awkward silence. But it didn't take too long for the Vikings to slip into a confident groove for a pivotal Week 1 victory that sanded down the edge of a daunting first-half schedule that threatened to bury them before the leaves fall.
They made sure to open every door, cover each pile of broken glass with a dinner jacket and pick up every tab while humiliating the woeful Giants 28-6 at justifiably ornery Met Life Stadium.
Contributions flowed in from every corner of a revamped roster that served early notice that Minnesota will not be ignored in the NFC North knife fight that has only just begun.
One win in September does not define a season. However, a Darnold faceplant and untimely loss in the Meadowlands to an inferior opponent could have easily wrecked it. Sure, the Vikings are playing with a short stack of $5 chips, but house money is house money.
“There’s nothing like going out on a Sunday in an NFL stadium winning a game by a significant margin,” said coach Kevin O’Connell. “There’s nobody in that locker room surprised, shocked, that we went out there and executed.”
Sunday’s well-rounded performance only makes it more surprising, shocking and sorry how Giants quarterback Daniel Jones summarily executed the Vikings 20 months ago in New York’s convincing wild-card upset at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Where have you gone, Ed Donatell? A jilted fan base turns its lonely eyes to you.
Nobody is cloaking Flores in savior’s robes just yet. But for all the scrutiny justifiably on Darnold and whether the 2018 No. 3 overall pick can resuscitate his flat-lined career as a lame duck in Minnesota, the Vikings need Flores’ defense to overachieve and sherpa them through January, if that’s even possible.
Jones is a charred husk of an NFL quarterback. The Giants are a dysfunctional franchise that celebrated their 100 years in the NFL with a pitiful performance that had fans booing in the first quarter and Vikings fans doing the Skol chant by the fourth.
“Defensively, I don’t know what you can say other than it was just an unbelievable performance out of that group,” O’Connell said. “Flo, his staff, all of our players, there’s a ton of guys to highlight.”
Like linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel scoring on a phenomenal one-handed 10-yard interception return. Or the five sacks racked up by Van Ginkel, rookie phenom Dallas Turner, Harrison Phillips and a pair by Patrick Jones II. And safety Harrison Smith’s 35th career interception in the fourth quarter.
The defense recorded six quarterback hits on Jones and allowed only 87 yards and 2.9 yards per play in the first half, when the Vikings seized control and never relented.
“All of these guys are just so valuable to this defense and we lean on each other to make plays and come out here and create turnovers,” said Van Ginkel, the former Flores protégé in Miami who was acquired in the offseason. “I’m just excited to be part of this defense in any way.”
Meanwhile, Darnold completed his first 12 passes and finished 19 of 24 for 208 yards with two TDs and one interception that came on a deflected pass. Nothing overly flashy, risky or overbearing. Simply efficient.
Pass protection was sterling and Darnold had ample time and opportunity to plant his feet and showcase the big arm that left scouts drooling when he left USC six years ago.
Aaron Jones ran for 94 yards and a score in his purple debut while Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor each caught touchdown passes. The Vikings responded to an early C.J. Ham fumble with a 99-yard TD drive and essentially leaned on the Giants for the rest of the afternoon as they pitifully self-destructed.
Imagine if the shoe had been on the other foot and all the handwringing by the faithful if Minnesota had stumbled and fallen into a familiar 0-1 hole. Week 1 was not a litmus test for the season so much as it was an early layup the Vikings had to make.
It could be there only highlight entering the bye, what with the defending NFC champion 49ers visiting U.S. Bank Stadium next week followed by ascending Houston.
The Packers suddenly look vulnerable after Jordan Love’s unfortunate knee injury, but any visit to Lambeau Field, which Minnesota will make in Week 4, is always daunting. Followed by yet another trip across the pond to London to face Aaron Rodgers and the Jets before a Week 6 bye.
A loss to the Giants would have greased the Vikings’ uphill climb. Sunday’s well-earned victory was as relieving as it was convincing.
Enough to leave jittery fans feeling over the moon.
Brian Murphy is a former Pioneer Press columnist and contributor to Purple Insider. Follow him on Twitter at @Murphmedia_