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Monday Night Football actually has a good game for once, so I decided to live blog it. The 2-1 Giants blew a winnable game against the Redskins last Sunday and tonight face a stiff test against the undefeated Vikings in Minnesota.
The Vikings defense has been dominant in the early weeks, shutting down Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton in the last two weeks. But with Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson out for the season, it remains to be seen just how capably Sam Bradford and Jerrick McKinnon can replace them, respectively.
Follow along for frequent updates on running commentary.
The Minnesota Vikings weren’t expected to be very good after they lost Teddy Bridgewater to
First Quarter
14:54: A good kick return by Dwayne Harris gives Eli Manning and the Giants good starting field position at their own 40.
Giants offense begins drive on own 40
14:30: On second down Eli Manning hits Sterling Shepard for 12 yards to move the chains for the first time.
11:50: The Giants are without running backs Rashad Jennings and Shane Vereen tonight so will have to rely on the relatively unproven Orleans Darkwa and Bobby Rainey. Giants face 3rd and 10 at the Vikings 40.
10:52: Giants drive stalls and instead of kicking a long punt, Big Blue punts. Brad Wing gets off a perfect punt and the Giants are able to down it at the 1.
Vikings offense begins drive on own 1
Randy Moss, apparently blowing the shofar for Rosh Hashana. L’shana tova!
9:30: Vikings not able to get anything going on offense and will have to punt from their own endzone.
9:10: Dwayne Harris muffs punt and the Vikings offense will begin drive at Giants 41
8:45: Cordarelle Patterson gains 20 yards on a catch-and-run on the first play of the new drive.
8:10: Viking offensive lineman Andre Smith hurt.
7:00: Vikings have 1st and goal from the 9 before a false start takes them back to the 14.
6:45: Vikings get 1st and goal from the one after Giants get a pass interference in the endzone called against them.
6:28: TOUCHDOWN Vikings- Matt Asiata runs it in from the 1-yard-line. Vikings lead 7-0 after extra point is good.
6:00: Giants offense starts at own 25 after touchback
5:38: A big run by Orleans Darkwa on second down plus a defensive penalty move the ball to near midfield.
4:44: Manning dumps it off to Will Tye on 3rd down who can’t get passed the marker. Brad Wing will have to punt away again.
4:12: Still bugging me out that Sean McDonough now calls Monday Night Football. Or as he’s more commonly known as: that guy who’s not Mike Tirico.
Vikings begin drive at own 20 after touchback on punt
3:30: Jerrick McKinnon sprints ahead to the Vikings 46 on Minnesota’s first play of the drive.
3:00: On 3rd down Bradford takes a deep shot for Adam Thielen who drops it. Minnesota fans furious that no pass interference was called.
2:47: Giants offense begins drive on own 20 after touchback on punt
Jon Gruden in peak Jon Gruden form tonight. Going nuts talking about the Vikings various blitzes.
1:00: Giants offense can’t do anything with the ball and are forced to punt again after a 3-and-out.
Vikings offense begins drive at own 33 after Giants punt
End of first quarter: Vikings lead 7-0
2nd Quarter:
14:54: Bradford can’t connect with Stefon Diggs and the Vikings return the favor by going 3-and-out.
14:45: Giants offense begins drive on own 12
Giants tight end Larry Donnell looks like he might have suffered a cuncussion. Jason Pierre-Paul also being tended to on the sidelines for a possible injury.
14:00: Victor Cruz makes his first grab of the game for a medium gain to move the chains.
13:10: Vikings offense begins drive on own 35 after Giants punt
10:30: Vikings moving the ball on the ground with Jerrick McKinnon, Matt Asiata and others. Have the ball on the Giants 34.
9:30: Bradford connects with Stefon Diggs for 21 yards down the middle. Vikings are down to the Giants 13.
Giants cornerback Leon Hall is shaken up. They really can’t afford any more injuries in the secondary, but it seems to just be a contact lens issue.
7:59: TOUCHDOWN Vikings: Sam Bradford hits Kyle Rudolph in the back of the endzone for a 7 yard TD. Extra point is good and Vikings lead 14-0.
Giants offense begins drive at own 17
7:00: After a Odell Beckham slant then a Paul Perkins run, the Giants move the chains. 1st and 10 at their own 31
6:45: After a 4-yard throw and catch to the sideline, Beckham pick up a 15-yard taunting penalty. One more of those and he’s ejected.
5:30: Sterling Shepard short of the first down at own 40. Giants bring out offense on 4th and 1 but end up calling timeout after trying to get Minnesota’s defense to jump.
Vikings offense begins drive at own 12 after Giants punt
3:30: Giants defense stops Matt Asiata for a loss on 3rd and 1. Vikings go 3 and out and are forced to punt. A critical drive for New York coming up.
Giants offense begins drive on own 34 after Vikings punt
2:00: After consecutive 9-yard gains on a throw to Cruz and a run by Bobby Rainey the Giants are in Minnesota territory for the first time all night.
