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The 2024 season starts now. The Giants are a revamped squad looking to establish their identity against their 2022 Wild Card playoff opponent, the Minnesota Vikings.
Per Giants.com
What should Giants fans watch for on each side of the ball on Sunday?
You have come to the right place if you:
Are going to the game
Watching from your couch
Are just interested in some Giants football analysis
This season can make or break a lot of jobs in the Giants organization, and I'll be here every step of the way. Here are a few things to watch for when the Giants take on the Minnesota Vikings this afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
Malik Nabers
I mention the rookie Nabers, but it all starts with signal caller Daniel Jones. Can Jones come out and provide Nabers - this year's sixth overall pick in the NFL draft - with enough volume to bring those Odell Beckham Jr. comparisons to fruition? Nabers was an all-caliber wide receiver at LSU, tallying 189 receptions, over 3,000 yards, and 21 touchdowns in his three years there. The Vikings will look to bracket Nabers in coverage and force other guys like Wan'Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Darius Slayton, or Daniel Bellinger to make plays. The Vikings finished 24th in the league in passing yards allowed per game in 2023. Can Nabers and Jones stay on the same page and connect on Sunday?
All expectations point toward Nabers getting 10+ targets a game, which would not surprise me at all. Brian Daboll is calling plays and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka has taken a backseat, so we know for certain that he will want to get the ball into the hands of his new potential star.
Nabers is fully healthy after minor tweaks in camp and he looks ready to roll for Sunday.
Shane Bowen and the Giants defense
I'm pumped to see what Bowen can do with this defense. The front seven are the core of this side of the ball, with seasoned guys like Brian Burns and Bobby Okereke holding down the edge position and linebacker corps. The Giants were 29th against the run in 2023 per Covers.com, and Bowen will look to take on a new challenge in building a run defense that the Giants have desperately needed; they finished 11th in the league against the run after the 2020 season.
Bowen's final two seasons in Tennessee resulted in the Titans registering the 13th ranked run defense last year and top ranked run defense in 2022. That is a big reason why Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll brought him into the building - minus Wink Martindale's meltdown and exile to somewhere in Florida - to build a defense that can rely on their pass rush and aggressiveness to disguise blitzes and keep opposing offenses on their toes. That should go a long way toward taking some pressure off of a young secondary consisting of two second year guys and a few rookies that should see run this year.
Tyler Nubin and Dru Phillips, two of the Giants' 2024 draft picks, have looked great in camp but will be learning on the go and adjusting to the speed of the NFL. There are bound to be lapses of judgement from them as they grow out of their shells, and Bowen is tasked with guiding them through their development.
I mentioned above that Brian Daboll will be calling plays this year, so that will put even more of the onus on Bowen to be the leader of this defensive squad. He needs to be willing to adjust in game, trust his guys, and find ways to get to the quarterback while at the same time shutting down top receivers in the NFL. In their first six weeks alone, the Giants will see Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Ja'marr Chase.
Giants X-Factor
We open with a mention of Daniel Jones, and we close with a mention of Daniel Jones. He will be my x-factor in this game. The Giants need to score points fast on a Vikings team that will be looking to push the ball down the field every chance they get against a vulnerable Giants secondary. Sam Darnold has Kevin O'Connell whispering in his year - a guy that made Nick Mullens relevant at the end of last year - and is in a better spot to succeed than in his stints with the Jets and Panthers. The Vikings will look to attack early so Jones and the offense need to stay on the field, make smart plays, and push the ball into Vikings territory.
Jones signed that four year, $160 million contract in March of 2023 and has only played in six games since. Take that with a grain of salt as it's only been one season, but there needs to be a sense of urgency in his play this year or he could be on the scrap pile come season end. Joe Schoen is already out on the road scouting college quarterbacks so the pressure is on Jones to deliver.
This will be a fun week 1 game and I'm excited to see what the Giants and Jones can do. It's felt like forever, but Giants football is back for the 100th season.
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