In order to compile a 13-4 record and clinch the NFC’s No. 3 seed, the Vikings needed to rely on their star power. Justin Jefferson shattered Randy Moss’ team record for most receiving yards with 1,809. Kirk Cousins — yes, Kirk Cousins — was a name floated in the MVP race at times. Running back Dalvin Cook finished with a fourth consecutive season of at least 1,100 yards.
Here are five other things to know about the Vikings entering their wild-card matchup against the Giants, including stats and trajectories from lesser-known players who could make key impacts Sunday:
(1.) Greg Joseph’s 61-yard, game-winning field goal in the first meeting (right) was the longest kick in franchise history, according to Vikings.com, but not quite long enough to crack the top 10 in NFL history.
Greg Joseph is lifted up by teammates after hitting the game-winning 61-yard field goal in the Vikings’ 27-24 regular-season win over the Giants.Getty ImagesStill, the 28-year-old kicker had never attempted a kick that long in a game before — his previous high was 56 yards. But his last-second make sank the Giants, who know a thing or two about losing on those types of improbable kicks. Just ask Graham Gano, their current kicker, who sank a 63-yarder to beat the Giants while with the Panthers in 2018. That one makes the top-10 (actually, top-14 with ties) list.
(2.) The Vikings and Giants have met 30 times in their series history, but the Dec. 24 matchup was the first time a Minnesota tight end topped 100 receiving yards against Big Blue. T.J. Hockenson (below) exploded for 13 catches — on 16 targets — for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Some other Vikings tight ends to torch the Giants, who have been susceptible against that position over the last decade: Visanthe Shiancoe (seven catches, 94 yards, one touchdown in 2010), Steve Jordan (five catches for 70, 73 and 77 yards in 1990, 1989 and 1986) and Gordie Smith (four catches, 79 yards, one touchdown in 1965).
(3.) When Duke Shelley looked at his NFL team’s schedule this offseason, he was supposed to face the Giants in Week 4. That’s when the Bears were slated for a trip to MetLife Stadium. But Shelley was waived by Chicago on Aug. 31, signed to the Vikings’ practice squad one week later and eventually promoted to their active roster Nov. 12.
Shelley, who led the Vikings with nine solo tackles against the Giants in December, hadn’t played much until this season — just six starts and two games with more than seven combined tackles. But an injury to Cameron Dantzler Sr. led to five starts for Shelley since Nov. 24. He will have another potential chance this weekend, with Dantzler questionable due to his ankle injury and a personal matter. Shelley, who recorded his first-career interception Week 18 against Chicago, tweeted later that day: “First INT of my career vs the team that didn’t believe in me wow thank you god.”
(4.) Minnesota’s offensive line has undergone major shuffling the past few weeks, after backup center Austin Schlottmann and right tackle Brian O’Neill suffered season-ending injuries. Schlottmann was the replacement for Garrett Bradbury, who is trending toward a return this weekend following a back injury.
But if Bradbury (who was listed as a tight end his redshirt season at North Carolina State before moving to offensive line and not allowing a sack his final year, according to Vikings.com) is limited at all, that likely will mean the second consecutive game with important snaps for Chris Reed, Minnesota’s third-string center. Reed, an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State, is in the USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Track & Field Athlete Hall of Fame after a collegiate career that featured 11 All-American honors for indoor and outdoor track & field throwing events, according to the USTFCCCA website.
(5.) The key to defeating Minnesota this season: avoid a one-possession game while playing at U.S. Bank Stadium, which the Giants didn’t do Dec. 24. In the regular season, the Vikings went 11-0 in one-possession games and 8-1 at home, with their lone loss coming against the Cowboys. According to NFL.com, it’s the most one-score wins in a season in league history.
