Are BBV writers seeing the game through blue-colored glasses?
Do your Big Blue View staff members think the New York Giants can upset the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, resulting in the franchise’s first playoff victory since the Giants won the 2011 Super Bowl? Let’s look at the picks and predictions for the 2023 NFC Wild-Card playoff round and find out.
You can also still vote in the ‘SB Nation Reacts’ poll to give your prediction on the game.
Nick Falato
“I don’t think it will be easy, but I think a healthier Giants team with a passing rhythm can defeat Minnesota. However, the Giants’ defense must find answers to Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockenson.”
Pick: Giants
Tony DelGenio
“Why expect the Giants to win this time after losing to the same team in the same stadium last month? With Xavier McKinney and hopefully Adoree’ Jackson playing this time, maybe Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson will find the going a bit tougher. Green Bay shut down JJ two weeks ago by bracketing him and disrupting him coming off the line of scrimmage. Maybe that will give Wink Martindale, who’s had the Giants mostly in zone defense since the 48-22 Philly debacle, some ideas. The Vikings’ OL is banged up, setting the stage for a returning Azeez Ojulari and his DL mates to pressure Kirk Cousins into mistakes. On offense, the Giants need to give Evan Neal help against Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. If they can, and if the Giants can avoid coughing up the ball, they can score on the Vikings defense. I’ll be an optimist and say Giants. This season has been too much fun for it to end now.”
Pick: Giants
Jeremy Portnoy
“The Giants’ narrow loss to Minnesota came with a few outliers. Saquon Barkley had “just” 84 rushing yards, but he should be able to do more damage this time against the Vikings’ 20th-ranked run defense. The Giants also lost the turnover battle 2-0, but they have a positive turnover differential on the season and can hopefully tighten things up in the rematch. This is going to be down to the wire once again. Minnesota will have an easier time moving the ball, but the Giants will pull off enough big plays to eke out a win.”
Pick: Giants
Chris Pflum
“This game is really a coin flip. It was an incredibly tight game the last time these teams played, but I’m not sure how much this game will echo that one. The Giants defense was weakened while the Vikings offense made uncharacteristic mistakes. On the flip side, the Giants had only just started using their quick-game passing attack, Duke Shelly was freshly inserted into the starting line-up, and Patrick Peterson had the worst game of his career. This game will likely come down to which team makes smarter adjustments based on the last game, and which team has better execution. “
Pick: Giants
Valentine’s View
“Despite the Vikings being 13-4 and the Giants 9-7-1 I don’t feel like the Vikings are better. The teams are pretty evenly matched. The Giants were a couple of mistakes away from winning the last time the teams met. Minnesota is 11-0 in one-score games, and no one can be perfect in those. I think this time the Giants get a late break or two and pull out a victory.”
Pick: Giants
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