3 winners (and 2 losers) from the Vikings in Week 1 win over the Giants

The Minnesota Vikings opened their 2024 NFL season on the road against the New York Giants on Sunday in the early window. Kevin O'Connell's guys came to play in Week 1, defeating their opponents by a final score of 28-6.

The Vikings were in control for most of the game, moving the ball efficiently while being stingy on defense. For a team with extremely low expectations this season, Minnesota looked like a focused squad that should be taken seriously this season.

Many players stood out for the purple and gold during their Week 1 victory. Some of those players made a great impression, while others struggled to execute during the game held inside MetLife Stadium.

Winners and losers for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 win over the New York Giants

Let's take a look at five Minnesota Vikings players who stood out during Sunday's game against the New York Giants and what kind of impression they made in the big victory.

Winner No. 1: Sam Darnold - QB

Whether you were excited to see Sam Darnold under center for the Vikings or not, the new starting quarterback for Minnesota likely left you impressed. Darnold had a flawless start to the game, connecting on passes and moving the chains well.

Although Darnold threw one interception on a pass where his arm was hit, he finished the game having completed 19 of his 24 pass attempts for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Let's hope he can carry this momentum into Week 2 against the 49ers.

Loser No. 1: Ryan Wright - P

The Vikings only needed to punt four times on Sunday, but Ryan Wright was not at the top of his game. His first two punts of the game were pretty solid, netting 44 and 47 yards, with his final punt netting 47 yards. Those three all ended up inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

However, Wright's third punt left much to be desired. In the fourth quarter, the Minnesota punter didn't seem to get all of his kick, and the punt net only 26 yards and went out of bounds. He will need to be more consistent in the future when he faces more competitive situations.

Winner No. 2: Andrew Van Ginkel - OLB

In a blink-or-you'll-miss-it play, Vikings edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel jumped a pass near the end of the third quarter. Minnesota's new linebacker intercepted the ball, returning it ten yards for a pick-six to extend the Vikings' lead.

Van Ginkel was more than just one highlight, though. The former Dolphins defender had four combined tackles, which included a sack of Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. He registered two hits on Jones on the day.

Loser No. 2: Ed Ingram - RG

This was a tough situation for any lineman in the NFL, it just happened to be Ed Ingram, who ended up being the offensive lineman who was getting pushed around by Giants' defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II in the trenches.

Ingram did a decent job creating holes in the run game and adjusted well to New York's presence in the middle, but his early struggle was another example of how the interior of Minnesota's offensive line needs some help.

Winner No. 3: Aaron Jones - RB

The narrative surrounding Aaron Jones's arrival in Minnesota was interesting. Green Bay's former running back has a bit of a stigma for struggling with injuries and is approaching that dreaded 30-year-old mark.

Jones looked strong and speedy on Sunday, running with patience and purpose. On 14 carries, Jones gained 94 yards and found the end zone once while adding two catches for 15 yards, giving him 109 all-purpose yards on the day. A healthy and rested Aaron Jones could be extremely valuable to Minnesota's offense. Plus, he looks great in a purple sombrero.

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