The New York Giants will host the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, aiming to end an eight-game losing streak.
The Giants opened as 2.5-point underdogs earlier this week for the matchup, a role they have occupied in most games this season and one that is hardly unfamiliar.
While the Giants are coming off an eighth consecutive defeat — a Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders — the Vikings enter the game fresh off a Monday Night Football victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Here are three causes for concern ahead of the Giants’ Week 16 contest.
Vikings’ Offensive Firepower
The Vikings have scored at least 30 points in back-to-back games. The Giants’ defense has been one of the most disappointing units in the NFL this season, raising the possibility that Minnesota could post a third straight 30-point outing.
Vikings’ Strength of Schedule
Minnesota has lost to only one team with a sub-.500 record this season, and that defeat came in Week 2. Playing in what is arguably the league’s toughest division, the Vikings have faced a demanding slate of opponents. Even if the Giants are considered one of the stronger two-win teams in recent years (and that’s a big “if”), they figure to be among the easier matchups on Minnesota’s schedule.
Justin Jefferson
The Giants’ secondary will face a significant challenge in containing Justin Jefferson, one of the premier receivers in the NFL. Although Jefferson has experienced a relatively quieter season by his own lofty standards, he remains a dynamic big-play threat capable of erupting at any moment. After having a touchdown nullified by a penalty last week and going six straight games without a score, Jefferson is poised to end that drought.