The Minnesota Vikings vs New York Giants match player stats from September 8, 2024, show one thing clearly: total domination. Minnesota walked into MetLife Stadium and embarrassed the Giants 28-6 in their home opener.
Sam Darnold threw for two touchdowns. Daniel Jones threw two picks, including a brutal pick-six. The Vikings defense recorded five sacks. The Giants offense never found the end zone.
Game over.
Quarterbacks: Night and Day Difference
QB Statistical Breakdown
| Stat Category | Sam Darnold (MIN) | Daniel Jones (NYG) |
|---|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 19/24 | 22/42 |
| Completion % | 79.2% | 52.4% |
| Passing Yards | 208 | 186 |
| Touchdowns | 2 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 2 |
| Passer Rating | 113.2 | 44.3 |
| Sacks Taken | 1 | 5 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 8.7 | 4.4 |
Darnold completed his first 12 passes straight. That’s efficiency. His only pick came when Dexter Lawrence hit his arm mid-throw. Not his fault.
Jones? Different story. The man completed barely half his passes and never got comfortable. That screen pass he threw from his own 17-yard line? Andrew Van Ginkel jumped it, caught it one-handed, and walked into the end zone. Fans booed. Many left. ESPN’s game recap captured the moment perfectly: “Giants fans booing loudly as they headed to the exits.”
Ground Game Stats Show Vikings’ Balance
Rushing Performance Breakdown
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | YPC | TDS | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Jones | MIN | 14 | 94 | 6.7 | 1 | 25 |
| Ty Chandler | MIN | 8 | 17 | 2.1 | 0 | 7 |
| Sam Darnold | MIN | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0 | 3 |
| Devin Singletary | NYG | 10 | 37 | 3.7 | 0 | 9 |
| Daniel Jones | NYG | 4 | 15 | 3.8 | 0 | 8 |
| Matt Breida | NYG | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 0 | 5 |
Aaron Jones averaged 6.7 yards every time he touched the ball. Nearly 100 yards on just 14 carries. He scored Minnesota’s first touchdown and kept the chains moving all game.
Devin Singletary? 37 yards on 10 carries. That’s not replacing Saquon Barkley production.
Receiving Numbers: Depth Beats Stars
Key Receiving Performances
| Player | Team | Catches | Yards | Avg | TDs | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malik Nabers | NYG | 5 | 66 | 13.2 | 0 | 8 |
| Justin Jefferson | MIN | 4 | 59 | 14.8 | 1 | 6 |
| Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG | 6 | 44 | 7.3 | 0 | 9 |
| Jordan Addison | MIN | 3 | 35 | 11.7 | 0 | 4 |
| Ty Chandler | MIN | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 0 | 3 |
| Josh Oliver | MIN | 1 | 22 | 22.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jalen Nailor | MIN | 1 | 21 | 21.0 | 1 | 2 |
Malik Nabers led all receivers in his NFL debut. That’s the good news for New York. The bad news? Their rookie was their best offensive player.
Jefferson didn’t need huge numbers. His 44-yard catch sparked Minnesota’s 99-yard touchdown drive. He later caught the go-ahead score on 4th-and-2. Clutch plays when they counted.
Jordan Addison left with an ankle injury after three catches. Something to monitor.
Defense Wins Games: Vikings Prove It
Defensive Statistical Leaders
| Player | Team | Tackles | Sacks | Hits | INTS | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Van Ginkel | MIN | 4 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 90.6 |
| Pat Jones II | MIN | 3 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 | 78.4 |
| Dexter Lawrence | NYG | 5 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | 92.9 |
| Harrison Smith | MIN | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 90.4 |
| Ivan Pace Jr. | MIN | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 82.2 |
| Dallas Turner | MIN | 2 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 71.3 |
| Jihad Ward | MIN | 3 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 73.8 |
| Darius Muasau | NYG | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 68.9 |
Five different Vikings recorded sacks. Pat Jones II led with two. Rookie Dallas Turner got his first. The pressure never stopped coming.
Van Ginkel’s pick-six changed everything. Harrison Smith’s end zone interception on 4th-and-8 sealed it. That’s opportunistic defense.
Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux? Three total pressures on 42 pass rush snaps. That won’t cut it.
