A GAME WAS PLAYED

VIKINGS 16

GIANTS 13

Sunday was the first Vikings game in years that held absolutely zero meaning playoff-wise for either participant. The Vikings were officially eliminated last week, and the Giants were pretty much eliminated in training camp, and are eyeing the #1 pick in the draft.

And this was a game befitting such low stakes and poor teams, filled with very little scoring, but lots of penalties and bad football. The Vikings were just less bad.

The Vikings probably could have put the game away in the first half, were it not for two big blunders. Jordan Addison dropped a TD pass, and late in the half a missed block led to JJ McCarthy getting crushed on a strip sack, the ball being run back for a score by former Gopher Tyler Nubin. 

As it was, the score at half was 13-10 Vikings, with a couple of Reichard field goals and a McCarthy TD run. 

The injury bug hit again in the first half, as Jordan Mason was carted off, Ryan Kelly got another concussion (he needs to retire), and after that strip sack, McCarthy was out for the game with a hand injury (which it turns out might not be THAT bad).

The second half was led by Max Brosmer, who we last saw in the Seattle debacle, but here was a decent enough caretaker. He really only had one meaningful drive, but it was in the 4th quarter of a tied game, which ended in what turned out to be the winning Reichard field goal. He made one terrific sideline throw to Justin Jefferson, who finally had a good statistical game again.

Aaron Jones had a strong, gutty game on the ground. And the Vikings' defense, who for the 2nd time in 3 weeks did not give up a touchdown, absolutely smothered Jaxson Dart to the tune of 13 net passing yards, and a Byron Murphy pick that set up the lone touchdown. It's a shame this defense, which has been quite good most of the season, has not been matched with an effective enough offense.

McCarthy may have dodged serious injury, but leaving another game calls into question his viability as the long-term guy just as much as his erratic (but improving) play on the field. The team simply has no choice but to plan ahead for 2026 that McCarthy might not see the field enough.

This was the last road game of the season. They managed a respectable 5-4. Now they finish at home with the desperate Lions on Christmas Day (we could eliminate them) and the Packers in week 18, who might be playing for the north.