The game was marred by an astounding 22 accepted penalties — 11 on each team — that repeatedly stalled drives and extended others. Both sides also battled a wave of injuries that depleted key position groups and contributed to the disjointed flow.<\/p>\n
Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart endured his toughest outing as a pro, completely overwhelmed by Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ relentless blitz packages and creative pressures. Dart was sacked multiple times, threw a costly interception (off the hands of tight end Theo Johnson), and managed minimal yardage through the air, marking his worst statistical performance of the season.<\/p>\n
The Giants’ offense leaned heavily on the run game but couldn’t convert in the red zone, settling for field goals while Minnesota capitalized on short fields created by New York miscues. A late Vikings field goal proved the difference in the low-scoring affair.<\/p>\n With the defeat, the Giants maintain firm control of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft heading into the final weeks.<\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a> Final: Vikings 16, Giants 13Q1Q2Q3Q4FinalGiants0100313Vikings3100316 Vikings again take the lead<\/p>\n The Vikings regained the lead late in the fourth quarter after connecting on a 30-yard field goal attempt, capping off a 14-play, 57-yard drive.<\/p>\n Vikings 16, Giants 13<\/p>\n Injury alert: S Tyler Nubin<\/p>\n Late in the fourth quarter, with the Vikings driving, Giants safety Tyler Nubin, who recorded a touchdown earlier in the game, suffered an injury that left his teammates frantically calling for trainers.<\/p>\n Nubin walked off under his own power, and the Giants listed him as questionable to return.<\/p>\n Injury updates: John Michael Schmitz, D.J. Davidson<\/p>\n The Giants have ruled center John Michael Schmitz and defensive tackle D.J. Davidson out for the remainder of the game.<\/p>\n Injury alert: LB Brian Burns<\/p>\n Early in the fourth quarter, linebacker Brian Burns, who has recorded 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble on the day, suffered an undisclosed injury and walked off under his own power alongside trainers.<\/p>\n After being evaluated in the blue medical tent, Burns returned to the game.<\/p>\n Giants tie it up<\/p>\n The Giants tied things up early in the fourth quarter with a 39-yard Ben Sauls field goal to cap off a 14-play, 54-yard drive.<\/p>\n Giants 13, Vikings 13<\/p>\n Injury alert: OL John Michael Schmitz<\/p>\n Late in the third quarter, Giants center John Michael Schmitz suffered what appeared to be a wrist\/hand injury and was quickly tended to by trainers. He was replaced by Austin Schlottmann, leaving no reserves on the bench.<\/p>\n The Giants listed JMS as questionable to return with a hand injury.<\/p>\n Injury alert: CB Cor’Dale Flott<\/p>\n Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott suffered a knee injury late in the first half, and the team lists him as questionable to return.<\/p>\n Injury update: OL Andrew Thomas<\/p>\n Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas has been ruled out for the remainder of the game with a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n Vikings injury update: J.J. McCarthy out<\/p>\n The Vikings have ruled quarterback J.J. McCarthy out for the remainder of the game due to a hand injury that was suffered on a Brian Burns sack-fumble.<\/p>\n Halftime: Vikings 16, Giants 13<\/p>\n Despite the Vikings dominating most of the first half, a late defensive surge helped the Giants stay in the game. They will receive the ball to start the second half.<\/p>\n Sack, fumble, touchdown<\/p>\n Linebacker Brian Burns crushed Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy for his second sack of the game, forcing a fumble that was picked up by safety Tyler Nubin and returned 27 yards for a touchdown.<\/p>\n Vikings 13, Giants 10<\/p>\n Minnesota extends its lead<\/p>\n On a third-and-6 from the 12-yard line, Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy took off with no one open, weaving his way into the endzone for a touchdown to cap off a three-play, 16-yard drive.<\/p>\n Vikings 13, Giants 3<\/p>\n Dart picked off<\/p>\n On a third-and-15, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart fired a pass to tight end Theo Johnson, who got alligator arms with a defender bearing down on him. It went off Johnson’s hands and was picked off by Byron Murphy.<\/p>\n Vikings regain the lead<\/p>\n After the Giants’ pick-6 was called back due to a penalty, defensive lineman Chauncey Golston picked up a third-down sack, leading the Vikings to settle for a 31-yard field goal to cap off an 11-play, 64-yard drive.<\/p>\n Vikings 6, Giants 3<\/p>\n Penalty nullifies pick-6<\/p>\n Giants cornerback Jevon Holland picked off Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back due to an Abdul Carter penalty (lining up in the neutral zone).<\/p>\n Giants tie it up<\/p>\n After driving 35 yards on 12 plays, the Giants’ offense stalled and rookie kicker Ben Sauls was sent in for the first field goal attempt of his career. He connected from 27 yards out.<\/p>\n Giants 3, Vikings 3<\/p>\n Injury alert: OL Andrew Thomas<\/p>\n On a second-down play early in the second quarter, Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas appeared to suffer a hamstring injury. He initially returned to the huddle before going to the turf and being evaluated by trainers.<\/p>\n Thomas eventually limped off the field and headed to the locker room. The team announced he was questionable to return.