The Vikings' chances of a comeback are narrowed by the Giants

MINNEAPOLIS — Just like the replica Nordic ship outside would have on the sea's thundering waves, the clamor of the crowd inside U.S. Bank Stadium fluctuated and grew.

The Giants and Vikings combined for more than 700 yards of total offense during the course of the game, which swung back and forth but ended in a startled near-silence as the Giants celebrated a 31-24 victory. The Giants ended the spectacular season of the Vikings, who had won a league-high 11 games by a single point in the first upset for a lower-seeded club in this NFL postseason.

The Vikings threatened a late comeback while down by a touchdown, but the Giants made a crucial defensive play to prevent it.

Due to a roughing-the-passer call against defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who seemed to hit quarterback Kirk Cousins cleanly, the Vikings were moved to their own 33-yard line. Short throws were used by Minnesota to get past midfield. With 1:44 remaining in the game, Cousins attempted another short ball to tight end T.J. Hockenson, but Giants safety Xavier McKinney pushed him to the ground for a meager 3-yard gain.

McKinney removed his helmet and joined the defense in celebrating the turnover on downs as head coach Brian Daboll gave the offense the go-ahead to kneel out the remaining time.

The sixth-seeded Giants defeated the third-seeded Vikings to win their first playoff game since winning the Super Bowl in 2011, and they now move on to play the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round the following week.

In a post-game press conference, Daboll stated, "We have a lot of work to do, but it's an enjoyable job to be able to be working this time of year."

The Giants were rightfully near the bottom of most experts' power rankings in August because they had not been in the postseason since 2016. Following his hiring by the new General Manager Joe Schoen in January, Daboll was about to begin his first campaign as a head coach. Running back Saquon Barkley, the team's greatest player had not participated in a full season since his rookie year in 2018 due to injuries. Daniel Jones, the quarterback, was confronted with growing concerns about his long-term prospects due to an uneven career marred by turnovers and coaching changes.

However, Jones has excelled under Daboll, who is his third coach. Jones didn't record an interception while throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns on 24 of his 35 attempts. He claimed that he felt composed and poised during the first playoff game of his career.

I'm just trying to concentrate on what I have to do, concentrate on simply doing it, and keep it simple, Jones added. "I'm trying to stay as kind of present and tuned in to what I have to do, not making it bigger than that or stepping outside of that moment."

Barkley did great in his first postseason game as well. Even though he only received nine attempts, he managed to rush for 53 yards and two scores. On one of those carries, he managed to spin past a defender, reminding us of his elusiveness as a rookie.

The setting was invigorating for a team that has struggled with unpredictability since winning the Super Bowl in the 2011 season. Daboll and Schoen, according to a statement from the Giants' co-owner Steve Tisch, "laid the basis for ongoing success." Given that both Jones and Barkley are looking for contract extensions, it is still unclear whether they will still be a member of the team in 2019.

Despite problematic contracts awarded by the previous administration and a lack of financial firepower, the Giants' front office remained competitive throughout the season, stringing victories together even as the receiving group and secondary suffered injuries.

Both McKinney, who had missed eight games due to a hand injury, and cornerback Adoree' Jackson, who had missed seven due to a knee injury, participated in the game to aid in containing the Vikings' Pro Bowl receivers. Neither Adam Thielen nor Justin Jefferson caught a touchdown pass, each with just seven catches for 47 yards.

On their first possessions, both sides scored touchdowns: a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Cousins and a 28-yard run by Barkley. With roughly a minute left in the first quarter, Jones connected with receiver Isaiah Hodgins for a score on the Giants' subsequent drive on a throw of 18 yards.

On scrambles and intentional runs, the Vikings had trouble stopping Jones, and on the Giants' first possession of the second quarter, the quarterback took off running. Jones ran on seven of the 85-yard drive's plays, and the drive appeared to culminate with a touchdown on a 4-yard rush by Jones, but the touchdown was called back due to an illegal shift. Graham Gano of the Giants made a 25-yard field goal to increase the Giants' lead to 17-7.

Jones finished the game with 78 yards gained on the ground, 71 of which came in the opening period.

With just over a minute left, Kirk Cousins completed a 9-yard touchdown throw to K.J. Osborn to help Minnesota answer, cutting the deficit to 17-14 at the break.

The third quarter resumed the shootout as both teams scored touchdowns to set up the dramatic conclusion. The Vikings' close games garnered more attention, but the Giants also performed admirably in close games, going 8-4-1 during the regular season in games decided by 8 points or fewer.

At his locker, Barkley remarked, "That's why we are a confident group because we've been in these games all year. "This game's main distinction is that if you lose, you have to go home."

With just under eight minutes left in the game, Barkley scored on a 2-yard run to give the Giants a 31-24 lead following a 12-play, 75-yard drive.

Things tightened up the rest of the way as the clock ticked down for two teams that had based their seasons on spectacular comebacks. With little over three minutes left, Darius Slayton dropped a pass that Jones had thrown flawlessly, preventing the Giants from converting a third-down attempt close to midfield.

The Vikings received the ball back after the clock was halted by the drop. Before Hockenson was unsuccessful on McKinney's decisive stop, Cousins completed four quick throws.