ESPN First Take - New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings : Who Wins?
Art Stapleton, USA TODAY Sports 8:50 a.m. EDT October 3, 2016
The New York Giants Olivier Vernon (54), shown here last week against Washington, says he"s not feeling anymore pressure to get to the quarterback against Minnesota Monday night despite the team"s depleted secondary.(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)
MINNEAPOLIS Olivier Vernon is not feeling any more pressure to generate pressure because of the injuries that have left the New York Giants secondary thin going into Monday"s prime-time showdown against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.
The Giants will be without two of their starting safeties in Nat Berhe (concussion) and Darian Thompson (foot), and the status of cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) and Eli Apple (hamstring) remains uncertain with both unlikely to play.
Apple is listed as doubtful, but Rodgers-Cromartie likely will be a game-time decision.
Vernon promises the Giants will not be out to overcompensate for perceived holes in the back of their defense. The plan of getting after opposing quarterbacks never changes.
Your goal is to always get there fast, Vernon said.
That goal becomes even more of a priority Monday when points likely will be a premium.
The Vikings (3-0) are vulnerable along the offensive line and the Giants (2-1) despite stark improvements up front have yet to have the kind of performance that jumps off the videotape from every angle.
Matt Kalil, Minnesotas starting left tackle, is on injured reserve after undergoing hip surgery. That forced T.J. Clemmings to flip from right tackle to the blind side.
Left guard Alex Boone was hampered in practice all week with a hip injury, although hes expected to start. The right side of guard Brandon Fusco and tackle Andre Smith has struggled mightily, allowing 21 pressures over the first three games.
The Vikings are coming off a performance during which they sacked reigning league MVP Cam Newton eight times, forcing three interceptions in the process in a dominant 22-10 victory at Carolina.
Its really going to be a defensive game. You can see it, Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said. We have to come out there; we know its going to be a fight, and we have to give them our best defense. Weve got to go at it.
In their three wins, the Vikings are holding opposing offenses to under 300 total yards and are third in the NFLin points allowed (40).
In their Dec. 29 trip to Minnesota last season, the Giants were embarrassed in every facet.
They gave up 49 points in a dominant Vikings performance that included All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson rushing for 104 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater completing 15 of 25 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown.
But Peterson and Bridgewater wont be in uniform at U.S. Bank Stadium: Both are on injured reserve with knee injuries. Bridgewater is out for the season, and Peterson could be as well, although theres a chance the Vikings could use the IR designation for return to bring him back to the active roster if his recovery goes well.
Theyre a good team. Theyre a good team all around, Vernon said. They went to the playoffs last year and theyre trying to get back. They have very talented guys on that defense and that offense. Its going to be a good ballgame.
Only three players from the Giants starting defense that lost to the Vikings last season are likely to be in the starting lineup: Pierre-Paul, linebacker and defensive captain Jonathan Casillas and safety Landon Collins.
Rodgers-Cromartie would be the fourth.
The Minnesota offense is ranked 31stin the NFL in yards per game (265.3), but has turned over the ball just once and has outscored its opponents in the second half, 46-19.
The Giants have played 211 defensive snaps in their first three games and Pierre-Paul has missed just five of them. Vernon has played 198.
Its not the same team as last year, Minnesotas Clemmings said. Its the same New York Giants, but the pieces are different. We understand that. Its not going to be last year. We know its a good team were about to face.
The Giants know it, too.
We have to expect theyre gonna bring their best, Pierre-Paul said. Were gonna have to bring our best.
Art Stapleton writes for the Bergen County Record, part of the USA TODAY Network.
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