Giants-Vikings Wild Card Preview
The New York Giants return to Minnesota for the second time this season to take on the Vikings in U.S. Bank Stadium in the Super Wild Card Round. Sunday's kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
It is the Giants' first playoff berth since 2016 and the first time they will face Minnesota in the postseason since 2000, when they defeated the Vikings, 41-0, in the NFC Championship.
The Giants finished the 2022 regular season with a 9-7-1 record and enter the Super Wild Card Round as the sixth seed in the NFC. The two teams last met on Dec. 24 when the Giants fell to the Vikings, 27-24, on a 61-yard field goal as time expired.
Here are notes and stats for players from both teams ahead of the Wild Card matchup.
Giants
Team Notes
*New York Giants clinched playoff berth for 1st time since 2016.
*Brian Daboll was 1 of 3 rookie HCs (Mike McDaniel & Kevin O'Connell) to qualify for postseason.
*New York Giants ranked 4th in rush yards per game (148.2).
*New York Giants had 2 players selected to 2023 Pro Bowl Games: RB Saquon Barkley & DL Dexter Lawrence
Offensive Notes
*QB Daniel Jones can make 1st career playoff start. Had career highs in pass yards (3,205), rush yards (708 - 5th-most among QBs) & rush TDs (7 - tied 3rd-most among QBs) in 2022. Passed for 334 yards & TD in Week 16 meeting.
*RB Saquon Barkley ranked 4th in rush yards (1,312) & ranked 5th among RBs in scrimmage yards (1,650) & had 2nd-career season with 10+ rush TDs (10) in 2022. Had rush TD in 6 of his 7 road games this season. Had season-high 8 catches, 133 scrimmage yards (84 rush, 49 rec.) & rush TD in Week 16 meeting.
*WR Darius Slayton had 46 receptions for team-high 724 rec. yards & 2 rec. TDs in 2022, his 3rd-career season with 700+ rec. yards. Had 79 rec. yards in Week 16 meeting.
*WR Richie James had career highs in receptions (57), rec. yards (569) & rec. TDs (4) in 2022. Had season highs in catches (8) & rec. yards (90) in Week 16 meeting.
*WR Isaiah Hodgins had rec. TD in 4 of his final 5 reg. season games.
Defensive Notes
*DL Dexter Lawrence had career highs in sacks (7.5), TFL (7), PD (3) & FF (2) in 2022. Led NFC DL with career-high 68 tackles this season.
*DL Leonard Williams had 5 TFL in his past 4 reg. season road games. Had sack in Week 16 meeting.
*LB Jaylon Smith had 88 tackles this season, his 5th-career season with 80+ tackles. Had 10 tackles & sack in Week 16 meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row in playoffs with 7+ tackles.
*OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux was 1 of 2 rookies (George Karlaftis) with 4+ sacks (4), 5+ TFL (6) & 5+ PD (5) in 2022.
*OLB Azeez Ojulari had 5.5 sacks & 3 FFs in 7 games in 2022.
*S Julian Love led team & ranked 4th among DBs with career-high 116 tackles & was 1 of 5 DBs with 100+ tackles, 5+ TFL (6) & 5+ PD (5) in 2022.
*CB Fabian Moreau had career-high 63 tackles & 2nd-straight season with 10+ PD (10) this season.
*CB Darnay Holmes had career-high 8 PD in 2022, incl. 5 PD in his final 5 reg. season games.
Vikings
Team Notes
*Minnesota clinched NFC North for 1st time since 2017.
*Kevin O'Connell was 1 of 3 rookie HCs (Brian Daboll & Mike McDaniel) to qualify for postseason.
Offensive Notes
*QB Kirk Cousins passed for 4,547 yards & 29 TDs in 2022 & became 5th player ever with 25+ TD passes in 8 straight seasons. Has TD pass vs. 0 INTs & 90+ rating in 2 of his past 3 playoff starts. Passed for 299 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 107.9 rating in Week 16 meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NYG with 2+ TD passes & 105+ rating.
