The Vikings are undefeated, have one of the NFL’s best defenses, and their new quarterback is clearly getting comfortable.
If they start making field goals, look out.
The Vikings dominated the Giants Monday night in a game that got a little too close for comfort briefly in the fourth quarter but was one-sided for much of the night. The Vikings swarm defensively, and quarterback Sam Bradford keeps opposing defenses guessing.
The Vikings got rushing touchdowns out of Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata Monday night and also scored on a pass from Bradford to tight end Kyle Rudolph. The final score was 24-10 and didn’t seem that close; the Vikings have had to change a bunch of personnel due to injuries but keep winning games.
The touchdown catch was Rudolph’s third in the last three games. Besides one Eli Manning to Paul Perkins screen pass that set up the Giants’ only touchdown, the only negative the Vikings take from Monday night is that struggling kicker Blair Walsh missed another field goal in the third quarter.
Walsh came back on the next drive and made one, which is a good sign. Bradford was 26-of-36 for 262 yards and didn’t throw an interception for his third straight start, which is a better sign. The Giants tacked on fourth quarter offensive stats to make things less lopsided, but they struggled to convert third downs (2-of-12) and sustain drives against the Vikings. The Giants punted on their first five possessions and played from behind all night.
The Vikings, who are 4-0 for the first time since 2009, host the Texans Sunday. The Giants are 2-2 and are at the Packers on Sunday.