Offensive Line Grades Explain Everything
Line Performance By Position
| Position | Vikings Player | Grade | Giants Player | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT | Christian Darrisaw | 79.4 | Andrew Thomas | 68.2 |
| LG | Blake Brandel | 91.2 | Jon Runyan Jr. | 52.3 |
| C | Garrett Bradbury | 44.8 | John Michael Schmitz | 61.5 |
| RG | Ed Ingram | 51.9 | Greg Van Roten | 48.7 |
| RT | Brian O’Neill | 85.9 | Jermain Eluemunor | 55.4 |
Blake Brandel earned a 91.2 grade at left guard. Elite performance in his first start there. The Vikings tackles shut down New York’s edge rushers completely.
The Giants allowed five sacks and 12 QB hits. Jones had defenders in his face constantly. Hard to run an offense that way.
Three Drives That Decided Everything
1. The 99-Yard March
Minnesota started at their own 1-yard line. Eleven plays later, touchdown. Jefferson’s 44-yard catch got them out of trouble. The drive ended with Darnold finding Jefferson again on 4th-and-2 from the 3. Kevin O’Connell went for it. Paid off. The complete play-by-play shows how methodical this drive was.
2. The Pick-Six Disaster
Giants ball at their own 17. Daniel Jones calls for a screen to Wan’Dale Robinson. Van Ginkel reads it perfectly, jumps the route, makes a one-handed interception. Ten yards later, he’s in the end zone. Score goes to 28-6. Fans head for exits.
3. Early Opportunity Wasted
C.J. Ham fumbled on Minnesota’s opening drive. Bobby Okereke recovered at the Vikings 20. Golden opportunity for New York. Three plays later, they’re kicking a field goal after Van Ginkel sacked Jones on third down. Red zone failure number one of three. According to Pro Football Reference’s drive chart, this pattern repeated all game long.
Team Statistics That Tell The Story
Full Game Comparison
| Category | Vikings | Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 312 | 240 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.1 | 3.5 |
| First Downs | 16 | 14 |
| Third Downs | 3/10 (30%) | 7/18 (39%) |
| Fourth Downs | 1/1 (100%) | 1/3 (33%) |
| Red Zone TDs | 2/2 (100%) | 0/3 (0%) |
| Time of Possession | 27:34 | 32:26 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Penalties | 7-63 | 9-95 |
Minnesota averaged 6.1 yards per play. New York managed 3.5. That gap shows up on the scoreboard. FOX Sports tracked every painful Giants drive ending in disappointment.
The Giants went 0-for-3 in the red zone. Can’t win games without touchdowns.
Special Teams: Even This Phase Went Wrong
Kicking Game Stats
| Stat | Vikings | Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | 0/0 | 2/2 (23, 50 yards) |
| Extra Points | 4/4 | 0/0 |
| Punts | 4 | 6 |
| Punt Average | 42.0 | 46.3 |
| Kickoff Returns | 1-22 | 3-58 |
Graham Gano scored all six Giants points. Their kicker outscored their offense.
Things started badly before kickoff. Gunner Olszewski hurt his groin in warmups. Darius Slayton took over punt returns and promptly muffed one. Giants recovered, but it showed their lack of preparation.
What These Stats Mean Going Forward
Minnesota’s player performances across the board suggest a team ready to compete. Balanced offense, aggressive defense, solid special teams. The Vikings proved they can win without Kirk Cousins.
For New York, these numbers raise serious questions. The offensive line struggles will continue plaguing them, as shown in their recent loss to Atlanta. Daniel Jones’s two-interception, zero-touchdown performance won’t quiet his critics.
The Lions’ recent victory over Dallas showed what a functional offense looks like. The Giants are far from that standard.
FAQs About Vikings vs Giants Player Stats
Blake Brandel’s 91.2 PFF grade topped all players. Aaron Jones (94 yards, TD) and Andrew Van Ginkel (sack, pick-six) made the biggest impacts.
Five sacks allowed, 12 QB hits, and zero red zone touchdowns. Their offensive line couldn’t protect Jones, who completed just 52.4% of his passes.
Brian Flores rotated 16 defenders playing 27+ snaps. Fresh legs all game. They recorded five sacks from five different players and forced two crucial turnovers.
Jefferson caught 4 passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. His 44-yard reception ignited the 99-yard TD drive. Quality over quantity.
Rookie Malik Nabers caught 5 passes for 66 yards in his debut. Dexter Lawrence earned a 92.9 PFF grade with consistent interior pressure.
Final Statistical Verdict
The Minnesota Vikings vs New York Giants match player stats reveal complete domination. Every phase, every quarter, every key moment went Minnesota’s way. The Vikings showed they can win with efficient quarterback play, a balanced running game, and suffocating defense. The Giants showed they have major problems at quarterback, offensive line, and with their high-priced pass rushers. One team looks playoff-ready. The other looks lottery-ready.
