Preview: Zimmer’s Vikings face Jones, former OC Shurmur

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — On the surface, the Minnesota Vikings’ game against the New York Giants is a meeting of old friends.

It’s the first time Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is going to face his former offensive coordinator since Pat Shurmur left to become the head coach of the Giants in 2018.

There’s a lot at stake for both men, and their teams.

The Vikings (2-2) are coming off a disappointing 16-6 loss to the NFC rival Chicago Bears in a game when their offense did little.

The Giants (2-2) are riding a high since Shurmur benched Eli Manning and made rookie Daniel Jones the starting quarterback a little more than two weeks ago. They are looking for their first three-game winning streak since 2016, and this would be a win over a team with an outstanding defense.

It might be the sign Jones and the Giants are turning things around.

“They are a good unit, a good team,” Jones said the Vikings’ defense. “We’ll be prepared. I think when you look at them they are a strong front seven and they are good in the back end, too. I think we’ll be ready.”

The No. 6 overall pick in the draft, Jones has given the Giants a new look with his ability to avoid the rush, extend plays and run when necessary. Since his taking over, New York is averaging 28 points and it has converted on 14 of 26 third-down chances. It had 31 points combined in the first two games and was 5 of 23 on third downs.

“He’s got two wins,” Vikings safety Harrison Smith said. “Kind of the escapability aspect to him, especially in that Tampa game. He’s got a big arm. He’s obviously a young guy, but he’s done some really good stuff for them.”

Jones will need to do more to beat the Vikings.

Five things to watch as the Vikings try to snap a five-game losing streak in outdoor stadiums:

GROUNDED VIKINGS

The new scheme directed by offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, whom Shurmur tried to bring with him to the Giants but was blocked by Zimmer, has helped the Vikings re-establish themselves as a productive running team. Dalvin Cook is 1 yard off the league rushing lead and the team has an NFL-high eight rushing touchdowns. The success hasn’t opened the passing game for Kirk Cousins. His 88.6 passer rating is 23rd in the league, while his 7.4-yard average per throw ranks 16th.

TATE BACK

Golden Tate III has returned to the Giants after serving a four-game suspension for PED use. The 10-year veteran, who signed in the offseason as a free agent, was expected to be the other half of a 1-2 punch at wide receiver with Sterling Shepard. Jones will have to find a way to integrate him into the offense. Tight end Evan Engram (27 catches for 331 yards and two TDs) and Shepard (20 catches for 218 and a TD) have carried the load.

STOPPING THE RUN

The Giants come into the game ranked 19th against the run, and they are thin at inside linebacker. Rookie starter Ryan Connelly was lost for the season last week with a knee injury. Veteran Alec Ogletree missed last week with a hamstring injury, while fellow inside linebacker Tae Davis sat out with a concussion. David Mayo stepped in for Ogletree against Washington and had a career-high eight tackles. Minnesota is averaging 155.3 yards rushing, so expect the Vikings to exploit the Giants’ lack of depth behind their three-man front.

THE BALL IS LOOSE

Cousins leads the NFL with 46 fumbles since the beginning of the 2015 season, when he became a full-time starter. His six fumbles in the first four games are the most in the league. He had two last week at Chicago, losing one when Khalil Mack sacked him on the first play of the third quarter to set up a Bears field goal. Cousins has been struggling to find the right rhythm in terms of higher-risk, higher-reward decisions and playing it safe when the situation dictates it.

The Giants have neither forced nor recovered a fumble in four games.

JANORIS JENKINS

The veteran Giants cornerback has been inconsistent. Jenkins was torched by Mike Evans two weeks ago, when the Bucs receiver had eight catches for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Last week, he won NFC defensive player of the week honors for getting two of the Giants’ four interceptions against Washington, and tipping a ball that Connelly intercepted on the opening drive.

MINNESOTA (2-2) at N.Y. GIANTS (2-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

OPENING LINE — Vikings by 5 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD — Minnesota 2-2; New York Giants 2-2

SERIES RECORD — Vikings lead 16-12

LAST MEETING — Vikings beat Giants 24-10, Oct. 3, 2016

LAST WEEK — Vikings lost to Bears 16-6; Giants beat Redskins 24-3

AP PRO32 RANKING — Vikings No. 14, Giants No. 23

VIKINGS OFFENSE — OVERALL (24), RUSH (3), PASS (31).

VIKINGS DEFENSE — OVERALL (6), RUSH (11), PASS (9).

GIANTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (6), RUSH (8), PASS (7).

GIANTS DEFENSE — OVERALL (25), RUSH (19), PASS (25).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES _ Vikings have lost five straight outdoor road games. Last win was at MetLife Stadium, 37-17 decision over Jets Oct. 21. … RB Dalvin Cook second in NFL with 410 yards rushing despite only 35 against Bears. Only player in league with rushing TD in first four games this season. … QB Kirk Cousins sacked six times last week, matching career most. Leads league with six fumbles (two lost). … WR Stefon Diggs had 107 yards receiving last week, 11th career 100-yard game. … TE Kyle Rudolph has TD catches in last two vs. Giants. … DE Danielle Hunter has three sacks in past four games. … LB Eric Kendricks had 12 tackles against Bears. … S Harrison Smith has 14 tackles and 35-yard interception return TD in last two against New York. … Giants trying for first three-game winning streak since 2016. … QB Daniel Jones 2-0 since replacing Eli Manning as starter. Ranks second among rookie QBs with 95.9 rating. … RB Wayne Gallman had career-high 118 yards from scrimmage and two TDs in replacing injured Saquon Barkley last week. … WR Sterling Shepard has 6-plus catches in each of first three games. … Evan Engram No. 2 among TEs with 331 yards receiving. … WR Golden Tate returns from four-game PED suspension. … CB Janoris Jenkins had two of Giants’ four picks against Washington. … S Jabrill Peppers had first interception return TD last week. … LB Markus Golden has team-high 3½ sacks. … LB David Mayo had career-high eight tackles Sunday. … Fantasy Tip: Vikings WR Adam Thielen had two-catch, 6-yard game vs. Bears, his second-lowest total since becoming full-time starter in 2016. He went without a reception once previously, on Dec. 18, 2016, vs. Colts. Thielen followed that game with career-high 202 yards on 12 catches for two TDs vs. Packers.