WEEK 16
NEW YORK GIANTS (8-5-1) @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS (11-3)
DATE: Saturday (12/24/22)
STADIUM: U.S. Bank Stadium
TIME: 1:00 PM ET
REFEREE: Adrian Hill
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER Vikings lead all-time series, 16-10
STREAKS Vikings have won past 3
LAST GAME 10/6/19: Giants 10 at Vikings 28
LAST GAME AT SITE 10/6/19
NEW YORK GIANTS
LAST WEEK: W 20-12 at Washington
COACH VS. OPP. Brian Daboll: 0-0
PTS. FOR 20.5
OFFENSE 325.2
PASSING Daniel Jones: 268-406-2,694-12-4-90.5
RUSHING Saquon Barkley: 269-1,170-4.3-9
RECEIVING Darius Slayton: 40-631-15.8-2
PTS. AGAINST 22.3
DEFENSE 367.3
SACKS Dexter Lawrence: 6.5
INTs Julian Love: 2
TAKE/GIVE +4 (17/13)
PUNTING (NET) Jamie Gillian: 47.2 (41.0)
KICKING Graham Gano: 97 (25/27 PAT; 24/27 FG)
GIANTS NOTES
• QB DANIEL JONES totaled 195 yards (160 pass, 35 rush) in Week 15. Has 5 TDs (4 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT for 89.9 rating in 6 road starts in 2022. Has career highs in rush yards (583) & rush TDs (5), 5th-most rush yards among QBs this season.
• RB SAQUON BARKLEY had 5 catches, 120 scrimmage yards (87 rush, 33 rec.) & 9th rush TD of season in Week 15. Has rush TD in 3 of his past 4 & aims for his 4th in row on road with rush TD. Ranks 4th in NFL with 1,170 rush yards & 4th among RBs with 1,464 scrimmage yards in 2022.
• WR DARIUS SLAYTON had 5 receptions last week. Has 50+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 on road. Needs 69 rec. yards for 3rd-career season with 700+ rec. yards.
• WR RICHIE JAMES has career highs in catches (42), rec. yards (403) & rec. TDs (3) this season.
• LB KAYVON THIBODEAUX (rookie) led team with career-high 12 tackles & had career-best 3 TFL, 3rd-career sack, 2nd-career FF & 1st-career FR-TD in Week 15.
• DL DEXTER LAWRENCE had 0.5 sacks & 4th-career FF in Week 15 & has career-high 6.5 sacks in 2022. Had sack & FF in last meeting.
• DL LEONARD WILLIAMS has 6+ tackles in 2 of his past 3 on road.
• LB JAYLON SMITH aims for his 8th in row with 5+ tackles. Had 7 tackles & sack in his last game at Min. (11/22/20 w/ Dal.).
• LB AZEEZ OJULARI has 4.5 sacks in 5 games this season. Has FF in 3 of his past 4.
• S JULIAN LOVE leads NFC DBs with career-high 106 tackles. Aims for his 6th in row on road with 6+ tackles.
• S JASON PINNOCK had career-high 2 PD & 2 FF of season last week.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
LAST WEEK: W 39-36 vs. Indianapolis (OT)
COACH VS. OPP. Kevin O’Connell: 0-0
PTS. FOR 25.1
OFFENSE 354.6
PASSING Kirk Cousins: 355-544-3,818-24-11-92.0
RUSHING Dalvin Cook: 230-1,045-4.5-8
RECEIVING Justin Jefferson: 111-1,623-14.6-7
PTS. AGAINST 24.9
DEFENSE 399.2
SACKS Za’Darius Smith: 10
INTs Harrison Smith: 5
TAKE/GIVE +4 (21/17)
PUNTING (NET) Ryan Wright (R): 47.5 (42.8)
KICKING Greg Joseph: 93 (33/38 PAT; 20/25 FG)
VIKINGS NOTES
• MINNESOTA clinched NFC North for 1st time since 2017. Overcame 33-point deficit to win in Week 15, largest comeback victory in NFL history.
• QB KIRK COUSINS passed for career-high 460 yards & 4 TDs last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 400+ pass yards & 2+ TD passes. Needs TD pass to become 5th player ever with 25+ TD passes in 8 straight seasons. Needs 182 pass yards for 7th-career 4,000-yard season.
• RB DALVIN COOK had season-high 190 scrimmage yards (95 rush, 95 rec.) & 2nd rec. TD of season in Week 15, his 7th-career game with 190+ scrimmage yards, tied-most in NFL since 2019. Has 1,000+ rush yards (1,045) & 1,300+ scrimmage yards (1,310) for 4th-straight season. Aims for his 4th in row with TD.
• WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON tied his career high with 12 receptions for 123 yards & had 7th TD catch of season in Week 15. Leads NFL in receptions (111) & rec. yards (1,623) & is 3rd player ever with 1,600+ rec. yards in consecutive seasons. Has 307 career receptions, 2nd-most by player in 1st 3 seasons all-time (Michael Thomas – 321).
• WR ADAM THIELEN became 3rd undrafted player (Antonio Gates & Rod Smith) since 1967 with 5+ rec. TDs in 6 different seasons.
• WR K.J. OSBORN had career highs in catches (10) & rec. yards (157) in Week 15.
• TE T.J. HOCKENSON is 1 of 2 TEs (Travis Kelce) with 60+ catches in each of past 3 seasons.
• LB ZA’DARIUS SMITH is 1 of 4 with 10+ sacks (10) & 15+ TFL (15) in 2022.
• LB DANIELLE HUNTER had 1.5 sacks last week & has 8.5 sacks this season.
• LB ERIC KENDRICKS has 119 tackles in 2022, his 7th-straight 100+ tackle season.
• S HARRISON SMITH leads all active players with 34 career INTs.
