It is very surprising that Week 4 of the 2016 NFL season is coming to an end. However, not before the New York Giants take on the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.

The New York Giants are entering Week 4 after they got embarrassed by the Washington Redskins in week three by the score of 29-27. On the other side, the Vikings are coming into this contest on a three-game winning streak as they most recently defeated the Panthers in Week 3 by the score of 22-10. Before I get into my three keys for the New York Giants to put a halt to the success that the Vikings are having to open the 2016 season, I would like to present the injury reports for both teams.

As of late Sunday night, the Vikings have no one on the injury report. On the other side, the New York Giants have a few guys who are injured. First Marshall Newhouse and Darian Thompson are both listed at out. Rashad Jennings and Dominique Rodgers- Cromartie are both questionable. Eli Apple is listed as being doubtful. This is an important game for the New York Giants for one huge reason. Due to how the Eagles and Cowboys are doing well with rookie QB’s, if the Giants want to stay in this NFC East race, then they need to win Monday night for that to happen.

My three keys for the Giants to win on Monday Night Football.

  1. Need Eli to be Eli: Due to having a limited running game as Shane Vereen veteran is out for the season and Rashad Jennings is listed as Questionable. I would not be surprised to see the Giants rely a lot on Eli Manning. He has enough weapons to throw to, and you need him to be on his game for this showdown. I suspect the Giants will go for some running plays, but I don’t expect anything major being that your two top running backs are banged up.
  2. Need the Wide Receivers to be on their game as well: In the Giants first two wins of the season, the Giants Wide Receiver core was great between OBJ, Sterling Shepard, and Cruz. Like I said earlier, you won’t have a fully healthy running game and Eli will be needing them to pick it up. Also, OBJneeds to stop acting like a drama queen.
  3. Giants O-Line needs to protect Eli: The Giants are going up against one of the NFL’s best defenses. You are going to want to limit Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter who combined in the first four games have seven sacks. As far as Eli Manning passing the ball, don’t throw it anywhere near Trae Waynes who has two interceptions already this season.

    Prediction: Giants 17 Vikings 14

I am figuring this to be an NFC defensive showdown as you have two good defenses going at each other. However, I feel the Giants have one advantage in the sense Eli has more weapons to throw to than Sam Bradford. Plus it seems that the Giants always do well against the Vikings. What makes this also to be such a close game is when the Giants are the underdogs and are the away team they are 1-0 for each category. On the other side, the Vikings are undefeated when it comes to being home and the favorites.