EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Sam Darnold put on one of those super performances at MetLife Stadium that New York Jets fans hoped to see every week after he was selected No. 3 in the 2018 draft.
Six years later, as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, he accomplished this feat against the Giants on his old home turf.
Darnold threw two touchdown passes in an extremely efficient performance and Andrew Van Ginkel scored a touchdown with a spectacular one-handed 10-yard interception return to lead the Vikings to an easy 28-6 victory over the pathetic New York Giants on Sunday.
Darnold completed his first 12 passes, catching touchdown passes of 3 yards to Justin Jefferson and 21 yards to Jalen Nailor, making an impressive debut for the Vikings, who are coming off a 7-10 season. He also caught a 22-yard pass to Josh Oliver that set up Aaron Jones’ 3-yard touchdown run that gave Minnesota a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter and got Kevin O’Connell’s team off to a strong start.
“Obviously it’s great to be back,” said Darnold, who completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards and an interception after a deflected pass. “It’s been a while since I played here. I played here my freshman year in Carolina when I came back. That was the last time I played here. It’s always nice to be back at MetLife.”
Notably, Darnold, who played in San Francisco last season, was signed as a veteran player to replace first-round draft pick JJ McCarthy. The Michigan player injured his knee in training camp and will not play this season.
“Sam Darnold, for a guy in a new system to start 12 of 12 and stay incredibly composed all day was a great performance that we were able to build on,” O’Connell said.
Giants halfback Bobby Okereke, who recovered a fumble to score the game’s first point, was not surprised by Darnold. He was at Stanford when Darnold was at Southern California, and they often played against each other.
“You know, it’s fun to play against him because he’s a player. He makes plays. They’re going to run play-action. They’re going to run boot,” said Okereke, who said New York didn’t play well enough to win.
The Vikings made all the important plays, and none was more impressive than Van Ginkel’s left-handed catch of Daniel Jones’ swing pass deep in his own territory late in the third quarter, which was an exclamation point for the solid defensive effort from Brian Flores’ unit. Giants fans booed loudly as they headed out with a 28-6 lead.
“He jumped up from the side and made a nice play,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said of the interception.
Jefferson caught four balls for 59 yards, with his touchdown coming on a quick pass on fourth down, and capped a 99-yard drive that he started with a 44-yard catch.
Graham Gano kicked field goals of 23 and 50 yards for the Giants, who played the same way as the team that posted a 6-11 record last season.
Jones, who had just come out of major knee surgery, didn’t play well and got no help from his newly formed offensive line or his receivers. First-round draft pick Malik Nabers caught five passes for 66 yards, including two for 25 yards.
Jones finished the game with 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards and two interceptions, the second by 35-year-old safety Harrison Smith.
Giants co-owner and general manager John Mara said after last season that he wanted to see significant progress this year. But New York did little on offense with Daboll running the plays, and the Giants were unable to put much pressure on Darnold despite signing edge rusher Brian Burns from the Carolinas in the offseason.
“It was obviously not the start we had planned. Disappointing game,” said Daboll. “There is still a lot to work through and we will do that.”
Vikings: WR Jordan Addison was ruled out in the second half after injuring his ankle.
Giants: Returner Gunner Olszewski suffered a groin injury during pregame warmups and did not play. WR Darius Slayton handled punt returns and running backs Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy returned kickoffs. … LB Carter Coughlin, who was promoted from the practice squad, suffered a chest injury in the first half. … CB Nick McCloud left the field in the second half with a knee injury.
Vikings: Host San Francisco next Sunday.
Giants: next Sunday in Washington.
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