Not long after the Vikings and Giants last met, New York gave its quarterback $40 million a year while Minnesota handed its defensive coordinator a pink slip.
The moves were not unrelated.
It was Jan. 15, 2023. U.S. Bank Stadium. An NFC wild-card playoff game.
Giants rookie coach Brian Daboll fast-tracked new General Manager Joe Schoen’s rebuild to garner the NFC’s sixth seed en route to winning Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year.
Meanwhile, Vikings rookie coach Kevin O’Connell executed his team’s mantra — “competitive rebuild” — wonderfully while winning 13 games, including a 27-24 edging of the Giants on a team-record 61-yard walk-off field goal by Greg Joseph at U.S. Bank Stadium on Christmas Eve.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, Jan. 15, 2023, changed the Purple vibe from sweet to sour. All because Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had the game of his life against then-defensive coordinator Ed Donatell and his passive, vanilla schemes.
Jones completed 24 of 35 passes (68.6%) for 301 yards, two touchdowns and a 114.1 passer rating while also running for 78 yards on 17 carries (4.6 yards per carry) in a 31-24 upset, the Giants’ first playoff win since 2011. Throw in the Christmas Eve game and Jones looked unbothered while completing 54 of 77 passes (70.1) for 635 yards and three touchdowns while running 21 times for 112 yards.