*RB Dalvin Cook had 1,468 scrimmage yards (1,173 rush, 295 rec.) & 10 TDs (8 rush, 2 rec.) in 2022 & is 1 of 2 (Alvin Kamara) with 1,300+ scrimmage yards in each of past 4 seasons. Since 2019, ranks 2nd in NFL with 43 rush TDs. Has 295 scrimmage yards (147.5 per game) in 2 career games vs. NYG.
*WR Justin Jefferson led NFL in catches (128 - 7th-most in season all- time), rec. yards (1,809 - 6th-most in season all-time) & games with 100+ rec. yards (10 - tied 4th-most in season all-time). Has 324 receptions for 4,825 yards, both most by player in 1st 3 seasons in NFL history. Had 12 catches for 133 yards & rec. TD in Week 16 meeting.
*WR Adam Thielen had 70 catches for 716 yards & 6 rec. TDs in 2022 & became 3rd undrafted player ever with 5+ rec. TDs in 6 different seasons. Has 5+ catches in 3 of his past 4 playoff games.
*WR K.J. Osborn had career-high 60 receptions for 650 yards & 5 rec. TDs in 2022. Had 5+ catches in 4 of his final 5 reg. season games.
*TE T.J. Hockenson had career highs & ranked 2nd among TEs in catches (86) & rec. yards (914) & tied his career high with 6 rec. TDs in 2022. Had 13 catches for 109 yards & 2 rec. TDs in Week 16 meeting.
Defensive Notes
*OLB Danielle Hunter led team with 10.5 sacks in 2022, his 4th-career season with 10+ sacks. Aims for his 4th in row in playoffs with sack. Has 5 sacks in 4 career games vs. NYG, incl. 2 sacks & FF in Week 16 meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NYG with 2+ sacks.
*OLB Za'Darius Smith had 10 sacks in 2022, his 3rd-career 10+ sack season & led team with 15 TFL, his 4th-career 10+ TFL season. Has 4 sacks in his past 5 playoff games.
*LB Eric Kendricks led team with 137 tackles, his 7th-straight 100+ tackle season. Has 37 tackles (7.4 per game) & 6 PD in 5 career playoff games.
*LB Jordan Hicks had 4th-straight 100+ tackle season (129) & ranked tied-2nd among LBs with career-high 10 PD in 2022.
*CB Patrick Peterson was 1 of 2 (Tariq Woolen) with 15+ PD (15) & 5+ INTs (5) in 2022. Had INT in Week 16 meeting.
*S Harrison Smith was 1 of 2 (Minkah Fitzpatrick) with 85+ tackles (85), 10+ PD (10) & 5+ INTs (5) in 2022.
Re-live the season with the best photos from the Giants' 2022 playoff campaign.
Leonard Williams (99)
Daniel Jones (8)
The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)
Richie James (80) Darius Slayton (86)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Darius Slayton (86)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
Adoree' Jackson Dane Belton
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Daniel Jones (8)
New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (82) catches a 2 point conversion during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday December 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Xavier McKinney (29)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Saquon Barkley (26) Matt Breida (31) Nick Gates (65)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8)
The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Xavier McKinney (29), Adoree' Jackson (22)
New York Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins (18) makes a touchdown catch during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Jihad Ward (55)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Sterling Shepard
New York Giants safety Landon Collins (21) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday December 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)
Landon Collins (21)
Jihad Ward (55)
Daniel Bellinger David Sills V
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Dexter Lawrence
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley Mark Glowinski Daniel Bellinger
Daniel Jones (8)
Julian Love (20)
Graham Gano (9), Casey Kreiter (58)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76)
Jihad Ward (55)
Julian Love (20)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Darnay Holmes (30), Adoree' Jackson (22), Tony Jefferson (36), Julian Love (20), Tomon Fox (49)
Daniel Jones (8)
Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22), Oshane Ximines (53)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Bellinger (82), Kenny Golladay (19)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Dane Belton (24)
Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22)
Darnay Holmes Julian Love Dane Belton
Ryder Anderson, Dane Belton (24), Leonard Williams (99), Tomon Fox (49), Dexter Lawrence (97), Jaylon Smith (54)
Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22), Oshane Ximines (53)
Jaylon Smith (54), Dane Belton (24), Adoree' Jackson (22), Julian Love (20), Leonard Williams (99), Fabian Moreau (37), Nick McCloud (44), Xavier McKinney (29)
Saquon Barkley
Xavier McKinney (29)
Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Saquon Barkley
Jihad Ward (55)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Jaylon Smith (54)
Darius Slayton (86)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Jihad Ward (55)
Dexter Lawrence (97), D.J. Davidson (98)
Richie James (80)
Nick Williams (93)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jamie Gillan (6), Graham Gano (9)
Daniel Jones (8), Saquon Barkley (26)
Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76), Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Ben Bredeson (68), Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Julian Love (20)
Adoree' Jackson (22), Aaron Robinson (33), Nick Williams (93), Tae Crowder (48), Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), Dexter Lawrence (97), Justin Ellis (71)
