New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings, Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Monday, December 13, 2010, 7:20 pm EST, TV: FOX
Opening Line: Giants -2
Current Line: Giants -3
Opening Total: 43
Current Total: 43
Money Line: Giants -165 / Vikings +145
The New York Giants (8-4) do not care who is starting at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings (5-7), they just need to keep winning in order to stay in contention for the NFC East division title and a potential playoff berth. This game was moved to Ford Field in Detroit on Monday due to severe weather conditions in Minneapolis that caused the roof of the Metrodome to collapse. The Giants (-3) could very well see the NFL record consecutive starts streak of 297 by Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre come to an end due to a shoulder injury, but they are more concerned with winning their third straight game overall.
Favre has said the same thing during the week leading up to this game, noting the only streak that matters to him is the team’s two wins in a row. The Vikings had not won consecutive games all season prior to beating Washington and Buffalo the past two weeks. They also had not scored more than 27 points before last week 38-14 home win over the Bills in which Favre was injured on his first pass attempt, resulting in his league-worst 18th interception.
Backup quarterback Tavaris Jackson relieved Favre and threw two touchdown passes to wide receiver Sidney Rice to go along with three picks, including one that was returned for a touchdown. Jackson also got help from running back Adrian Peterson after he was questionable with an ankle injury. Peterson rushed for 107 yards and scored three touchdowns to fuel the rout.
New York has also won its last two games but has the last four meetings with Minnesota, including a 44-7 shellacking last year at the Metrodome to close out the regular season. The Vikings left their starters in deep into the second half despite leading 31-0 at halftime and 44-0 after three quarters, something the Giants will definitely remember heading into this matchup.
New York’s power running game featuring Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw has steamrolled opponents the last two weeks, totaling 332 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Jacobs has taken over as the featured back during that stretch, but Bradshaw has been equally devastating. The duo has helped quarterback Eli Manning overcome the loss of his two top receivers to injuries, although Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks both hope to return this week.
The Giants are 1-3 against the spread in their last four games overall and in the last four meetings with Minnesota. The Vikings have covered each of their two wins under head coach Leslie Frazier after failing to beat the spread in their previous five games.
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