The 13 Notable Folks Picking the Giants over the Vikings
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings (13-4) are three-point favorites three days before a showdown with the New York Giants (9-7-1) in the Wildcard Round of the postseason.
The Giants haven’t participated in the postseason since 2016, when a 35-year-old Eli Manning was running the show. They’ve also lost to the Vikings four consecutive times. However, the last time the Vikings and Giants met in the playoffs, New York spanked Minnesota in the 2000 NFC Championship. Thoroughly spanked.
According to NFLPickWatch, a website that logs NFL experts’ weekly picks, about 76% of folks believe Minnesota will take down New York at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. The Vikings have an 18-12 (.600) all-time record against the Giants.
Several notable personalities forecast a Giants win over the Vikings, though, as the Vikings seek to win their first playoff game since walking off the New Orleans Saints in 2019. Minnesota missed the postseason in 2020 and 2021, fired the head coach thereafter, and have returned in the first year under a new head coach, Kevin O’Connell.
The 13 Notable Folks Picking the Giants over the Vikings
As of Thursday, these individuals predict the Giants upsetting the Vikings in the Wildcard Round:
- Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports
- Rich Gannon of The 33rd Team
- Grant Gordon of NFL.com
- Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com
- Maurice Jones-Drew of NFL.com
- Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report
- Conor Orr of SI.com
- Kevin Patra of NFL.com
- Pete Prisco of CBS Sports
- Steve Serby of New York Post
- Marc Sessler of NFL.com
- Colleen Wolfe of NFL.com
- Brett Yarris of Pro Football Network
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports picked the Giants to win and noted, “I think Brian Daboll will take advantage of a bad Minnesota defense. This one should be high scoring, as Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson will make some plays, but it will be the Giants that win it with a late field goal this time.”
Steve Serby from the New York Post also chose New York, “Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams will contain Dalvin Cook, and Wink won’t let Justin Jefferson (12-133-1 TD) and T.J. Hockenson (13-109-2 TDs) wreck the game this time. Xavier McKinney is back (Adoree’ Jackson too?). This time, Graham Gano, not Greg Joseph, walks it off.”
Bill Barnwell from ESPN went with the Vikings, “It would be tough for Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell to count on three takeaways again, but this should be a close game. And in close games, well, you know what happens. Prediction: Vikings 26, Giants 24.”
And Maurice Moton from Bleacher Report backed the Giants, “Jones has completed at least 71 percent of his passes in his last two starts. On top of that, running back Saquon Barkley can run wild on a run defense that’s allowed an average of 138.7 yards over the last six weeks. Big Blue avenges its Week 16 loss to the Vikings in an upset.”
The Vikings won 11 games in 2022 by eight points or fewer, while the Giants won seven such games. The working theory is that it should be close.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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