Sam Darnold had one of those super performances at MetLife Stadium that New York Jets fans hoped to see weekly after he was drafted No. 3 overall in 2018.
Six years later as a member of the Vikings, he did it against, of all teams, the Giants on his old home turf.
Darnold threw two touchdown passes in a highly efficient performance and Andrew Van Ginkel scored on a spectacular one-handed 10-yard interception return to lead the Vikings to an easy 28-6 victory over the woeful New York Giants on Sunday.
Darnold completed his first 12 passes and had touchdown passes of 3 yards to Justin Jefferson and 21 to Jalen Nailor in making an impressive debut for the Vikings, who are coming off a 7-10 season, He also had a 22-yard pass to Josh Oliver to help set up Aaron Jones’ 3-yard TD run that put Minnesota ahead 7-3 late in the first quarter and got Kevin O’Connell’s team off to a good start.
Adding insult to injury was the Giants dressing out in gaudy uniforms to mark their 100th season of football.
The so-called "Century Red" unis featured tan pants; red socks with blue and white stripes; red jerseys accented with blue; and an iconic winged helmet.
The Vikes were looking sharp in their road white jerseys, purple pants, and familiar purple helmets with the Viking horn on either side.
“Obviously it’s great to be back,” said Darnold, who finished was 19 of 24 for 208 yards and one interception that came on a deflected pass. “It’s been a while since I played here. I played here my first year in Carolina coming back. That was the last time I played here. It’s always good to get back in MetLife.”
What’s remarkable was Darnold, who played in San Francisco last season, was signed as a veteran presence for first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy. The Michigan product injured a knee in training camp and won’t play this season.
“Sam Darnold, for a guy in a new system to start 12 for 12 and be incredibly poised throughout the day, it was a huge performance for us to be able to build off,” O’Connell said.
The Vikings certainly made all the big plays and none was more impressive than Van Ginkel’s left-handed grab of Daniel Jones’ swing pass deep in his own territory late in the third quarter put an exclamation point on a solid defensive performance by Brian Flores’ unit. It had Giants fans booing loudly as they headed to the exits down 28-6.
“He jumped up off the edge and made a nice play,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said of the interception.
Jefferson had four catches for 59 yards, with his TD coming on a quick slant on a fourth-down pass. It capped a 99-yard drive that he ignited with a 44-yard catch.
Graham Gano kicked field goals of 23 and 50 yards for the Giants, who played just like the team that posted a 6-11 record last season.
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones finished 22 of 42 for 186 yards and two interceptions, the second by 35-year-old safety Harrison Smith.
Injuries
Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was ruled out after an ankle injury in the second half.
Up next
The Viking host San Francisco on Sunday in their home opener at US Bank Stadium. The 49ers play the Jets on Monday night to close out the NFL's opening weekend.