AT A GLANCE

The New York Giants extended their losing streak to nine games with a 16-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. A defensive touchdown, propelled by one of Brian Burns' two sacks, kept the Giants in the game, but the offense managed a season-low 141 yards and did not find the end zone for the first time since Week 1.

UP NEXT

The 2-13 Giants travel to Las Vegas for their final road game of the season. The Raiders enter Sunday's game against the Texans (4:25 p.m.) with a 2-12 record. The Giants will then host the Cowboys in the finale.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

Left guard Jon Runyan was ruled out 90 minutes before kickoff for the birth of his child. Runyan and right guard Greg Van Roten were the only two Giants who had not missed a snap on either side of the ball this season.

Aaron Stinnie made his first start of the season, 16^th of his career, in place of Runyan. Evan Neal (neck/hamstring) was inactive after being designated for return from injured reserve on Tuesday. He practiced fully on Wednesday but was a non-participant on Thursday and Friday, when he was ruled out for Sunday. The former seventh overall draft choice has yet to appear in a game this season, his fourth in the NFL.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. started the game with seven carries for 40 on the opening drive, which ended with a sack of Jaxson Dart on fourth down at the Vikings 10-yard line.

The Giants had to shuffle around the offensive line again when Andrew Thomas injured his hamstring with 11:36 left in the second quarter. Rookie Marcus Mbow, the Giants' fifth-round pick, entered for Thomas and was immediately penalized for illegal formation for not being on the line of scrimmage on his first offensive snap since Week 9.

The injuries piled up as center John Michael Schmitz then left in the second half with a hand injury and was replaced by Austin Schlottmann.

The Giants did not have an official pass attempt until 11:58 remaining in the second quarter; Dart did not complete one until under two minutes remaining in the first half. At that point, the Giants already had 16 carries for 76 yards.

Dart completed one of five passes for two yards in the first half, including an interception by Byron Murphy Jr. that went through the hands of tight end Theo Johnson with 3:39 to play. The Pro Bowl cornerback returned it 15 yards into the red zone, where J.J. McCarthy ran in a 12-yard touchdown on the ensuing possession for a 10-point lead.

For the game, Dart completed seven passes on 13 attempts for 33 yards. With five sacks, the Giants netted just 13 pass yards.

The Giants (11 for 90 yards) and Vikings (11 for 74 yards) combined for 22 penalties.

The Giants did not have an offensive touchdown for the first time since the season opener on Sept. 7.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

Cornerback Paulson Adebo recorded his first interception as a Giant late in the first quarter, taking advantage of pass that went through the hands of wide receiver Jalen Nailor on the sideline. The Vikings entered Week 16 with 27 giveaways, including 20 interceptions, both the most in the NFL.

On the Vikings' next drive, Jevón Holland, another offseason acquisition in the secondary, had a 96-yard interception return touchdown negated by an offside penalty on rookie outside linebacker Abdul Carter. Defensive lineman Chauncey Golston did his best to make up for it with a sack on the next play (his first as a Giant), forcing Minnesota to settle for a short field goal while retaking the lead.

Carter got to the quarterback in the second half and now has a sack in three consecutive games (3.5 on the season).

Fellow outside linebacker Brian Burns snapped a three-game drought with two sacks. The second resulted in a McCarthy fumble, which safety Tyler Nubin returned 27 yards for a touchdown. The momentum-swinging play cut the Giants' deficit to 13-10 just before halftime. McCarthy also injured his right hand on the play and was ruled out. Max Brosmer played the entire second half for the Vikings.

Burns now has 15 sacks, tied with Hall of Famers Michael Strahan (1998) and Lawrence Taylor (1989) for seventh-most in a single season in franchise history. Burns will have two more games to try to reach 20 sacks for just the third time ever by a Giant. Only Strahan (22.5 in 2001) and Taylor (20.5 in 1986) have accomplished the feat.

Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibdoeaux's season ended on Saturday, when he was officially placed on injured reserve. Thibodeaux has not played since Week 10 due a shoulder injury and ends his fourth campaign with 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss in 10 games.

Minnesota converted seven of 12 third downs and its lone fourth down attempt.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

Undrafted rookie Ben Sauls made his NFL debut while becoming the fourth different kicker used by the Giants this season. The University of Pittsburgh product was elevated from the practice squad after the Giants waived Younghoe Koo on Tuesday. Koo missed both of his field goal attempts last Sunday.

Sauls also handled kickoffs on Sunday and started the game by sailing one of bounds down the right side. The Vikings started at their own 40-yard line, which led to a field goal and the first points of the game.

Sauls went on to make both of his field goal attempts from 27 and 39 yards. The latter tied the game 13-13 with 11:06 remaining.

Lefty punter and holder Jamie Gillan returned after missing Week 15 with a left knee injury. Cameron Johnston punted in his place last Sunday as the unit allowed a return touchdown for the second consecutive game.

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

NYG: LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), CB Cor'Dale Flott (knee), C John Michael Schmitz (hand)

MIN: RB Aaron Jones Sr. (ankle), RB Jordan Mason (ankle), C Ryan Kelly (concussion), QB J.J. McCarthy (right hand)

INACTIVES

NYG: OLB Caleb Murphy, WR Ryan Miller, WR Jalin Hyatt, ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (illness), G Jon Runyan, DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. (ankle), QB Russell Wilson (3^rd QB)

MIN: ILB Austin Keys (ankle), DT Javon Hargrave (thigh), T Walter Rouse, QB John Wolford (3^rd QB)

ROSTER MOVES

NYG: K Ben Sauls (standard elevation), DL Elijah Chatman (standard elevation), CB Art Green (activated from Reserve/Injured), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Reserve/Injured)

MIN: LB Sione Takitaki (standard elevation), CB Dwight McGlothern Jr. (signed from practice squad), T Christian Darrisaw (Reserve/Injured)