<\/p>\n Interception<\/p>\n On a second-and-10 from their own 39-yard line, Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy uncorked a pass to the right that went off wide receiver Jalen Nailor’s hands and landed in the arms of Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo.<\/p>\n Turnover on downs<\/p>\n The Giants drove 50 yards on eight plays after a 26-yard Deonte Banks kickoff return set them up at the 35-yard line. Most of those yards came courtesy of running back Tyrone Tracy (40 yards rushing), but interim head coach Mike Kafka got aggressive on fourth-and-5 from the Vikings’ 10-yard line, and it backfired.<\/p>\n Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart was sacked for a five-yard loss.<\/p>\n Minnesota strikes first<\/p>\n After being gifted good field position to start, the Vikings drove 35 yards on nine plays but were forced to settle for a 43-yard field goal after Jordan Addison dropped a potential touchdown pass.<\/p>\n Vikings 3, Giants 0<\/p>\n Kicking woes continue<\/p>\n On the opening kickoff of the game, rookie kicker Ben Sauls — in his first moment as an NFL player — sent the ball out of bounds for a penalty.<\/p>\n Can’t make this stuff up.<\/p>\n Vikings win the coin toss<\/p>\n The Vikings have won the coin toss and elected to receive. The Giants will start on defense and receive the second-half kickoff.<\/p>\n Giants inactives<\/p>\n The Giants have officially announced their inactives. They are as follows:<\/p>\n DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (ankle)LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (illness)WR Jalin HyattWR Ryan MillerOL Jon Runyan Jr.LB Caleb MurphyQB Russell Wilson (emergency QB)<\/p>\n Runyan is inactive due to his wife giving birth. Veteran Aaron Stinnie will replace him.<\/p>\n The Giants<\/a> and Vikings play on Sunday afternoon in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL regular season, continuing their 18-week slate. The game will mark the first-ever matchup between Jaxson Dart and J.J. McCarthy.<\/p>\n Streaming options for the game include NFL+ and\u00a0Fubo<\/a>, which offers a free trial.<\/p>\n The broadcast crew will consist of Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Jonathan Vilma (analyst), and Megan Olivi (sideline).<\/p>\n Listen to Giants<\/a>-VikingsFlagship: WFAN 101.9PM \/ 66 AMSpanish broadcast: Que Buena 1280AMSiriusXM: Channels 230 (Giants<\/a>) and 385 (Vikings)SiriusXM Internet: Channels 820 (Vikings) and 823 (Giants)<\/p>\n The WFAN broadcast team will be Bob Papa (play-by-play), Carl Banks (analyst), and Howard Cross (reporter).<\/p>\n The Spanish broadcast will air on Que Buena 1280AM with Nestor Rosario (play-by-play) and Francis Adames (analysis) providing coverage.<\/p>\n Pre- (Giants<\/a> Gameday) and postgame (Giants Extra Point) coverage will be handled by John Schmeelk and Tiki Barber.<\/p>\n Out-of-market fans can listen to the game on the following affiliate stations:<\/p>\n Albany, NY: WPYX 106.5 FMCortland and Ithaca, NY: 96.3 FM (“The Buzzer”) and WYXL-FM 97.3 HD3Hartford, CT: WPOP 1410 AM, 100.9 FMEaston, PA: WEEX 1230 AM and 94.7 FMSyracuse, NY: WTLA 1200 AM and 97.7\/100.1 FM in SyracuseUtica, NY: WTLB1310 AM and 96.5 FMRome, NY 1350 AMOswego: WSGO 1440 AM\/100.1FMDanbury, CT: WLAD 800 AMBinghamton, NY: WENE-AM 1430 AMGiants vs. Vikings start timeDate:\u00a0Sunday, Dec. 21Time: 1:00 p.m. EST<\/p>\n The Giants and Vikings will kick off at 1:00 p.m. EST at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It will be the first time Jaxson Dart starts against J.J. McCarthy — a 2024 first-round pick vs. a 2025 first-round pick.<\/p>\n Giants regular season schedule<\/p>\n Below is the New York Giants<\/a>‘ regular-season schedule.<\/p>\n Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 7, at Washington Commanders<\/a>, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOXWeek 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, at Dallas Cowboys, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOXWeek 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBCWeek 4: Sunday, Sept. 28, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBSWeek 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, at New Orleans Saints<\/a>, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBSWeek 6: Thursday, Oct. 9, vs. Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>, 8:15 p.m. ET, PrimeWeek 7: Sunday, Oct. 19, at Denver Broncos<\/a>, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBSWeek 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, at Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOXWeek 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBSWeek 10: Sunday, Nov. 9, at Chicago Bears<\/a>, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOXWeek 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, vs. Green Bay Packers, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOXWeek 12: Sunday, Nov. 23, at Detroit Lions, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOXWeek 13: Monday, Dec. 1, at New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPNWeek 14: BYEWeek 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, vs. Washington Commanders, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOXWeek 16: Sunday, Dec. 21, vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOXWeek 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBSWeek 18: Sunday, Jan. 4, vs. Dallas Cowboys, TBD, TBD![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/87874578007-usatsi-27865202.jpg\")
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