The New York Giants (2-2) and Minnesota Vikings (2-2) will square off on Sunday afternoon in a Week 5 matchup featuring two NFC teams trying to get over .500 on the season.
The Giants opened the week as 4.5-point home underdogs, and little has changed in that regard as the spread sits at 5.5 points.
With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Vikings Wire managing editor Kyle Ratke.
Giants Wire: Pat Shurmur spent just two seasons in Minnesota, but the offense appeared to experience a substantial amount of success after he took over as the offensive coordinator. How is Shurmur viewed in Minnesota, and what should he expect from fans/players pregame?
Kyle Ratke: I think Shurmur was very well-liked in the Vikings locker room. For what he was able to do with that team with Case Keenum at quarterback was pretty incredible. On Wednesday, Mike Zimmer called Shurmur a good friend. I’d expect a few hugs pregame from the players who were on the team when Shurmur was.
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Stefon Diggs missed practice for issues unrelated to injury earlier this week, and the relationship between him and the Vikings appears to be souring. Is this just another week of posturing, or is there more to it? And would come as a surprise if Diggs were not on the field this Sunday?
It would be a surprise if Diggs didn’t play. How much of this is real? I’m not really sure. Diggs has been so cryptic with his messaging. Do I truly think he wants a trade? No. Do I think he’s incredibly frustrated with the offense? Yes. Of course, there are other ways to go about it besides skipping a practice. This is a fan base that Diggs is extremely close with, and the Vikings have no reason to trade him.
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Kirk Cousins has struggled this season — even being called a disappointment by some — and the Vikings offense isn’t producing at the clip many believe it should. Is the concern in Minnesota legitimate, or is there a belief that both he and the offense will break out soon?
The offense should break out soon, but I do think there are concerns as well. The reason for optimism is the fact that Cousins threw for 4,300 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. The cause for concern comes from the fact that against good defenses, Cousins has crumbled. We’re going to see games this season where Cousins looks like a Pro Bowl quarterback, but we’re also going to see games that make Vikings fans think of drafting a quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft.
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Although the Giants defense was routed in three of their four games this year, their run defense has been impressively stout. Dalvin Cook represents a different kind of animal, however. What’s been the key to his success so far this season, and what — if anything — could the Giants defense do to slow him down without compromising their already suspect secondary?
Honestly, the Giants should just dare the Vikings to pass. Load the box and see what the Vikings do. That’s what the Bears did, and it worked out pretty well for them. The key to Cook’s success comes from his patience as a runner, even with a below-average offensive line blocking for him.
If Cousins completes a few big passes early, that will open things up for Cook to run wild.
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As lacking as Minnesota’s offense has been, their defense has been among the league’s best over the first quarter of the season. What has made that unit so effective against both the pass and the run? Do they have any weaknesses?
With Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter, the Vikings have done a great job of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That’s made life for the Harrison Smith-led secondary a little easier. As for a weakness, Anthony Barr is good at a lot of things, but covering smaller and shiftier players is not one of them.
Check out Kyle Ratke for all of your Vikings needs over at Vikings Wire.