Micah McFadden (41), Azeez Ojulari (51)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Tanner Hudson (88), Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Jones (8)
David Sills V (13), Daniel Bellinger (82), Tanner Hudson (88)
Saquon Barkley (26), Sterling Shepard (3)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Saquon Barkley (26), Matt Breida (31)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26), Sterling Shepard (3)
Jihad Ward (55)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
Saquon Barkley (26)
Nick Williams (93), Oshane Ximines (53), Julian Love (20)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Nick Williams (93), Oshane Ximines (53), Julian Love (20)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Julian Love (20), Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26), Jon Feliciano (76)
Richie James (80)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Nick McCloud (44), Julian Love (20)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Evan Neal (73)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Gary Brightwell (23), Matt Breida (31)
Darius Slayton (86)
Evan Neal (73)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Dexter Lawrence (97), Tae Crowder (48)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Xavier McKinney (29), Darnay Holmes (30)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Darius Slayton (86)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Dane Belton (24), Jihad Ward (55)
Jihad Ward (55)
Justin Ellis (71)
Jaylon Smith (54), Adoree' Jackson (22), Julian Love (20)
Chris Myarick (85), Chris Myarick (85), Oshane Ximines (53), Cam Brown (47), Gary Brightwell (23)
Julian Love (20)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24). Julian Love (20), Fabian Moreau (37)
Jihad Ward (55), Tae Crowder (48), Micah McFadden (41)
Dexter Lawrence (97), Azeez Ojulari (51)
Tyrod Taylor (2), Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8), Ben Bredeson (68)
Daniel Jones (8)
Xavier McKinney (29), Fabian Moreau (37)
Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8), Daniel Bellinger (82)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Daniel Jones (8), Daniel Bellinger (82)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jon Feliciano (76), Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Chris Myarick (85), David Sills V (13)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Saquon Barkley (26), Jon Feliciano (76)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Carter Coughlin (52), Jason Pinnock (27), Cam Brown (47), Jamie Gillan (6)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jihad Ward (55)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Brian Daboll Head Coach
Julian Love (20)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Julian Love (20), Micah McFadden (41)
Jihad Ward (55), Henry Mondeaux (96)
Jihad Ward (55), D.J. Davidson (98)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Oshane Ximines (53)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Jihad Ward (55)
Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22), Oshane Ximines (53)
Adoree' Jackson (22)
Julian Love (20)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20), Jihad Ward (55)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)
Rodney Hampton during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Harry Carson and Leonard Marshall during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Samantha Morris gets emotional with her dad Joe Morris during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Kyle Rote Jr during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Rodney Hampton during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Rodney Hampton gets a hand shake from his son during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Otis Anderson walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Ronnie Barnes receives his ring of honor jacket from Brad Daluiso during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Otis Anderson walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Rodney Hampton walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Leonard Marshall walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Julian Love (20)
Matt Breida (31)
Ronnie Bones walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Kyle Rote Jr. walks up to receive his fathers Ring of Honor Jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts a pass during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts a pass during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Julian Love (20)
New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts a pass during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Evan Neal (73)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Dane Belton (24), Xavier McKinney, Tae Crowder (48)
Nick Williams (93)
Daniel Jones (8)
ryder anderson
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Ben Bredeson (68)
Justin Ellis (71), Dexter Lawrence (97)
Leonard Williams (99)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Bob Papa speaks during the ring of honor ceremony during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
David Sills V (13), Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Leonard Williams (99), Xavier McKinney (29), Jaylon Smith (54)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Saquon Barkley (26), Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)
