Minnesota won 13-10, so the moneyline cashed. Murray's field-goal drive was the modest proof of concept the pre-game case wanted, though it's worth noting the Vikings needed Dart's second-quarter mistakes and a shaky Giants secondary more than a dominant Murray showing to get there.
Pregame
Minnesota's priced at -135 with a settled answer at quarterback and a healthy receiver room top to bottom. New York's picture is muddier — Dart is the priority rep-getter, Nabers is banged up, and Harbaugh's been coy about how much juice the depth chart actually gets. Backing the Vikings' price here is less about star power and more about which sideline is more motivated to look sharp.
Minnesota handed the keys to Kyler Murray this week, naming him the starter over J.J. McCarthy just days before kickoff, and Saturday was his first live look with the ones. He got one series with the first unit and cashed it for a field goal before handing off to McCarthy, who couldn't get anything going across his 3 drives. On the other sideline, Jaxson Dart ran the Giants' new-look offense under first-year coach John Harbaugh, and his day included getting sacked by blitzing Vikings safety Jay Ward at the end of the first quarter.
Dart was checked for a concussion after that hit but came back 2 plays later and found rookie third-rounder Malachi Fields for a 15-yard touchdown. New York was without a chunk of its secondary and receiving corps Saturday — corners Greg Newsome II, Paulson Adebo and Dru Phillips all sat, and so did wideouts Jalin Hyatt and JuJu Smith-Schuster, with Malik Nabers a healthy scratch. Cam Skattebo got the early work out of the backfield, taking 4 carries for 19 yards over the first two drives, and Odell Beckham Jr. got run too.
Minnesota Vikings
(0-0)
Jan 4Wvs Packers16-3
Dec 25Wvs Lions23-10
Dec 21W@ Giants16-13
Dec 15W@ Cowboys34-26
Dec 7Wvs Commanders31-0
New York Giants
(0-0)
Jan 4Wvs Cowboys34-17
Dec 28W@ Raiders34-10
Dec 21Lvs Vikings13-16
Dec 14Lvs Commanders21-29
Dec 2L@ Patriots15-33
Minnesota Vikings
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries to report
New York Giants
(3)
QuestionableMalik Nabers (WR) — Nabers (knee) isn't in uniform for Saturday's preseason opener against Minnesota, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.08/15
QuestionableJevon Holland (S) — Holland (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's training camp session, John Schmeelk of the Giants' official site reports.08/06
OutRoy Robertson-Harris (DT) — The Giants placed Robertson-Harris (Achilles) on their injured reserve list Wednesday, Matt Citak of the team's official site reports.08/06
It was 80 degrees and sunny at MetLife for a game that stayed tight throughout, with Minnesota's 13 points enough to hold off New York's 10. Preseason openers rarely tell you much on the scoreboard, but this one had two teams sorting out real questions at the most important position on the field.