1:20: On 3rd and 1 Bobby Rainey is tackled behind the line of scrimmage. Giants to go for it on 4th and 4.
0:52: A Vikings offsides gives the Giants an automatic first down at the 37. Mike Zimmer is fuming at the culprit.
0:25: Giants have to take a timeout on 3rd and 10 on the Minnesota 27
0:06: Giants complete a pass to Cruz for a first down to the 17. After an incompletion and then a delay of game, Josh Brown will try a 40-yard field goal.
0:02: FIELD GOAL Giants: Josh Brown’s 40-yard field goal attempt is good. Vikings lead 14-3.
End of 2nd Quarter. Vikings lead 14-3 at halftime.
3rd Quarter
Vikings offense starts on own 25
14:45: On the first play from scrimmage, the Vikings complete a 30-yard pass to advance to the Giants 45.
13:00: On 3rd and 4 Bradford finds Stefon Diggs on a crossing route for a 6 yard gain.
11:00: After the Vikings drive stall Blair Walsh comes on to attempt a 46-yard field goal
Vikings kicker Blair Walsh’s 46-yard field goal attempt is NO GOOD. Wide left. Score remains 14-3 Vikings.
Giants offense begins drive at own 36
9:55: INTERCEPTION Vikings: Xavier Rhodes intercepts Eli Manning’s deep attempt to Odell Beckham.
Vikings offense begins drive at Giants 43
9:00: Sam Bradford completes to Jake Rudolph for 12 yards to the Giants 28.
7:43: FIELD Goal Vikings: Blair Walsh’s 44-yard field goal attempt is good. Minnesota leads 17-3.
Giants offense begins drive at own 25
7:01: After Beckham drops what would have been an amazing one-handed catch the Giants have to punt. Another 3-and-out.
Vikings begin drive on own 19
5:25: On 3rd and 6 Kyle Rudolph draws a pass interference to move the chains.
5:00: Giants defense has been a solid bunch but they’ve been totally unable to cause turnovers. New York could really use one of those if they’re going to get back into this one.
3:30: On 3rd and 3, Bradford finds Cordarelle Patterson for 4 yards to Minnesota’s own 40.
1:40: Kyle Rudolph helps Minnesota convert their third straight third down. Vikings are driving, down to the Giants 38.
0:32: On 3rd and 9, Bradford has Diggs open but throws it just a tad too high. Vikings elect to punt instead of try a 55-yard field goal.
Giants offense begin drive at own 9 after Vikings punt
0:20 Manning completes pass to Will Tye for 18-yard gain on first down. That is the longest offensive play of the day so far for the Giants against this stifling Minnesota defense.
4th quarter:
14:40: Paul Perkins takes screen pass 67 yards to the Minnesota 5 on the first play of the fourth quarter.
13:42: Trae Waynes gets a pass interference in the endzone. First and goal from the 1 for the Giants.
13:36: TOUCHDOWN Giants: Orleans Darkwa scores on 1 yard touchdown run. Extra point is good. Giants cut Vikings lead to 17-10.
Missed this before but it’s crazy:
Vikings offense begins drive at own 24
12:00: On third down Kyle Rudolph takes advantage of a blown coverage and gets a first down at the Vikings’ own 46.
10:15: On 3rd and 5 Matt Asiata takes a swing pass and fights to get past the marker.
10:00: Bradford hits Charles Johnson deep down the left for a 40 yard gain.
9:20: TOUCHDOWN Vikings: Jerrick McKinnon scores a 4-yard rushing touchdown through the middle. Extra point is good. Vikings lead 24-10.
Giants offense begins drive at own 25
8:20: Manning finds Will Tye down the middle for a 15-yard gain.
7:56: With a 3rd and 2 near midfield looming, Vikings defensive back Trevin Wade is shaken up.
7:20 Bobby Rainey’s 8-yard rush on 3rd down moves the chains for the Giants.
6:30: Giants face a 4th and 5 on Minnesota’s 36.
6:20: Giants turn ball over on downs after Eli Manning’s pass intended for Sterling Shepard falls incomplete.
Vikings offense begins drive on own 36
4:37: Stefon Diggs makes a catch on third down to take the ball to the Giants 48
3:35: Vikings can’t pick up first down in Giants territory. Giants call second timeout before Minnesota punts it away.
Giants begin drive at own 9.
2:42: With Giants in the hurry-up, Manning finds Victor Cruz down the middle for 14 yards to the Giants 39.
2:00: At 2 minute warning, Giants have the ball on their own 45 with one timeout left.
1:56: Eli Manning throws what should have been an easy interception but gets lucky when Kendricks drops it. 4th and 4.
1:51: Giants turn ball over on downs after Eli Manning’s pass intended to Paul Perkins falls incomplete
1:46: This one is all but over. Looks like the Vikings are going to win by a score of 24-10, covering the 4 point spread. They looked great tonight, especially on defense, and move to 4-0.
1:00: Giants fall to 2-2 and face a tough game against the Packers next Sunday night.
End of 4th quarter
Minnesota Vikings defeat New York Giants 24-10