Three keys to the Vikings’ season-opening 28-6 win over the Giants

Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores put on a master class in flustering Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, and there were plenty of highlights to go around for the team’s defenders, including rookie Dallas Turner’s first NFL sack and an active day for defensive tackle Harrison Phillips. But no defensive player jumped off the screen like Andrew Van Ginkel, signed as a free agent from Miami, where he used to play for Flores. Van Ginkel, who is coming off a foot injury, had a sack, two QB hits and a lightning-quick interception return for a touchdown to give the Vikings their final 28-6 lead and send Giants fans to the exits. Overall, Jones was sacked five times and intercepted twice.

Justin Jefferson’s first catch

Early in the second quarter, with the Vikings holding a 7-3 lead, the Giants downed a punt inside the Vikings 1-yard line. To that point, Justin Jefferson didn’t have a catch or even a target. On second and 10 from the 10, Sam Darnold gave the Vikings some breathing room with a 44-yard bomb to Jefferson, throwing between a double team and hitting Jefferson in stride. The Vikings were off to the races and never looked back. Darnold, who was 7-for-7 on the drive, hit Jordan Addison three times for 35 yards and capped the drive with a TD pass to Jefferson on fourth-and-2 from the 3-yard line.

2-for-2

The Vikings scored touchdowns on just 47.1% on their red-zone drives last season to rank 28th out of 32 NFL teams. On Sunday, their red-zone efficiency was 100%. The meager running game was a significant factor in last year’s struggles, and new running back Aaron Jones showed the difference he can make in that area on the Vikings’ first trip to the red zone of the season. On first-and-goal from the 5 in the first quarter, Jones gained two yards, and then on the next play he went around the end, winning a race to the pylon on a 3-yard TD run. The Vikings didn’t score a rushing touchdown until Week 8 last season.

Meanwhile, the Giants were 0-for-3 in the red zone, with Jones throwing an interception on one drive and another ending on a turnover on downs.

Sept. 8: W, 28-6 vs. N.Y. Giants

Sept. 15: vs. San Francisco

Sept. 22: vs. Houston

Sept. 29: at Green Bay

Oct. 6: vs. N.Y. Jets in London

Oct. 13: Bye

Oct. 20: vs. Detroit

Oct. 24: at L.A. Rams

Nov. 3: vs. Indianapolis

Nov. 10: at Jacksonville

Nov. 17: at Tennessee

Nov. 24 at Chicago

Dec. 1: vs. Arizona

Dec. 8: vs. Atlanta

Dec. 16: vs. Chicago

Dec. 22: at Seattle

Dec. 29: vs. Green Bay

Jan. 4 or 5: at Detroit