Interesting duels and who will win

The Vikings begin the regular season on the road for the first time in Kevin O’Connell’s tenure, but their trip to New Jersey is especially important given what awaits them at the start of their home schedule. They face the Giants for the first time since losing to New York in the 2022 NFC Wild Card Round. Daniel Jones earned a big contract with his performance in the win; the quarterback has struggled since then, and Brian Flores’ defense is not the Ed Donatell-led group that gave Jones plenty of space in that game. The Giants also have a new defense, with Shane Bowen coming over from Tennessee as coordinator, and an already impressive pass rush got even stronger this offseason with the signing of Brian Burns.

Here’s a look at what to expect from Sunday’s season opener:

Darnold makes his debut: The Vikings had planned for Sam Darnold to be their starter after signing him in March, but when JJ McCarthy tore his right meniscus in August, Darnold’s status as the No. 1 quarterback for 2024 became even clearer. He will return to MetLife Stadium, where he began his career with the Jets, to begin a season that could revitalize his career if it goes well. He will need to show that he has reduced the turnovers that have hurt him throughout his career, and he could play under pressure if the Giants’ pass rush is as impressive in this game as it was in the playoffs two years ago.

Offensive Line for testing: When Garrett Bradbury gained weight in the offseason due to a new diet, it certainly wasn’t lost on the center that he would first face Dexter Lawrence, the 340-pound nose tackle who recorded four quarterback hits and a tackle for loss in the playoff game two years ago. The Giants still have Kayvon Thibodeaux and have signed edge rusher Brian Burns, who went to two Pro Bowls and recorded 46 sacks in his first five seasons with the Panthers. Christian Darrisaw faced Burns in college and again in his first NFL assignment in Carolina three years ago; the two will face off again as the Vikings try to protect Darnold. When the Titans came to Minnesota for joint training two years ago, their defensive front had two disruptive days against the Vikings’ offensive line; Bowen will presumably bring a number of pressure packages from Tennessee, making the Vikings’ challenge against the Giants’ front even greater.

The new running game celebrates its debut: Teammates rave about running back Aaron Jones’ speed and determination, and the Vikings appear to be relying more heavily on the run in 2024 than they did in coach Kevin O’Connell’s first two seasons. They will face a Giants team that changed defensive coordinators after ranking 29th in running last season. The Vikings know they’ll have to play differently with Darnold at quarterback than they did with Kirk Cousins; they seem to have settled on heavier personnel and downhill runs this season, so they could use that approach to wear down the Giants’ front and provide a helpful counterpunch for Darnold.

This time Jones has to face Flores’ defense: In the playoff game two years ago, Jones completed 24 of his 35 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns. His performance paved the way for his four-year, $160 million postseason contract. He tore his ACL last October after a 1-5 start and will need to play well enough in 2024 to keep the Giants tied to him for 2025. In the wild-card game, the Giants rolled Donatell’s defense with many college passing concepts, relying on Jones’ mobility outside the pocket. Flores will have a more diverse scheme with pressure options that could be problematic for a quarterback who dropped the ball 46 times in his career. Former Gophers center John Michael Schmitz, the Giants’ second-round pick in 2023, will be responsible for helping Jones get everything together.

Nabers is Gilmore’s first opponent: Before the draft, there were many rumors that the Giants could take a quarterback with the sixth overall pick, but that proved unfounded when New York passed on Michael Penix Jr., JJ McCarthy and Bo Nix and instead took LSU receiver Malik Nabers, who broke the all-time receiving yards record in a program that produced Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Odell Beckham Jr., among others. Nabers impresses with his ability to change pace and control his body in the air; the Vikings could ask Stephon Gilmore to get physical with him and disrupt his timing with Jones.

No player from either team will enter the game injured.