The New York Giants (2-2) host the Minnesota Vikings (2-2) at MetLife Stadium this Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
Here are six things to know about that game…
Pat Shurmur vs. Mike Zimmer
Before Pat Shurmur took the head coaching gig with the Giants, he was an assistant under Mike Zimmer in 2016 and 2017 — first as the tight ends coach and then as offensive coordinator.
“It was a very meaningful part of my career being there for two years. I am very fortunate to be a part of a 13-3 season,” Shurmur said of his stint in Minnesota. “In fact, Case Keenum and I reminisced about that a little bit after the game [Sunday]. There are a lot of people there that I worked with intimately, a lot of people there that I care about, but after a few handshakes we get to the business of playing the game. I think they would probably answer the question the same way. We’ll just see what happens.”
Giants-Vikings head-to-head history
This week’s game will the 26th regular-season meeting between the two teams since the Vikings were established as an NFL franchise in 1961. With a win on Sunday would improve their all-time record against the Vikings
to 11-15. A victory would also improve the Giants’ home record in the series to 6-7.
The two clubs have faced off in the postseason three times, with the Giants winning twice. The last postseason meeting was the 2000 NFC Championship Game in which the Giants shut the Vikings out, 41-0, at Giants Stadium to advance to Super Bowl XXXV.
The teams last met in Week 4 of the 2016 season in U.S. Bank Stadium, with the Vikings prevailing, 24-10. The teams last met in MetLife Stadium on Oct. 21, 2013, in which the Giants won, 23-7.
Vikings stats to know
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has 25 or more passing yards in two of his past three starts at New York versus the Giants. He has 2,533 passing yards (281.4 per game) and 20 touchdowns versus seven interceptions for a 105.1 rating in his past nine starts on the road against the NFC East.
Running Back Dalvin Cook ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards (410) and tied for first in rushing touchdowns (five) after four weeks. Cook had 70 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown in Week 4 loss to the Chicago Bears. He is one of five running backs with 70 or more scrimmage yards in each game this season and is the only player in the NFL with a rush touchdown in each of team’s first four games of 2019.
Safety Harrison Smith has 14 tackles and a 35-yard interception for a touchdown in two career games against the Giants. The four-time Pro Bowler is currently the only player in the NFL with 20 or more INTS (21) and 10 or more sacks (12) since 2012.
More to know about the Vikings
Minnesota ranks second in the NFL in team rushing with 621 rushing yards while leading the league with eight rushing touchdowns, which is a change of pace for them. They have scored one rushing touchdown less than they scored in all of 2018.
The Vikings defense is ranked sixth overall in the NFL after four games. They enter Week 5 tied with Pittsburgh and Carolina for the most tackles for loss this season with 24. Last week, the Vikes limited Chicago to a 2.2 rushing average on 33 rushing attempts and did not allow a run of over seven yards.
Minnesota’s defense is tied with New England, Chicago and Cleveland for the second fewest rushing touchdowns allowed this season — one. The San Francisco 49ers, who had a bye week in Week 4, are the only team yet to surrender a rushing touchdown this season.
Giants tidbits to know
Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones had 561 passing yards in Weeks 3 and 4. That is the most in a quarterback’s first two starts in Giants history.
Veteran wide receiver Golden Tate makes his Giants debut this week. Since he entered the league in 2010 with Seattle, Tate’s 4,048 yards after catch are the most in the NFL. Tate ranks third in the NFC in receptions (611) since 2010 behind Larry Fitzgerald (803) and Julio Jones (721).
Last week against Washington, the Giants yielded just 176 total offensive yards, which is the fewest they’ve allowed since the Minnesota Vikings gained 164 yards on Dec. 13, 2010.
Tight end Evan Engram reached a speed of 20.31 mph on his 31-yard reception in the Giants’ 24-3 Week 4 victory over the Redskins. Engram is now responsible for the top three speeds in the NFL reached by a tight end this season.
Gallman aims for continued success
In the absence of Saquon Barkley, third-year running back Wayne Gallman had a career-high 118 scrimmage yards (63 rushing, 55 receiving) with two touchdowns (1 rushing, 1 receiving) last week against the Redskins. It was his first career game with two or more scores. Gallman is one of three NFC running backs with 50 or more rush yards, 50 or more receiving yards and two or more touchdowns in a single game this season. Pro Bowlers Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey are the others.
“I think he did a hell of a job,” said Shurmur of Gallman. “Everybody out there had a few bad plays, but he stepped in with a heavy load and did a really nice job. I’m pleased with what he did.”
Gallman did have a lost fumble in the game, though.
